CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Philip L. Hougen was re-elected to a six-year term as bishop of the Southeastern Iowa Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). Hougen was elected at the synod's assembly June 14-16 at Wartburg College, Waverly, Iowa.
Hougen, 59, was first elected bishop of the synod in 1996. He was re-elected on the first ballot with 346 of 382 votes cast. Nearest runners-up were the Rev. Myron D. Herzberg, Memorial Lutheran Church, Nevada, Iowa, with nine votes and the Rev. Virginia Anderson- Larson, director for spiritual formation and field education, Wartburg Theological Seminary, Dubuque, Iowa, with three votes. There were 23 names on the first ballot.
Before becoming bishop, Hougen served as pastor of Grace Lutheran Church, Des Moines, Iowa from 1988 to 1996. He was previously pastor of St. Andrew Lutheran Church, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Our Savior Lutheran Church, Pekin, Ill., and Faith Lutheran Church, Glen Ellyn, Ill.
Hougen was born in Cedar Rapids. He earned a bachelor of arts degree in 1965 from Augustana College, Rock Island, Ill. He earned a master of divinity degree in 1969 and a doctor of divinity degree in 1978, both from the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago (LSTC). Augustana College is one of 28 ELCA colleges and universities and LSTC is one of eight ELCA seminaries.
Hougen and his wife, Diane, have two grown children.
The ELCA Southeastern Iowa Synod has 94,981 baptized members in 152 congregations. The synod office is in Iowa City, Iowa. -- -- -- *Amy Wineinger is a junior at Wartburg College. This summer she is an intern with ELCA News and Media Production.
*Kim Groninga is the director of communication for the ELCA
Southeastern Iowa Synod.
For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://listserv.elca.org/archives/elcanews.html
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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 2.8 million members in more than 8,500 worshiping communities 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
Public Relations Manager
Candice.HillBuchbinder@ELCA.org
