06/15/2016

William Gafkjen re-elected bishop of ELCA Indiana-Kentucky Synod

CHICAGO (June 14, 2016) – The Rev. William O. Gafkjen, Indianapolis, was re-elected June 9 to serve a second six-year term as bishop of the Indiana-Kentucky Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). The election was held during the synod assembly June 9-11 at the Century Center in South Bend, Ind.

Gafkjen was re-elected on the first ballot with 290 votes. A total of 270 votes were needed for election.

“I am grateful for and humbled by the strong affirmation and call from the people of the Indiana-Kentucky Synod to serve another six years as their bishop,” Gafkjen said. “This is also affirmation of the work of the rest of the synod staff, synod council and other synod leaders as we have worked together with congregations and their leaders over the last six years to see where God is doing new things and, together, to get on board with them.

“As our synod assembly theme put it, we are Spirit filled, Spirit sent people. I look forward to being a part of the surprising and transforming work of the Spirit in and through God’s people across this territory in the years ahead.”

Gafkjen has served as bishop of the Indiana-Kentucky Synod in Indianapolis since 2010. He was an assistant to the bishop of the synod from 2002 to 2010.

Gafkjen earned a Bachelor of Arts in sociology from St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minn., in 1979 and a Master of Divinity from Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minn., in 1985. He received a Doctor of Ministry, Gospel and Culture from Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, Ga. St. Olaf is one of 26 ELCA colleges and universities. Luther is one of the ELCA’s eight seminaries. Columbia is one of 10 seminaries of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).

Information about the Indiana-Kentucky Synod is available at www.iksynod.org/.