wfn.org | ELCA Assembly Hear Results of Second Ballot for Presiding Bishop

[News News <NEWS@ELCA.ORG>]

ELCA NEWS SERVICE

August 9, 2001

ELCA ASSEMBLY HEAR RESULTS OF SECOND BALLOT FOR PRESIDING BISHOP
01-CWA11-MR

     INDIANAPOLIS (ELCA) -- The Rev. Donald J. McCoid, bishop of the
Southwestern Pennsylvania Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in
America (ELCA), took the lead on the second ballot with 201 votes  --
19.74 percent of the 1,017 valid votes cast -- over other nominees for
presiding bishop of the ELCA.  McCoid is also chair of the ELCA
Conference of Bishops, an advisory body of the church's 65 synod
bishops, presiding bishop and secretary.
     The churchwide assembly, the chief legislative authority of the
ELCA, is meeting here Aug. 8-14 at the Indiana Convention Center.  There
are more than 2,000 people participating, including 1,040 ELCA voting
members.  The theme for the biennial assembly is "Making Christ Known:
Sharing Faith in a New Century."
     From the 168 nominees receiving votes on the first ballot, 48
withdrew before the second ballot began.
     The Rev. James A. Nestingen, professor of church history, Luther
Seminary, St. Paul, Minn., dropped from first to the second-place
position.  Nestingen received 148 votes -- 14.54 percent of the total
votes cast.
     The ELCA Constitution calls for retention of the top seven vote-
getters on the third ballot.  Joining McCoid and Nestingen on the third
ballot will be the following nominees, based on the number of second
ballot-votes they received:
     + The Rev. Peter Rogness, bishop of the ELCA Greater Milwaukee
Synod, 107 votes;
     + The Rev. April C. Ulring Larson, bishop of the ELCA LaCrosse
Area Synod, LaCrosse, Wis., 98;
     + The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, bishop of the ELCA Saint Paul Area
Synod, 87;
     + The Rev. M. Wyvetta Bullock, executive director, ELCA Division
for Congregational Ministries, Chicago, 66;
     + The Rev. Andrea DeGroot-Nesdahl, bishop of the ELCA South Dakota
Synod, Sioux Falls, S.D., 66.
     On the second ballot, 764 votes were required for election from
the 1,017 valid votes cast.  Thirty nominees were eliminated from
consideration.
-- -- --
     Information about assembly actions is at
http://www.elca.org/assembly/01 on the ELCA's Web site.  Recorded
updates during the assembly are available by calling 773/380-2477.

For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://listserv.elca.org/archives/elcanews.html