Title: Marvin Roloff Will Head Augusburg Fortress
ELCA NEWS SERVICE
April 26, 1996
MARVIN ROLOFF WILL HEAD AUGSBURG FORTRESS
COLUMBUS, OHIO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Marvin L. Roloff, 62, was
elected president and CEO of Augsburg Fortress Publishers by
unanimous vote of the Board of the Publishing House here today.
Augsburg Fortress is the publishing house of the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America. Roloff has served for a year as
acting president and CEO, following the resignation of Gary J.N.
Aamodt, while continuing as director for customer resources and
relationships.
In his report to the board Roloff said, "The publishing
house finds itself as a resource provider in a culture that is
caught between a poverty of values and a search for spirituality."
In an interview he described the past year as one of "formation."
He said, "Augsburg Fortress is positioned on the threshold of
opportunity for religious publishing, preparing itself to serve
the church and society."
Roloff has guided the publishing house through a difficult
period in which new computer systems were installed and essential
functions were reorganized and centralized: distribution here in
Columbus, order fulfillment at the headquarters in Minneapolis.
Alan T. Seagren, Lincoln, Neb., board chair, said Roloff's
gifts include his knowledge and understanding of Augsburg
Fortress based on almost 30 years of service. "He has historical
perspective. He has seen significant change and has the ability
to identify and move rapidly toward the change that is needed."
Seagren said he admires Roloff's knowledge of the church and
appreciates "his willingness to address tough issues, to get them
out on the table and deal with them." Seagren said the board
will encourage Roloff to strengthen the publishing house in the
area of technology.
Augsburg Fortress employs more than 400 people and is the
third largest Protestant church-owned publisher in the United
States. It provides resources for the congregations, pastors and
members of the ELCA.
Roloff's work with the publishing house dates back to 1965,
when he began as an editor of confirmation materials. He served
in the area of curriculum and resource development in the former
American Lutheran Church and in 1976 became director for
education resources for Augsburg Publishing. Since the creation
of the ELCA and Augsburg Fortress in 1987, Roloff has moved into
work in marketing and customer relations.
A graduate of Wartburg College, Waverly, Iowa, Roloff earned
graduate degrees at Wartburg Theological Seminary, Dubuque, Iowa,
and Princeton Theological Seminary, Princeton, N.J. He was ordained
in 1961 and served as pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Green Bay,
Wisconsin.
Roloff has been a visiting professor at Luther Seminary, St.
Paul, Minn., teaching Christian education.
Marvin and Shirley Roloff reside in Bloomington, Minn.,
where they are members of Christ the King Lutheran Church. They
are the parents of three adult children.
For information contact: Ann Hafften, Dir., ELCA News Service,
(312) 380-2958; Frank Imhoff, Assoc. Dir., (312) 380-2955; Lia
Christiansen, Asst. Dir., (312) 380-2956
