Events of the Presiding Bishop

August 7, 2007
ELCA Assembly Re-Elects Mark Hanson Presiding Bishop
07-CWA-007-MRC

CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, 60, was re-elected to serve another six-year term as presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) at the 2007 ELCA Churchwide Assembly here. Hanson was re-elected Aug. 7 on the second ballot with 888 votes of the 1,029 cast.
The churchwide assembly, the chief legislative authority of the ELCA, is meeting here Aug. 6-11 at Navy Pier's Festival Hall. About 2,000 people are participating, including 1,071 ELCA voting members. The theme for the biennial assembly is "Living in God's Amazing Grace: Thanks be to God!"
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April 13, 2007
LWF President Congratulates Pope Benedict XVI on 80th Birthday

A Ministry of Vision and Friendship

CHICAGO, United States of America/GENEVA, 13 April 2007 (LWI) - In a letter of congratulations to Pope Benedict XVI for his upcoming birthday, the president of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF), Bishop Mark S. Hanson, writes "I pray that your ministry of vision and friendship as Bishop of Rome and primate of the Roman Catholic Church will continue for many years to come." The Pope will celebrate his 80th birthday on Monday, 16 April.
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March 6, 2007
ELCA Presiding Bishop Announces Evangelism Grants to Synods
07-031-JB

GALVESTON, Texas (ELCA) -- The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), told the ELCA Conference of Bishops that each of the 65 ELCA synods will be sent a one-time $10,000 grant from the churchwide organization to be used for "evangelical outreach." Hanson made the announcement in his March 2 report to the conference.

The ELCA Conference of Bishops is an advisory body of the church, consisting of the ELCA's 65 synod bishops, presiding bishop and secretary. It met here March 1-6.

The funds, from the church's 2007 churchwide budget, are being distributed in collaboration with the Evangelical Outreach and Congregational Ministries program unit, Hanson said. The funds were available because of advance grants made from the 2006 budget to help fund new starts this year.
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February 27, 2007
Louisiana Lutherans Voice Appreciation, Frustration Over Hurricane Response
07-027-JB

KENNER, La. (ELCA) -- Pastors and lay members of congregations of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) in southern Louisiana met here Feb. 22 with the ELCA presiding bishop. In a public forum, they shared a mixture of joys and thanks, as well as concerns and frustrations about the church's overall response to the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina nearly 18 months earlier.

About 40 people met with the Rev. Mark S. Hanson, ELCA presiding bishop, Chicago, at Christ the King Lutheran Church. They repeatedly emphasized that the recovery work in southern Louisiana -- particularly in the metropolitan New Orleans area -- is still ongoing and will likely continue for several years.
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