ELCA NEWS SERVICE

April 29, 2005

Reko to Lead ELCA Division for Congregational Ministries
05-079-MRC

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. H. Karl Reko, River Forest, Ill., will
assume the role of interim executive director for the Evangelical Lutheran
Church in America's (ELCA) Division for Congregational Ministries (DCM)
effective May 1.
     Reko, 64, retired in 2002, after serving as program director for
Western Europe and the Nordic countries, ELCA Division for Global Mission
(DGM), since 1998.  Since his retirement, Reko served in a variety of
positions in DCM, DGM and the ELCA Division for Church in Society.
     Reko assumes the interim position following the Rev. M. Wyvetta
Bullock's new appointment to serve as executive assistant to the presiding
bishop for leadership development.  Bullock, 53, currently serves as DCM
executive director.  The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of the
ELCA, appointed Bullock, who will assume her new role May 1.  Bullock has
worked in DCM since the ELCA was formed in 1988; she became executive
director in 1996.
     Mark D. Burkhardt, director for ELCA Outdoor Ministries, DCM, will
provide assistance in the division's administration part-time, while
continuing his work as director for outdoor ministries, said the Rev.
Charles S. Miller, executive for administration and executive assistant to
the ELCA presiding bishop, in an e-mail to staff of the ELCA churchwide
organization.
     This year the ELCA churchwide office is restructuring its ministries
to align itself with the "Plan for Mission" endorsed by the 2003 ELCA
Churchwide Assembly.  The plan outlines the reorganization of the ELCA
churchwide office and the church's governance and structure, which
includes replacing divisions with program units and using program
committees instead of boards.  Proposed changes to the ELCA Constitution
related to structure and governance will be considered at the 2005 ELCA
Churchwide Assembly, Aug. 8-14, Orlando, Fla.
     If the assembly approves the proposed changes, Reko's interim
position will come to an end in September.  If the changes are not
approved, Reko will remain in the position until a new executive director
for DCM is named, according to Miller.

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