06/17/2014

Two Bishop's Re-elected During Recent Assemblies in Iowa and Wisconsin

Steven Ullestad Re-elected Bishop of ELCA Northeastern Iowa Synod

The Rev. Steven L. Ullestad was re-elected June 15 to serve a fourth six-year term as bishop of the Northeastern Iowa Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) during the Synod Assembly June 13-15 at Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa. Ullestad was re-elected on the fourth ballot with 230 votes to the 41 votes received by the Rev. Elizabeth Olson, pastor of St. Timothy Lutheran Church in Hudson Iowa, and 32 votes received by the Rev. Ramona Bouzard, chaplain at Wartburg College. Wartburg is one of 26 colleges and universities of the ELCA.

Before Ullestad became bishop in 1992, he served as assistant to the bishop of the ELCA Northeastern Iowa Synod from 1988 to1992 and as pastor of St. Timothy Lutheran Church, from 1979 to1987. Ullestad graduated from Wartburg with a Bachelor of Music Education degree, and he holds Master of Divinity, Master of Sacred Theology, and Doctor of Divinity degrees from Wartburg Theological Seminary in Dubuque, Iowa. Wartburg Theological Seminary is one of eight ELCA seminaries.

Information about the ELCA Northeastern Iowa Synod is available at www.neiasynod.org.

James Arends re-elected bishop of ELCA La Crosse Area Synod

The Rev. James A. Arends was re-elected June 14 to serve a second six-year term as bishop of the La Crosse Area Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) at the Synod Assembly June 13-14 at the La Crosse Center in La Crosse, Wis. Arends was re-elected on the first ballot with 220 votes of the 225 cast. His name was the only one on the ballot.

Prior to becoming bishop in 2008, Arends was a parish pastor for 30 years serving at Cross of Glory Lutheran Church in Brooklyn Center, Minn.; Community Lutheran Church in Geneva, Minn.; Trinity Lutheran Church in Spring Grove, Minn.; and Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in La Crescent, Minn. Arends earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Augsburg College in Minneapolis, and a Master of Divinity degree from Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minn. Augsburg is one of 26 colleges and universities of the ELCA; Luther Seminary is one of eight ELCA seminaries.

Information about the ELCA La Crosse Area Synod is available at www.lacrosseareasynod.org.

Congratulations, Bishop Ullestad and Bishop Arends. May God continue to bless you and your synod as you continue your ministries.