wfn.org | Randall Lee Elected to Direct ELCA's Ecumenical Efforts

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ELCA NEWS SERVICE

September 3, 2002

RANDALL LEE ELECTED TO DIRECT ELCA'S ECUMENICAL EFFORTS
02-210-JB

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran
Church in America (ELCA) elected the Rev. Randall R. Lee Sept. 3 to a
four-year term as director of the ELCA Department for Ecumenical
Affairs.  Lee, 46, will also serve as an assistant to the ELCA presiding
bishop.
     Lee is currently executive assistant to the ELCA secretary, Office
of the Secretary, and associate for bilateral dialogues, ELCA Department
for Ecumenical Affairs.  He will succeed the Rev. Jon S. Enslin, who has
served as interim director, Department for Ecumenical Affairs, since
Nov. 1, following the retirement of the Rev. Daniel F. Martensen.  Lee
will assume his new role Oct. 1.
     "Randy Lee has extensive ecumenical experience as a parish pastor,
theologian, ecumenical dialogue participant and part-time member of the
Department for Ecumenical Affairs staff," said the Rev. Mark S. Hanson,
ELCA presiding bishop, in a statement to the council.  "Ecumenical
partners speak very highly of Randy's theological insights, relational
sensitivities and commitment to greater expressions of unity in Christ's
church."
     Lee's work as a church journalist is significant to the position,
Hanson said, adding that he has already depended on Lee for "ecumenical
briefings and advice."  Hanson nominated Lee following a search process.
     "I look forward with excitement to the privilege of working with
Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson in his role as chief ecumenical officer of
this church," Lee said in a statement.  "The ELCA has played a
significant role in the ecumenical world since its formation in 1988.
The challenge before us is to continue this work with renewed energy and
commitment for the sake of the unity of Christ's Body, the Church."
     The church must communicate the significance of its ecumenical
work to its members, Lee said.  "In the future, the success of the
ecumenical enterprise will depend upon a large number of people sharing
in this work by living it out in congregations and synods," he added.
     Lee was born in Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.  In 1978 he earned a
bachelor of arts degree in history and theology, and graduated with
honors in religion from Valparaiso University, Valparaiso, Ind.  In 1982
he earned a master of divinity and in 1983 earned a master of sacred
theology, both from Christ Seminary-Seminex, St. Louis.  In 1985 he
earned a master of theology degree from Lutheran School of Theology at
Chicago (LSTC), and in 1992 he earned a doctor of theology degree from
LSTC, one of eight ELCA seminaries.
     Lee has served in a variety of roles for the church.  Following
his ordination in 1982, Lee was assistant pastor of Bethel Lutheran
Church, University City, Mo., and later was assistant pastor, The
Evangelical Lutheran Church of Saint Luke, Chicago.
     From 1987 to 1989 he was associate vice president for development,
LSTC.  From 1985 to 1988 Lee was chief executive officer, Evangelical
Lutherans in Mission (ELIM), an organization of moderates within the
Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS).   He was editor of Lutheran
Perspective, ELIM's newspaper, and was director of communication for the
Major Fund Appeal for the Association for Evangelical Lutheran Churches,
a predecessor church body of the ELCA.
     From 1992 to 1995 he was pastor of Grace Lutheran Church,
Evanston, Ill.; a guest faculty member at LSTC in 1992 and 1994; and
from 1989 to 1993 he was project director for the Mission and Membership
Initiative, sponsored by the ELCA and Aid Association for Lutherans (now
Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, a fraternal benefit organization based
in Minneapolis).
     His service to the church includes membership on several
communication and publication advisory committees and editorial boards;
advisory committee, Institute of Liturgical Studies, Valparaiso
University; and nominating and worship committees, ELCA Metropolitan
Chicago Synod.
     Lee served six years on the board of directors for the annual Bach
Week Festival, Evanston, Ill.  He is a graduate of a leadership program
in Evanston and served on the program's steering committee.  He also
served on the board of directors of the former Samaritan Pastoral
Counseling Center, Evanston.
     Lee was awarded the 1990 Arthur Carl Piepkorn Prize and was
accorded "honors in religion" for an essay he wrote for the Department
of Religion, Valparaiso University.  Lee has authored numerous articles
and homiletical materials.  This year he edited and wrote an
introduction for "Grace Upon Grace: Living Bread, Living Water, Living
Word," for the Valparaiso Institute of Liturgical Studies.
     Lee is a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church, Evanston.

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