Title: ELCA Council Elects Wyvetta Bullock ELCA Executive for Administration ELCA NEWS SERVICE
November 13, 2007
ELCA Council Elects Wyvetta Bullock ELCA Executive for Administration 07-191-JB
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America elected the Rev. M. Wyvetta Bullock to a six-year term as executive for administration, ELCA Office of the Presiding Bishop. Bullock, who had been serving as executive for leadership development in the presiding bishop's office, will assume the role immediately. Her term ends when the presiding bishop's term ends.
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. 9-11. Assemblies are held every other year; the next is Aug. 17-23, 2009, in Minneapolis.
Bullock succeeds the Rev. Charles S. Miller, who retired when his term ended Oct. 31.
Bullock has been executive for leadership development since 2005. In that role she coordinated leadership development components of ethnic ministry strategies and evangelism strategies. She worked with others to distribute leadership development funds, most of which were designated for multicultural leadership development. She provided for discussion and publications related to leadership.
"Wyvetta is a person of prayer and devout faith," said the Rev. Mark S. Hanson, ELCA presiding bishop, who nominated Bullock for the position. "Her leadership has exemplified an ability to stay grounded in the gospel of Jesus Christ, focused on God's mission, committed to justice and oriented toward mentoring leaders."
"Throughout her churchwide leadership, Wyvetta has exemplified creativity, connectedness to congregations, strong staff collaboration and supervision. She is committed to shaping the culture of the churchwide organization and to our becoming a more diverse and inclusive church. I look forward to serving in leadership with her," Hanson said.
"I am very grateful to be called to serve this church in this way," Bullock told the council following her election. She said she has a "deep and abiding love for churchwide ministry" and looked forward with anticipation to her new call.
Born in 1951 in Loudon, Tenn., Bullock earned a bachelors of arts degree in human services administration from Antioch University, Philadelphia. In 1996 she earned a master of divinity degree at Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, (LSTC), and in 2003 she earned a doctor of ministry in preaching at LSTC. LSTC is one of eight ELCA seminaries.
From 1981 to 1987 Bullock was assistant executive director for budget and personnel in the Division for Parish Services of the Lutheran Church in America (LCA), Philadelphia. The LCA is a predecessor church body of the ELCA.
She joined the ELCA churchwide organization in 1987. She was director for budget, personnel and administration, and director for congregational programs, ELCA Division for Congregational Ministries (DCM), before she became DCM's executive director in 1995. She held that position until 2005, when she joined the presiding bishop's staff. DCM is now part of the ELCA Evangelical Outreach and Congregational Mission program unit.
Bullock was honored in 2003 with LSTC's Distinguished Alumni Award, and in 2004 Grand View College, Des Moines, Iowa, presented her with an honorary doctor of Humane Letters degree. Grand View is one of 28 ELCA colleges and universities.
Bullock is involved in other church and community leadership activities. She currently is founder and chief executive officer of Equipping Leaders Ministries, Inc., Oak Park, Ill., pastoral associate here at Bethel Lutheran Church, and serves on the board of directors of Sojourners/Call to Renewal, Washington, D.C. Previously Bullock served in leadership positions here at Bethel New Life, Inc. and United Lutheran Church; Bethphage Foundation, Omaha, Neb.; Parkside Pastoral Counseling Center, Park Ridge, Ill.; and Ulcart Credit Union, Philadelphia. She is a former co-host of Mosaic Television, ELCA Communication Services Bullock has written and published several articles on subjects such as diversity, hospitality and prayer.
Bullock and her husband Neil are parents of two children.
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