wfn.org | ELCA Council Elects Olson to Lead ELCA Vocation and Education

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ELCA NEWS SERVICE

November 15, 2005

ELCA Council Elects Olson to Lead ELCA Vocation and Education
05-220-MRC

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Church Council of the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) elected Nov. 11 the Rev.
Stanley N. Olson to serve a four-year term as executive director
of ELCA Vocation and Education, effective immediately.	The Rev.
Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of the church, nominated Olson.
     The Church Council is the ELCA's board of directors and
serves as the legislative authority of the church between
churchwide assemblies.	The council met here Nov. 11-13.
Assemblies are held every other year; the next is here Aug. 6-12,
2007.
     "Pastor Olson takes up the leadership of Vocation and
Education as one unit grounded in three expressions and the
institutions of this church.  He has served as parish pastor,
synod bishop, seminary professor and churchwide staff executive,"
said Hanson.
     Olson "is a gifted theologian and an exceptional
administrator.	He believes that God calls all the baptized to
live out their faith in homes, neighborhoods, schools and
workplaces, and involvement in civil society.  Pastor Olson is
deeply committed to forming faithful, wise and courageous leaders
whose vocations serve God's mission in the world," said Hanson.
     Olson, 59, has served as executive director of the former
ELCA Division for Ministry since 2002.	He was bishop of the ELCA
Southwestern Minnesota Synod, Redwood Falls, from 1994 to 2002.
     Born in Eagle Grove, Iowa, Olson is a graduate of Waldorf
College, Forest City, Iowa; St. Olaf College, Northfield, Minn.;
Luther Seminary, St. Paul, Minn.; and Yale University, New Haven,
Conn., where he earned a Ph.D. in New Testament.  Waldorf and St.
Olaf are two of 28 college and universities of the ELCA; Luther
is one of eight seminaries of the church.
     Olson served as pastor of Our Savior's Lutheran Church, New
Ulm, Minn., and First Lutheran Church, Duluth, Minn.  He served
on the staff of Bethesda Lutheran Church, New Haven, Conn.  He
taught New Testament for four years at Luther Northwestern (now
Luther) Seminary, St. Paul, Minn.  He is the author of numerous
articles and Christian materials for children, youth and adults.
     Vocation and Education is a new unit of the ELCA churchwide
organization.  It oversees the development and support of
"faithful, wise and courageous leaders" and assists the church
and its institutions in "equipping people to practice their
callings."
- - -
     Information about ELCA Vocation and Education is available
at http://www.ELCA.org/vocationeducation on the Internet.

For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org
http://www.elca.org/news