ELCA NEWS SERVICE February 12, 2009 Walter May Named Executive for ELCA Synod, Constituent Relations 09-041-FI CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Walter S. May Jr. will become executive assistant to the presiding bishop and executive for synodical and constituent relations for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) on Feb. 16. He succeeds the Rev. Kathie Bender Schwich, who on Feb. 2 became vice president of mission and spiritual care, Advocate Lutheran General Hospital, Park Ridge, Ill. The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, ELCA presiding bishop, appointed May in consultation with representatives of the ELCA Conference of Bishops. "Pastor May will build upon the churchwide organization's deep commitment to working collaboratively with synods and other partners," Hanson said, announcing the appointment. "Pastor May's extensive experience on a synod staff will be a strong asset in his work with the Conference of Bishops and synodical leaders. He brings great gifts in pastoral care and administration," Hanson said. The conference is an advisory body of the church that includes the ELCA's 65 synod bishops, presiding bishop and secretary. Born in Columbia, Miss., May, 61, is a graduate of Marquette University, Milwaukee, and the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago (LSTC). He earned a doctorate in pastoral care and counseling in 1996 from LSTC, one of eight seminaries of the ELCA. Ordained in the former Lutheran Church in America, May served as pastor of Christ the Mediator Lutheran Church, Chicago, and First Lutheran Church, Cedar Rapids, Iowa. From 1996 to 2008 he was an assistant to the bishop of the ELCA Southeastern Iowa Synod, Iowa City. Since October he has served ELCA Synodical Relations as director of administration and synod support. May and his wife D. Christine May, director for racial justice ministries, ELCA Multicultural Ministries, are the parents of five adult children. Bender Schwich received her clinical pastoral education at Lutheran General Hospital while a student at Luther Northwestern Seminary (now Luther Seminary), St. Paul, Minn. She served as pastor of Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Traverse City, Mich.; director for church relations, Stephen Ministries, St. Louis; and church community director, Rapha Hospital Treatment Center, Wheaton, Ill. Bender Schwich was an assistant to the bishop of the ELCA Metropolitan Chicago Synod; pastor of St. Luke Lutheran Church, Park Ridge; and executive for leadership, ELCA Division for Outreach, before becoming director for ELCA Synodical Relations in 2000. Bender Schwich and her husband, the Rev. Daniel J. Schwick, director of the office of church and government relations, Lutheran Social Services of Illinois, Des Plaines, are the parents of three sons. Advocate Lutheran General Hospital is part of Advocate Health Care, which is a fully integrated health care delivery system related to the ELCA and United Church of Christ. EDITORS: "Schwich" and "Schwick" are spelled correctly. For information contact: John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or [log in to unmask] http://www.elca.org/news ELCA News Blog: http://www.elca.org/news/blog