CHICAGO — The Rev. Martin R. Halom, Bloomer, Wis., was elected June 8 to serve a six-year term as bishop of the Northwest Synod of Wisconsin of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). The election took place during the synod assembly, June 7-8 at the W.R. Davies Student Center of the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire.
Halom was elected on the fourth ballot, with 241 votes. The Rev. Karen Behling, pastor of Our Saviour's Lutheran Church in Chippewa Falls, Wis., received 57 votes.
The bishop-elect has served as pastor of St. John's Lutheran Church in Bloomer since 2012. Previously he was associate campus pastor of University Lutheran Church in East Lansing, Mich. (2003-2012), and associate pastor of American Lutheran Church in Rantoul, Ill. (1999-2003).
Halom earned his Bachelor of Arts in economics from Luther College, Decorah, Iowa, in 1993, and a Master of Divinity from Luther Seminary, St. Paul, Minn., in 1999. Luther College is one of 26 ELCA colleges and universities; Luther Seminary is one of seven ELCA seminaries.
He will be installed Sept. 15 (location to be determined).
The Rev. Laurie Skow-Anderson is retiring after serving the synod as director for evangelical mission (2014-2018) and as bishop (2018-2024).
Information about the Northwest Synod of Wisconsin is available at nwswi.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 3 million members in more than 8,700 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
