Title: Nelson Elected Bishop of ELCA Southern California (West) Synod
ELCA NEWS SERVICE

June 4, 2001

NELSON ELECTED BISHOP OF ELCA SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA (WEST) SYNOD
01-141-MF*/MR

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Dean Wesley Nelson was elected to a
six-year term as bishop of the Southern California (West) Synod of
the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) on June 1.  Nelson,
57, was elected at the synod's assembly at Warner Center Marriott
Hotel, Woodland Hills, Calif.
     Nelson, currently serving as pastor at First Lutheran Church,
Torrance, Calif., was elected on the fifth ballot for bishop with 230
votes over the Rev. Dana E. Hanson, First Lutheran Church,
Northridge, Calif., with 105 votes, and the Rev. Margaret  Schultz-
Akerson, Messiah Lutheran Church, Pasadena, Calif., with 80 votes.
     Nelson took the lead on the third ballot with 141 votes, over
Hanson with 102 votes; Schultz-Akerson, with 51 votes; the Rev.
Anthony R. Auer, Hill Avenue Grace Lutheran Church, Pasadena, with 36
votes; and the Rev. David J. Berkedal, Faith Lutheran Church, San
Dimas, Calif., with 36 votes.  There were 29 names on the first and
nominating ballot.
     Nelson will take office on August 1.  He will succeed the Rev.
Paul W. Egertson, who announced his resignation effective July 31 --
just one month short of completing a term as bishop.  Egertson
resigned following conversations with church leaders after his
participation in the April 28 ordination of Anita C. Hill, who is not
approved for ordination in the ELCA.
     Nelson, who was born in Chicago, earned a bachelor's degree
from Concordia College, Moorhead, Minn., in 1966.  Concordia is
one of 28 ELCA higher education institutions.  He attended Harvard
Divinity School, Cambridge, Mass., and earned a master of divinity
degree in 1970 from Luther Seminary, St. Paul, Minn.  Luther is one
of eight ELCA seminaries.
     After his ordination in 1970, Nelson served as pastor at Faith
American Lutheran Church, Enid, Okla.; Park View Lutheran Church,
Chicago; Our Savior's Lutheran Church, Milwaukee; and First Lutheran
Church, Torrance.  He was a voting member at the 1999 ELCA Churchwide
Assembly, Denver.
     Nelson and his wife, Marianne, have two adult children.
     The ELCA Southern California (West) Synod has 45,955 baptized
members, including 160 pastors in 140 congregations across five
counties.  The synod office is in Glendale, Calif.
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[* Marilyn Fursman is synod supplement editor for The Lutheran and
newsletter editor for the ELCA Southern California (West) Synod.]

For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or [log in to unmask]
http://listserv.elca.org/archives/elcanews.html