ELCA NEWS SERVICE May 21, 2004 Lohrmann Re-Elected Bishop of ELCA Northwestern Ohio Synod 04-103-SW*/JB CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Marcus C. Lohrmann was elected to a second six-year term as bishop of the Northwestern Ohio Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) at the synod assembly May 20-22 in Bowling Green, Ohio. Lohrmann, 53, was re-elected on the first ballot for bishop. He received 386 of 446 ballots cast. Second was the Rev. Ronald F. Staber, St. Paul Lutheran Church, Haskins, Ohio, with six votes. The Rev. Keith A. Hunsinger, St. Paul Lutheran Church, Defiance, Ohio, and the Rev. Dennis M. Maurer, assistant to the bishop, Northwestern Ohio Synod, were third with four votes each. There were 34 names on the nominating ballot. Lohrmann was first elected bishop in 1998, succeeding the Rev. James A. Rave, who retired. Born in Waterloo, Iowa, Lohrmann earned a bachelor's degree at Concordia Senior College, Ft. Wayne, Ind. He earned a master's degree and doctorate from Christ Seminary-Seminex, St. Louis. Following his ordination in 1977, Lohrmann served as pastor of the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, St. Louis; St. John Lutheran Church, Hicksville, Ohio; and Olivet Lutheran Church, Sylvania, Ohio. Lohrmann and his wife Heidi are the parents of three children. The ELCA Northwestern Ohio Synod has 103,653 baptized members in 189 congregations. The synod office is in Findlay. --- The ELCA Northwestern Ohio Synod maintains a site at http://www.nwos-elca.org on the Web. * Suzanne Wagner is communications coordinator for the ELCA Northwestern Ohio Synod. For information contact: John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or [log in to unmask] http://www.elca.org/news