ELCA NEWS SERVICE August 2, 2008 Norm Smith Elected President of Lutheran Men in Mission 08-131-FI OMAHA, Neb. (ELCA) -- Norman L. Smith, Leawood, Kan., was elected Aug. 1 to a three-year term as president of Lutheran Men in Mission (LMM), the men's ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). Delegates to LMM's Eighth Assembly elected four officers and nine regional representatives to the LMM board of directors to three-year terms. LMM's assembly brought 101 delegates here from across the ELCA to conduct the organization's business July 31-Aug. 1. About 600 men are here Aug. 1-3 for the 2008 Lutheran Men's Gathering at the Hilton Hotel and Qwest Center. The event theme, "Coming of Age," focuses on LMM's 20th anniversary, its new relationship with the ELCA and its emphasis on the spirituality of men ages 18-34. Smith, 69, succeeded Heber Rast, Cameron, S.C., who completed his second three-year term as LMM president and was ineligible for re-election. Smith is a parish ministry associate of the ELCA Central States Synod, specializing in men's ministry at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Overland Park, Kan. "It's an awesome responsibility," Smith said. "We have so many things going, so much we have to do. We need the leadership. I hope and pray that I'm guided by the Holy Spirit to make that happen with a wonderful team," he said. "I have great expectations for the next three years." "We just put together a three-year plan, and I would like to see that three-year plan come to fruition -- starting with training leadership for all men in ministry, so that we have leaders trained all throughout the United States," Smith said. LMM's strategic plan would equip Lutheran men to be disciples and mentors "so that they can be that changing, driving force in our churches today and tomorrow." Smith served the past three years as LMM vice president. He was elected president on the fifth ballot, receiving 57 votes to 38 votes for Richard White, South Riding, Va. Joel L. Nevin was also a candidate on the fourth ballot. There were seven nominees for president. White was elected LMM vice president on the fourth ballot for that office. He received 66 votes to 27 for Nevin. There were 10 nominees for vice president. Bernie Bresson, Louisville, Ohio, was re-elected LMM secretary. Harold Yost Sr., Concord, N.C., was elected LMM treasurer. Delegates from the nine regions elected representatives to the LMM board of directors: + Rick Jacobson, Lyle, Minn. + Robert Sandoval, Albuquerque, N.M. + Daniel Joy, Jamaica, N.Y. + Tom Green, Louisville, Ohio + Fred Bohls, Camp Hill, Pa. + Tim Crout, Lexington, S.C. + Henry Howe, Corinth, Texas + Ron Sailer, Marysville, Wash. + Lon Buss, DeForest, Wis. - - - Information about Lutheran Men in Mission is at http://www.ELCA.org/lmm on the ELCA Web site. For information contact: John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or [log in to unmask] http://www.elca.org/news