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Title: North Carolina Lutherans Elect Bolick ELCA NEWS SERVICE - NEWSBRIEFS December 9, 1996 NORTH CAROLINA LUTHERANS ELECT BOLICK The Rev. Leonard H. Bolick, 50, was elected Nov. 2 to a six-year term as bishop of the North Carolina Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. ELCA Presiding Bishop H. George Anderson announced the election during an assembly in Winston- Salem, N.C., called to name a synod bishop to succeed Mark Menees, who resigned in May. There were 90 names on the nominating ballot. Bolick received 442 votes on the fifth and final ballot; the Rev. Steven P. Gerhard, Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Raleigh, N.C., received 275. The Rev. John F. Merck, Faith Lutheran Church, Faith, N.C., was also in consideration on the fourth ballot. Bolick is a native of Lenoir, N.C., and earned degrees at Appalachian State University, Boone, N.C.; Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary, Columbia, S.C.; and McCormick Theological Seminary, Chicago. He was ordained in 1972 by the former Lutheran Church in America and served as pastor of Calvary Lutheran Church, Concord, N.C., and St. James Lutheran Church, Fayetteville, N.C. Bolick has been an assistant to the bishop in the North Carolina Synod since 1986 and will become bishop Feb. 1, 1997, with his installation on Feb. 16. The Rev. Norman D. Eitrheim, former bishop of the South Dakota Synod, serves as interim bishop. For information contact: Ann Hafften, Dir., ELCA News Service, (312) 380-2958 or [log in to unmask]; Frank Imhoff, Assoc. Dir., (312) 380-2955 or [log in to unmask]; Melissa Ramirez, Assist. Dir., (312) 380-2956 or [log in to unmask]