ELCA NEWS SERVICE

April 28, 2008  

Mark Holmerud Elected Bishop of ELCA Sierra Pacific Synod
08-053-FI

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Mark W. Holmerud, Lutheran Church
of the Incarnation, Davis, Calif., was elected April 26 to a six-
year term as bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
(ELCA) Sierra Pacific Synod at the synod assembly April 25-27 in
Oakland, Calif.  He succeeds the Rev. David G. Mullen who will
retire July 1.
     On the sixth ballot Holmerud received 328 votes to 92 cast
for the Rev. Nancy M. Feniuk Nelson, Coastside Lutheran Church,
Half Moon Bay, Calif., and 67 cast for the Rev. David P. Beard,
Trinity Lutheran Church, Pleasanton, Calif.  There were 64 names
on the first and nominating ballot.
     Holmerud's installation as bishop is planned for July 12 at
St. John Lutheran Church, Sacramento, Calif.
     Holmerud, 51, was born in Pomona, Calif., and raised in
Solana Beach, Calif.  He served in the U.S. Navy and graduated
from San Diego State University, San Diego.  He earned a master
of divinity degree from Luther Theological Seminary, St. Paul,
Minn. -- now Luther Seminary -- one of eight ELCA seminaries.
Ordained in 1984, Holmerud served 20 years as pastor of Zion
Lutheran Church, Stockton, Calif.
     Holmerud and his wife Debbi, principal, Lincoln High School,
Stockton, are the parents for four adult children.
     The ELCA Sierra Pacific Synod is approximately 63,000
Lutherans in 204 congregations across 48 counties in northern
California and 12 counties and Carson City in northern Nevada.
The synod office is in Oakland.
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     The home page of the ELCA Sierra Pacific Synod is at
http://www.spsELCA.org/ on the Web.

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