Brian Kirby Unti elected bishop of ELCA Northwest Washington Synod

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Brian Kirby Unti, Renton, Wash., was
elected May 18 to a six-year term as bishop of the Northwest Washington
Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). Unti was
elected on the fourth ballot during the synod assembly May 16-18 in
Lynnwood, Wash.
     “I am overwhelmed and humbled, and I look forward to the future with
great anticipation,” said Unti, who serves as pastor of St. Matthew
Lutheran Church in Renton.
     Unti was elected on the fourth ballot with 230 votes to 151 votes
for the Rev. Jeffrey Russell, pastor of Central Lutheran in Everett,
Wash. The Rev. Jane Prestbye, pastor of Kent Lutheran Church in Kent,
Wash., was also a nominee on the third ballot with 98 votes to 109 for
Russell and 183 for Unti.
     Unti served as associate pastor at Faith Lutheran in Bellingham,
Wash., from 1978 to 1980. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in speech
and public address from the University of Washington in 1974, and a
master of divinity degree from Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary in
1978. The seminary is one of eight ELCA seminaries.
     Unti will be installed Sept. 15. He is married to Kim Unti and
together they have four children.
     Information about the ELCA Northwest Washington Synod is available
at http://www.lutheransnw.org.
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About the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America:
The ELCA is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United
States, with more than 4 million members in nearly 10,000 congregations
across the 50 states and in the Caribbean region. Known as the church
of “God's work. Our hands,” the ELCA emphasizes the saving grace of God
through faith in Jesus Christ, unity among Christians and service in the
world. The ELCA's roots are in the writings of the German church
reformer, Martin Luther.

For information contact:
Candice Hill Buchbinder
773-380-2877 or Candice.HillBuchbinder@ELCA.org
http://www.ELCA.org/news
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