ELCA NEWS SERVICE

June 5, 2012  

Stephen Talmage re-elected bishop of ELCA Grand Canyon Synod
12-35-MRC

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Stephen S. Talmage was elected May 30 to
second a six-year term as bishop of the Grand Canyon Synod of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). He was re-elected on the
first ballot with 228 of the 261 votes at the synod's assembly May 30-
June 1 in Las Vegas.
     Born in Tucson, Ariz., Talmage graduated in 1981 with a bachelor's
degree in psychology from the University of Arizona in Tucson. In 1984 he
earned a Master of Divinity degree from Wartburg Theological Seminary in
Dubuque, Iowa. Wartburg is one of eight ELCA seminaries. After his
ordination in 1985, Talmage was pastor of two ELCA congregations.
     Prior to his first election as bishop in 2006, Talmage served as
dean of the Santa Cruz Conference of the Grand Canyon Synod, chair of the
synod's committee for stewardship and financial support, dean for the
Lutheran "Campfirmation" camping ministry and co-founder of the Lake
Pleasant Lutheran Mission Task Force.
     Information about the Grand Canyon Synod is at
http://www.gcsynod.org.
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About the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America:
The ELCA is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United
States, with 4.2 million members in 10,000 congregations across the 50
states and in the Caribbean region. Known as the church of "God's work.
Our hands," the ELCA emphasizes the saving grace of God through faith in
Jesus Christ, unity among Christians and service in the world. The ELCA's
roots are in the writings of the German church reformer, Martin Luther.

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Melissa Ramirez Cooper
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