ELCA NEWS SERVICE November 15, 2005 ELCA Council Elects Olson to Lead ELCA Vocation and Education 05-220-MRC CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) elected Nov. 11 the Rev. Stanley N. Olson to serve a four-year term as executive director of ELCA Vocation and Education, effective immediately. The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of the church, nominated Olson. The Church Council is the ELCA's board of directors and serves as the legislative authority of the church between churchwide assemblies. The council met here Nov. 11-13. Assemblies are held every other year; the next is here Aug. 6-12, 2007. "Pastor Olson takes up the leadership of Vocation and Education as one unit grounded in three expressions and the institutions of this church. He has served as parish pastor, synod bishop, seminary professor and churchwide staff executive," said Hanson. Olson "is a gifted theologian and an exceptional administrator. He believes that God calls all the baptized to live out their faith in homes, neighborhoods, schools and workplaces, and involvement in civil society. Pastor Olson is deeply committed to forming faithful, wise and courageous leaders whose vocations serve God's mission in the world," said Hanson. Olson, 59, has served as executive director of the former ELCA Division for Ministry since 2002. He was bishop of the ELCA Southwestern Minnesota Synod, Redwood Falls, from 1994 to 2002. Born in Eagle Grove, Iowa, Olson is a graduate of Waldorf College, Forest City, Iowa; St. Olaf College, Northfield, Minn.; Luther Seminary, St. Paul, Minn.; and Yale University, New Haven, Conn., where he earned a Ph.D. in New Testament. Waldorf and St. Olaf are two of 28 college and universities of the ELCA; Luther is one of eight seminaries of the church. Olson served as pastor of Our Savior's Lutheran Church, New Ulm, Minn., and First Lutheran Church, Duluth, Minn. He served on the staff of Bethesda Lutheran Church, New Haven, Conn. He taught New Testament for four years at Luther Northwestern (now Luther) Seminary, St. Paul, Minn. He is the author of numerous articles and Christian materials for children, youth and adults. Vocation and Education is a new unit of the ELCA churchwide organization. It oversees the development and support of "faithful, wise and courageous leaders" and assists the church and its institutions in "equipping people to practice their callings." - - - Information about ELCA Vocation and Education is available at http://www.ELCA.org/vocationeducation on the Internet. For information contact: John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or [log in to unmask] http://www.elca.org/news