Wollersheim Elected Lutheran Bishop of Northern Illinois

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Gary M. Wollersheim, 47, was elected bishop of the Northern Illinois Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) during the synod's assembly June 19-20 at Augustana College, Rock Island, Ill.  He received 355 votes to 72 for the Rev. Donna Hacker Smith and 68 for the Rev. Terrence G. Baeder on the fourth ballot for bishop.
     Wollersheim will succeed Bishop Ronald K. Hasley, 62, who will retire Sept. 1.  Since 1990, the bishop-elect has been an assistant to the bishop and the synod's mission director for the ELCA's Division for Outreach. Wollersheim will be installed as bishop on Oct. 11.
     Born in Chicago, Wollersheim graduated from Augsburg College, Minneapolis, and Northwestern Theological Seminary (now Luther Seminary), St. Paul, Minn.  He was ordained in 1977 by the former Lutheran Church in America and was pastor of Gethsemane Lutheran Church, Cicero, Ill.  In the 1980s, he developed and served as pastor of Hosanna Lutheran Church, St. Charles, Ill.
     Wollersheim married Paulette Ann Swanson in 1972.  They are the parents of two daughters and a son.
     Smith is pastor of St. James Lutheran Church, Forreston, Ill.; Baeder is former director of pastoral ministry for Lutheran Social Services of Illinois, Rockford, Ill.  There were 85 names on the nominating ballot for bishop.
     The ELCA's Northern Illinois Synod is 102,930 Lutherans in 165 congregations in 22 Illinois counties.  Synod offices are in Rockford.

For information contact:
Ann Hafften, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://www.elca.org/co/news/current.html