wfn.org | Rogness Elected Bishop of ELCA Saint Paul Area Synod

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ELCA NEWS SERVICE

April 23, 2002

ROGNESS ELECTED BISHOP OF ELCA SAINT PAUL AREA SYNOD
02-093-EH*/JB

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Peter Rogness was elected to a six-year
term as bishop of the Saint Paul Area Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran
Church in America (ELCA) April 21 at the synod assembly April 19-21 at
Concordia University, St. Paul, Minn.
     Rogness, 56, currently serves as bishop of the ELCA Greater
Milwaukee Synod.  He became bishop of the synod in 1988, and was re-
elected in 1992 and 1996. Rogness' current term ends this summer, but
because of term limits in the Greater Milwaukee Synod constitution, he
is not eligible for re-election.
      Rogness succeeds the Rev. Paul M. Werger, who was appointed
interim bishop of the Saint Paul Area Synod effective Oct. 1, 2001.
Werger succeeded the Rev. Mark S. Hanson, who became ELCA presiding
bishop following his election at the 2001 ELCA Churchwide Assembly in
Indianapolis.
     Rogness was elected on the fifth ballot for bishop with 267 votes
over the Rev. Susan E. Tjornehoj, assistant to the bishop, Saint Paul
Area Synod, with 210 votes.
     Rogness led on the fourth ballot with 211 votes, over Tjornehoj
with 159 votes and the Rev. Daniel C. Brumm, St. Stephen Lutheran
Church, White Bear Lake, Minn., with 112 votes.  There were 25 names on
the nominating ballot.
     Born in 1945 in Mason City, Iowa, Rogness grew up in St. Paul. He
earned a bachelor's degree in history and philosophy in 1967 from
Augustana College, Sioux Falls, S.D., and a master of divinity from
Luther Seminary, St. Paul, in 1972.  Augustana College is one of 28 ELCA
colleges and universities; Luther Seminary is one of eight ELCA
seminaries.
     Following his ordination in 1973, Rogness was pastor at Wellington
Park Lutheran Church, Milwaukee, 1973 to 1975, and Hephatha Lutheran
Church, Milwaukee, 1975 to 1985.
     In 1985 he was elected bishop of the Southern Wisconsin District
of the former American Lutheran Church.  Rogness served in that role
until he was elected bishop of the Greater Milwaukee Synod when the ELCA
was formed in 1987.
     Rogness and his wife, Geraldine, are the parents of four children
and have one grandchild.
     The Saint Paul Area Synod has 120 congregations with more than
165,000 baptized members.  Its offices are located in St. Paul.
-- -- --
     * Elizabeth S. Helgen is communication director for the ELCA Saint
Paul Area Synod.

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