Title: Strandjord Named Acting Director, ELCA Division for Ministry
ELCA NEWS SERVICE

May 22, 2002

STRANDJORD NAMED ACTING DIRECTOR, ELCA DIVISION FOR MINISTRY
02-118-JB

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Effective May 22, the Rev. Jonathan P.
Strandjord will serve as acting director of the Division for Ministry of
the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).  Strandjord, 49,
assumes the role in addition to his current duties as director for
theological education.
     The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, ELCA presiding bishop, appointed
Strandjord to serve as acting director until a new executive director is
elected by the board for the Division for Ministry. A new executive
director is expected to be in place within the next several months, said
the Rev. Charles S. Miller, ELCA executive for administration and
executive assistant to the presiding bishop.
      Strandjord was appointed acting executive director following the
retirement this month of the Rev. Joseph M. Wagner as the division's
executive director.  Wagner served as executive director since the
beginning of the ELCA in 1988.
     The Division for Ministry supports the ministry of all baptized
people in the church, including laity, ordained ministers, associates in
ministry, deaconesses and diaconal ministers.
     Strandjord, who joined the ELCA churchwide organization in 1998,
was born in Minneapolis.  In 1974, he earned a bachelor of arts degree
in classical languages from Luther College, Decorah, Iowa, one of 28
ELCA colleges and universities.  In 1978, Strandjord earned a master of
divinity from Luther Seminary, St. Paul, Minn., one of eight ELCA
seminaries.  He earned a doctor of philosophy in theology from
Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tenn., in 1996.
     He and his wife, the Rev. Jeanette B. Strandjord, are parents of
two daughters.


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