ELCA NEWS SERVICE March 4, 2011 Arthur Rode, Former Bishop of ELCA Southwestern Texas Synod, Dies 11-023-JB/JD* CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Arthur E. Rode, who guided the formation of the Southwestern Texas Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) as its first bishop, died Feb. 28 in a hospice unit in Fredericksburg, Texas. More: http://www.elca.org/News/Releases.asp?a=4718 For information contact: John Brooks, (773) 380-2958 or [log in to unmask] http://www.elca.org/news Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/elcanews Twitter: http://twitter.com/elcanews