ELCA News Blog
June 14, 2006
James Justman re-elected bishop of ELCA East Central Synod of Wisconsin
by Katherine Hinck*, ELCA News Service
The Rev. James A. Justman was elected to a second six-year term as bishop of the East Central Synod of Wisconsin of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) at the synod assembly June 9-10 in Appleton, Wis. Justman, 50, was re-elected on the fourth ballot for bishop with 261 of 400 votes. The next highest vote totals on the final ballot were 95 votes for the Rev. John W. Meachen, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Wausau, Wis.; and 44 votes for the Rev. Kim L. Beckmann, Trinity Lutheran Church, Iron River, Mich., and Bethany Lutheran Church, Amasa, Mich. There were 28 nominees on the first or nominating ballot. Justman's new term begins Aug. 1.
Born in Oshkosh, Wis., Justman graduated from the University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh, and earned a master of divinity degree from Wartburg Theological Seminary, Dubuque, Iowa. Wartburg is one of eight ELCA seminaries. Ordained in 1983, Justman served as pastor of Zion Lutheran Church, Appleton, and Our Savior's Lutheran Church, Oshkosh. He was first elected bishop in 2000, succeeding the Rev. John C. Beem, who retired. Justman and his wife Vicki are the parents of three sons and reside in Appleton.
The ELCA East Central Synod of Wisconsin includes 99,173 baptized members in 141 congregations from Wausau to Fond du Lac, Green Bay and Wisconsin Rapids. The synod office is in Appleton.
*Katherine R. Hinck is a senior journalism and religion major at Augustana College, Sioux Falls, S.D. This summer she is an intern with the ELCA News Service.
Links
The East Central Synod of Wisconsin: http://www.ecsw.org Good Shepherd Lutheran Church: http://www.gswausau.org/ Bethany Lutheran Church: http://www.trinity-bethany.org/ Wartburg Theological Seminary: http://www.wartburgseminary.edu/ eight ELCA seminaries: http://www.ELCA.org/theologicaleducation/seminaries Zion Lutheran Church: http://www.zionlutheranonline.com/ Our Savior's Lutheran Church: http://www.oslcosh.org/
For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org http://www.elca.org/news ELCA News Blog: http://www.elca.org/news/blog