ELCA NEWS SERVICE May 19, 2004 Hallberg Appointed Director of New ELCA Development Services 04-101-MR CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Donald M. Hallberg was appointed executive director of development services, a new unit of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) churchwide organization. Hallberg's appointment is effective June 1. Hallberg, 64, is president of the ELCA Foundation. He will continue to serve in that role and will report directly to the ELCA Office of the Presiding Bishop. The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of the ELCA, appointed Hallberg and made the announcement in a May 17 e-mail to staff of the churchwide office. "I am grateful that Pastor Hallberg has accepted this critical new responsibility and look forward to our work together," Hanson wrote. "He brings many gifts, significant skills and broad experience to this work. In this new role he will oversee the integration of the resource development efforts within the churchwide organization, the deepening of partnerships between [the ELCA's 65] synods and the churchwide organization, and the identification of avenues of financial support for churchwide programs and projects." Hanson said the work of "several critically important appeals will continue" with "coordination and oversight by Development Services." In addition to the ELCA Foundation, these include the ELCA World Hunger and Disaster Appeal, Fund for Leaders in Mission, Vision for Mission, Mission Founders, Mission Partners, donor services and missionary sponsorship, he said. When it met here last month, the ELCA Church Council approved the formation of the ELCA Development Services unit and authorized the presiding bishop to appoint an executive director. The council is the ELCA's board of directors and serves as the legislative authority of the church between churchwide assemblies. The recommendation for the new churchwide unit surfaced from the work of the ELCA Task Force on Mission Funding and the 2003 Mission Funding Roundtable. "The new unit will capitalize on the energy and skills of a dedicated staff, integrating various fund-raising activities that will undergird both the global and domestic ministries of this church," said Hallberg. Hallberg became president of the ELCA Foundation in 1997, after serving 25 years with Lutheran Social Services of Illinois (LSSI), Des Plaines, Ill. At LSSI, Hallberg was president from 1980-1996; vice president, 1979-1980; director for human resources, 1977-1979; assistant to the executive director (president), 1976-1977; and director for community development program, 1972-1976. Hallberg served as consultant in the welfare unit of the Illinois Institute for Social Policy, Springfield, and was interim pastor at Incarnation Lutheran Church, Burbank, Ill., from 1971 to 1972. He was interim pastor at St. Stephen Lutheran Church, Chicago, from 1970 to 1971, and assistant pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church, Des Plaines, Ill., from 1966 to 1970. Hallberg and his wife Susan are members of Trinity Lutheran Church, Des Plaines. They are the parents of two adult children, Erik and Krista. For information contact: John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or [log in to unmask] http://www.elca.org/news