Title: Vagley Directs Lutheran Office for Governmental Affairs
ELCA NEWS SERVICE

June 19, 2003

VAGLEY DIRECTS LUTHERAN OFFICE FOR GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS
03-132-FI

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Karen S. Vagley became director of the Lutheran
Office for Governmental Affairs (LOGA), Washington, D.C., on June 16.
LOGA is the federal public policy advocacy office of the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and a program of the ELCA Division for
Church in Society.
     "I am very delighted that Karen Vagley has joined our staff," said
the Rev. Rebecca S. Larson, executive director, ELCA Division for Church
in Society.  "She brings to the work of our church a wealth of
experience in government service across the political spectrum as well
as a deep commitment as a layperson to social justice and equality," she
said.
     Vagley, 56, was born in Reed City, Mich., and is a graduate of
Michigan State University, East Lansing, Mich., and Georgetown
University, Washington, D.C.  She earned her law degree from the
Georgetown University Graduate School of American Government and has
taken business courses at Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore.
     Between 1969 and 1995 Vagley served on staff of the U.S. House
Appropriations Committee and as counsel to the House Education and Labor
and Budget Committees.  She specialized in labor, health and welfare
law, as well as in issues related to migrant rights, education and civil
rights.
     Since 1995 Vagley has worked as a consultant helping non-profit
organizations, businesses and associations understand the demands of
public policy.  In the past year she has represented the National
Citizens' Coalition for Nursing Home Reform.
     Vagley is an active member of Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Vienna,
Va.  She is the mother of two adult daughters.

SILER RETIRES AS LOGA DIRECTOR
     Vagley succeeds the Rev. Russell O. Siler, 60, who retired Jan. 1
after almost six years as LOGA director.  Dennis W. Frado, director of
the Lutheran Office for World Community at the United Nations in New
York, has served as interim director of LOGA.
     Siler, an attorney and ELCA pastor, led the Lutheran Advocacy
Ministry in Pennsylvania, Harrisburg, from 1993 to 1997.  He served as
pastor of Our Saviour Lutheran Church, Warrenton, Va.; Emmanuel Lutheran
Church, Virginia Beach, Va.; Messiah Lutheran Church, Virginia Beach;
and Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Virginia Beach.
     Originally from Martinsburg, W.Va., Siler earned degrees from the
University of Richmond, Richmond, Va., the Lutheran Theological Seminary
at Gettysburg (LTSG), Pa., and the Antioch School of Law, Washington,
D.C.  LTSG is one of eight ELCA seminaries.
     Licensed to practice law by the Virginia State Bar and the
District of Columbia Bar, Siler had a private law practice in Virginia
Beach from 1986 to 1988.  While pastor of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church,
he also served as court-appointed counsel for Juvenile and Domestic
Relations Court in Virginia Beach.
     Siler and his wife Anne, a high school guidance counselor, are
members of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Leesburg, Va.  They are the
parents of an adult daughter and adult son.
-- -- --
     The home page of the Lutheran Office for Governmental Affairs is
at http://www.loga.org/ on the Web.

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