ELCA NEWS SERVICE

August 25, 2006  

Margarita Martinez, ELCA Caribbean Synod Bishop, Hospitalized
06-130-JB

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Margarita Martinez, bishop of the
Caribbean Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
(ELCA), is hospitalized at a Chicago-area hospital where she is
undergoing medical tests for an undisclosed condition.
     Martinez plans to name an acting bishop for the synod, as
provided for in the ELCA Constitution, said the Rev. Mark S.
Hanson, ELCA presiding bishop.  The Caribbean Synod Council must
consent to the appointment.  The synod is expected to announce an
acting bishop by Aug. 28.
     Martinez, 58, left Puerto Rico for additional care on the
advice of her physician, and arrived at Lutheran General
Hospital, Park Ridge, Ill., on Aug. 24.  She was accompanied by
her son.
     Martinez has asked that she not be contacted so she can
focus on her health and family, Hanson said.  Hanson also asked
for prayers for Martinez.
     ELCA staff at the churchwide office here held a special
prayer service Aug. 25 for Martinez, as did the Evangelical
Seminary of Puerto Rico, San Juan.  She had once served here as
associate director for global events in ELCA Global Mission. At
the seminary she was assistant to the president in business and
finance, and has served as a board member.
     Martinez was elected to a six-year term as bishop of the ELCA
Caribbean Synod in 2001.  At the time she was a mission developer
at Cristo El Senor Lutheran mission, Cayey, Puerto Rico.
     The ELCA Caribbean Synod has 6,558 baptized members in 34
congregations located in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
The synod office is in Dorado, Puerto Rico.
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     Information about the ELCA Caribbean Synod is at
http://www.caribbeansynod-ELCA.org/ on the Web.

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