Title: Rev. Walter J. Kirkegaard Named ELCA Montana Synod Interim Bishop
ELCA NEWS SERVICE

March 1, 2001

REV. WALTER J. KIRKEGAARD NAMED ELCA MONTANA SYNOD INTERIM BISHOP
01-37-JB

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Walter J. Kirkegaard, Great Falls,
Mont., was named interim bishop of the Montana Synod of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), effective March 15.
He was selected by the Montana Synod Council at its meeting Feb. 16
in Great Falls.
     Kirkegaard succeeds the Rev. Mark R. Ramseth, former bishop of
the synod, who resigned to become president of Trinity Lutheran
Seminary, Columbus, Ohio, one of eight ELCA seminaries.  Ramseth
began work there in February.
     The ELCA, a 5.15-million member church, is organized into 65
synods, each headed by a bishop.
     Kirkegaard, 71, is also part-time visitation pastor at Faith
Lutheran Church, Great Falls.
     As interim bishop, Kirkegaard will not be available for
permanent election to the post. The synod will elect a new bishop at
its assembly May 18-20 at the Heritage Inn, Great Falls.
     "I look forward to serving as interim bishop of the Montana
Synod and to continuing the excellent work of Bishop Ramseth,"
Kirkegaard said. "I also look forward to helping the synod prepare
for new leadership in the bishop's office."
     "Pastor Kirkegaard is well known and relates well to the
pastors in the synod," said Beverly A. Peterson, Billings, Mont., the
synod's vice president.  Peterson is also a member of the ELCA Church
Council.
     Kirkegaard served nine years as pastor of First Lutheran
Church, Havre, Mont., ending his service there last October.  He
previously served as pastor for congregations in Great Falls;
Watertown, S.D.; McCook, Neb., and Minden, Neb.
     In the 1970s, Kirkegaard served on the board of the Division of
Service and Mission in America in the former American Lutheran
Church.  In 1977, he was a delegate to the Lutheran World Federation
(LWF) assembly in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania.
     The LWF is a global communion of 131 member churches in 72
countries,  representing 59.5 million of the world's 63 million
Lutherans.
     In 1953, Kirkegaard earned a bachelor's degree in social work
from Dana College, Blair, Neb., one of 28 ELCA colleges and
universities.  In 1957, he was ordained after completing seminary
training at Trinity Lutheran Seminary, Blair.
     He and his wife, Sandra, are parents of nine grown children.

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