wfn.org | Wylie Named Interim Director, ELCA Division for Church in

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Society
ELCA NEWS SERVICE

December 4, 2001

WYLIE NAMED INTERIM DIRECTOR, ELCA DIVISION FOR CHURCH IN SOCIETY
01-311-JB

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of
the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), appointed the Rev. L.
James Wylie as interim executive director of the ELCA Division for
Church in Society (DCS).  Wylie, presently on leave from call, began
his
new responsibilities with the churchwide organization Dec. 1.
     Wylie, 68, succeeds the Rev. Charles L. Miller, who was elected
by
the ELCA Church Council last month to serve as executive for
administration and executive assistant to the presiding bishop.
Miller
began his new responsibilities Dec. 1.
     Most recently, Wylie was senior vice president for mission,
Advocate Health Care, Oak Brook, Ill.  He served in that role from
1995
to 2000.  Advocate was formed in 1995 by the consolidation of
Evangelical Health Systems Corporation and Lutheran General Health
System. It is a not-for-profit system of health care facilities
serving
the Chicago area.  Advocate Health Care is affiliated with the ELCA
and
United Church of Christ.
     "Jim Wylie combines an understanding of and commitment to the
ELCA
with exceptional leadership experience in a complex organization,"
Hanson said.  "He exudes enthusiasm for the church's mission with a
knowledge of and respect for the work of the Division for Church in
Society."
     "I'm very excited about this opportunity," Wylie said. "In my
previous roles, I became acquainted with the division because it was
my
responsibility to keep the ELCA connection in place.  I was very
pleased
to be contacted by the presiding bishop."
     DCS helps the church respond to the needs of people, society and
the environment.  It studies social issues and prepares social
statements for the church's consideration and action, coordinates the
ELCA hunger program and domestic disaster response, provides help to
congregations in ministry to people with disabilities, and develops
programs to help people in poverty gain economic independence.  DCS is
also responsible for the church's domestic refugee concerns, ministry
through social ministry organizations, and it carries out the church's
advocacy efforts with state, national and international governmental
bodies.
     Wylie will serve as interim executive director of DCS until a
permanent executive director is nominated by the presiding bishop and
a
search committee, and approved by the DCS board.
     Wylie was born in 1933 in Leola, S.D.  In 1955 he earned a
bachelor's degree from Augustana College, Sioux Falls, S.D., an ELCA
higher education institution, where he majored in history,
Christianity
and philosophy.  In 1959 he earned a bachelor of theology degree from
Luther Seminary, St. Paul, Minn., one of eight ELCA seminaries.
     Following ordination Wylie was pastor at St. Mark Lutheran
Church,
Mt. Prospect, Ill. He later served in leadership positions at Lutheran
Medical Center, Brooklyn, N.Y.
     Between 1967 and 1980 Wylie served as director of parish
relations
at Lutheran General Hospital, Park Ridge, Ill., and was promoted to
vice
president for human resources.
     From 1980 to 1995 Wylie was senior vice president, Lutheran
General Health System, Park Ridge.  Lutheran General was affiliated
with
the former American Lutheran Church.  During his service with Lutheran
General, Wylie was on leave from 1990 to 1993, during which he was
president and chief executive officer for the American Protestant
Health
System, Schaumburg, Ill.
     Wylie is a member of Our Saviour's Lutheran Church, Arlington
Heights, Ill.  He and his wife, Myrna, are parents of three grown
children.

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