ELCA News Blog
June 12, 2007
Harold Usgaard re-elected bishop of ELCA Southeastern Minnesota Synod
by Lauren A. Lamb, ELCA News Service*
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Harold L. Usgaard was re-elected June 8 to a six-year term as bishop of the Southeastern Minnesota Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) at the synod assembly in Rochester, June 7-9. Usgaard, 59, was elected on the first ballot with 374 votes. There were 40 names on the first or nominating ballot.
Born in Decorah, Iowa, Usgaard earned a bachelor's degree at Luther College, Decorah, in 1969, and a master of divinity degree from Luther Seminary, St. Paul, Minn., in 1973. Luther College is one of 28 ELCA colleges and universities, and Luther seminary is one of eight ELCA seminaries. Usgaard was ordained in 1973. He served congregations in West Allis, Wis., Rochester, and was pastor of St. Olaf Lutheran Church, Austin, Minn., before becoming bishop in 2001.
The ELCA Southeastern Minnesota Synod has 131,422 baptized members in 183 congregations. The synod office is in Rochester.
* Katie Butler, communication director, ELCA Southeastern Minnesota Synod, provided information. * Lauren A. Lamb is a senior public relations and speech communication major at Southern Illinois University, Carbondale. This summer she is an intern with the ELCA 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