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August 9, 2007

Lutherans re-elect Hanson as presiding bishop

by Daniel Burke
Religion News Service

CHICAGO — The nation’s largest Lutheran denomination re-elected Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson by a wide margin Aug. 7.

Hanson, 60, will lead the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, with its 4.8 million members for another six-year term. He garnered 888 of 1,029 votes cast on the second ballot.

“I accept this reaffirmation of your call with deep gratitude and truly expected hopefulness for the next six years,” Hanson told delegates to the ELCA’s biennial Churchwide Assembly, which is meeting in Chicago through Aug. 11.

The church is also expected to debate proposals on allowing noncelibate gay and lesbian clergy and blessing same-sex unions during the assembly.

Hanson is the 20-year-old ELCA’s third presiding bishop and the second to be re-elected. He is also president of the 67 million-member Lutheran World Federation, which represents 78 countries.