ELCA News Blog
June 22, 2006
The ELCA responds to Episcopal presiding bishop election
by Katherine R. Hinck*, ELCA News Service
The Rt. Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Nevada, was elected the first female presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church on June 18 at the church's 75th General Convention in Columbus, Ohio. The Rev. Lowell Almen, secretary, Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA), attended the conference and relayed ELCA Presiding Bishop Mark S. Hanson's delight in hearing news of the election, according to an Episcopal News Service release.
"We expect the decision will be highly regarded by member churches of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF)," Almen said. "Many already ordain women as pastors. A few do not, although the encouragement continues for those churches to receive the gifts of women in ordained ministry." The LWF is a global communion representing 62.3 million of the world's nearly 65.4 million Lutherans. It is based in Geneva, Switzerland.
Almen said the full-communion relationship between the ELCA and the Episcopal Church, described in the document "Called to Common Mission," has opened the way for some very significant cooperation, ministry and outreach, the release said. "We continue to rejoice in the ELCA for the adoption of that document and the relationship that continues to grow between the two churches," Almen said.
*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. Information was provided by the Episcopal News Service. 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