Title: Carlson Elected Bishop of ELCA South-Central Synod of Wisconsin
ELCA NEWS SERVICE

June 4, 2001

CARLSON ELECTED BISHOP OF ELCA SOUTH-CENTRAL SYNOD OF WISCONSIN
01-DG*/JB

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. George G. Carlson, 59, was elected
to a six-year term June 2 as bishop of the South-Central Synod of
Wisconsin of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).
Carlson is pastor at Evangelical Lutheran Church, Mt. Horeb, Wis.
     Carlson was elected over the incumbent bishop, the Rev. Jon S.
Enslin, at the synod assembly May 31-June 2 in Fontana, Wis.
     Carlson was elected on the fifth ballot, 196-192, over Enslin.
Enslin led on the fourth ballot with 193 votes, over Carlson with 120
votes, and the Rev. Richard O. Blomker, Lake Edge Lutheran Church,
Madison, Wis., with 68 votes.  There were 53 nominees who received
votes on the first ballot.
     Carlson will assume the bishop's role Aug. 1.  Enslin, 63, has
been bishop of the synod since 1991.
     "You altered my plans for the summer, but you haven't altered
my respect for what Jon has done as bishop," Carlson said to the
assembly following the election.  He asked the assembly for a moment
of silent prayer for Enslin, his wife Crystal, and the synod staff.
      Enslin thanked the assembly for the privilege of serving as
bishop. "You have enabled me to be in places I have never been, to
observe things I had never seen.  I love this synod, and I love this
church," he said.
     Carlson, who was born in Grinnell, Iowa, received a bachelor's
degree from Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, and a master of
divinity from Luther Seminary, St. Paul, Minn., an ELCA seminary.
He was ordained in 1971.
     Before he was pastor of Evangelical Lutheran Church, Carlson
was executive director at Lutherdale Bible Camp, Elkhorn, Wis.  He
previously served as pastor at Hope Lutheran Church, Milton, Wis.,
and St. Mary's Lutheran Church, Kenosha, Wis.
      Carlson and his wife, Solveig, are parents of three adult
children.
     The ELCA South-Central Synod of Wisconsin has 110,738 members
in 152 congregations.  Its offices are in Madison.
-- -- --
[*Debra Illingworth Greene is synod supplement editor for The
Lutheran, the magazine of the ELCA, and newsletter editor for the
South-Central Synod of Wisconsin.]

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