wfn.org | Foss Re-Elected Bishop of ELCA Eastern North Dakota Synod

[News News <NEWS@ELCA.ORG>]

ELCA NEWS SERVICE

April 15, 2002

FOSS RE-ELECTED BISHOP OF ELCA EASTERN NORTH DAKOTA SYNOD
02-088-JB

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Richard J. Foss was re-elected to a
six-year term as bishop of the Eastern North Dakota Synod of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) April 12 at the synod
assembly April 12-13 in Jamestown, S.D.  Foss, 57, has served as bishop
of the synod since 1992.
     Foss was re-elected on the first ballot for bishop with 423 of 494
votes.  Others who received five or more votes were the Rev. Steven A.
Wold, Calvary Lutheran Church, Grand Forks, N.D., 10 votes; the Rev.
Ellen J. Arthur, Trinity Lutheran Church, Valley City, N.D., 6 votes;
the Rev. Larry A. Gedde, who serves three congregations in Hawley,
Minn., 5 votes; and the Rev. Craig H. Hanson, First Lutheran Church,
Fargo, N.D., 5 votes.  Foss' new term begins Aug. 1.
     Foss was born in Wauwatosa, Wis.  He was senior pastor at Trinity
Lutheran Church, Moorhead, Minn., for six years before he became bishop.
Foss also served as pastor of Lutheran congregations in Seattle, Fargo
and Minneapolis.  He was ordained a Lutheran pastor in 1971.
     Foss earned a bachelor of arts degree from St. Olaf College,
Northfield, Minn.  He earned a master of divinity degree in 1971 and a
master of theology degree in 1984 from Luther Seminary, St. Paul, Minn.
St. Olaf College is one of 28 ELCA colleges and universities, and Luther
Seminary is one of eight ELCA seminaries.
     Foss and his wife Nancy are parents of six children.
     The ELCA Eastern North Dakota Synod has 102,343 baptized members
in 253 congregations.  Its offices are located in Fargo.

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