ELCA NEWS SERVICE November 2, 2005 John Adam, Former Bishop of ELCA Slovak Zion Synod, Dies 05-210-JB CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. John Adam, former bishop of the Slovak Zion Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and the former Lutheran Church in America (LCA), died Oct. 27 at a Danbury, Conn. hospital. Adam, 76, lived in Danbury. A funeral service is planned for Nov. 2 at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Danbury. The Rev. Harold R. Wimmer, Guilford, Conn., will preach. Wimmer served as bishop of the LCA New England Synod while Adam was bishop of the Slovak Zion Synod. Adam was born in 1928 in North Braddock, Pa. In 1955 he earned a bachelor's degree at Muhlenberg College, Allentown, Pa. In 1958 Adam earned a bachelor of divinity degree at the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia (LTSP). Muhlenberg College is one of 28 ELCA colleges and universities; LTSP is one of eight ELCA seminaries. Following his ordination in 1958 in the United Lutheran Church, Adam was called as pastor at Dr. Martin Luther Lutheran Church, Muskegon, Mich. In 1969 he became pastor at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Danbury, where he served until 1981. Both congregations are part of the Slovak Zion Synod. In 1981 Adam was elected bishop of the LCA Slovak Zion Synod and served in that role until 1987 when the LCA, American Lutheran Church and Association of Evangelical Lutheran Churches formed the ELCA. He was elected bishop of the ELCA Slovak Zion Synod in 1988 and served in that role until he retired in 1991. In retirement Adam served three years as interim pastor at St. Mark's Evangelical Lutheran Church, Butler, Pa. Adam is survived by wife of 47 years, Dorothy, and two sons, Paul, Danbury, and Stephen, Bristol, Conn., and seven grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a son, John. For information contact: John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or [log in to unmask] http://www.elca.org/news