Title: Thompson Will Lead ELCA Human Resources
ELCA NEWS SERVICE
December 18, 1997
ELSE THOMPSON WILL LEAD ELCA HUMAN RESOURCES
97-36-108-97
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Else Thompson, 50,
Appleton, Wis., was elected to a four-year term as
director of the Department for Human Resources of
the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America,
beginning Jan. 2. She succeeds Thomas P. Vaaler,
St. Paul, Minn., who has served as interim
director since April.
Thompson is the director for human resource
planning at Aid Association for Lutherans, a post
she held for 12 years. AAL is a fraternal
benefits organization based in Appleton, Wis. The
ELCA's Church Council confirmed Presiding Bishop
H. George Anderson's recommendation of Thompson at
its meeting here Nov. 14-16.
At AAL Thompson designed and implemented an
employee orientation program, conducted a total
human resource policy audit and revision,
developed a plan to enhance the diversity of AAL's
workforce, supervised the employment and
compensation units, and implemented the first
competency-based employee development process.
She led a team that developed and implemented the
organization-wide Total Quality Management
initiative to improve productivity and customer
satisfaction, and conducted an organization-wide
culture assessment in support of leadership
transition.
"In addition to the broad spectrum of human
resource skills that Thompson will bring, she has
special skills in the areas of curriculum
development and training," said Vaaler. Thompson
is a member of the Society for Human Resource
Management, the Human Resource Planning Society
and is an adjunct faculty member at Concordia
College, Mequon, Wis. She earned a bachelor's
degree from St. Olaf College, Northfield, Minn.,
and a master's degree in curriculum and
supervision from the University of Wisconsin,
Oshkosh.
In an interview Thompson said she will begin
by spending most of her time "listening and
learning" to study the ELCA's human resource
systems and people practices ... "to help
facilitate a productive and enjoyable work
environment." A role of the human resource
professional is "to help people help themselves.
Employees are important to accomplish the mission
of an organization." she said.
"Thompson references were united in their
praise of her dedication, intelligence, steep
learning curve, sense of humor, sensitivity and
common sense," said Vaaler, who served on the
search committee. "Those who have worked with her
admire her ability to understand, practice and
connect the complexities of the human resource
world while remaining fully aware of the business
world around her. Her love of the church is
expressed in her living faith and practice which
has been evidenced by those to whom we spoke," he
said.
The ELCA human resource department recommends
to the ELCA Church Council personnel policies for
the churchwide organization including
equal-employment opportunity and affirmative
action, recruitment, interview and selection,
compensation and benefits, fair-employment
practices, staff position descriptions,
performance evaluation and training.
In another action, Forrest R. Bedke, South
Bend, Ind., has been named director for management
services of the ELCA beginning Jan. 2. Bedke
served as the director of purchasing for South
Bend Community School Corporation, Ind., since
1992. He was director of administrative services
for Indiana University at South Bend from 1989 to
1991.
"Bedke will be able to use his experience in
purchasing and contracts administration throughout
the Churchwide offices, as well as into other
areas of the church," said Vaaler.
"Employees of the churchwide office have been
accustomed to human resources and managements
services as a combined function. That will no
longer be the case," said Vaaler. "Management
services and human resources will operate as two
separate departments," he said. "I'm sure the
employees in both functions together with their
new leadership will maintain very close and
cooperative working relationships," Vaaler said.
Bedke earned a master's degree in music,
performance and music theory at the University of
Cincinnati in 1974. He completed graduate
courses in administrative theory, organizational
behavior and curriculum development. He belongs
to the Indiana Association of School Business
Officials.
For information contact:
Ann Hafften, Director (773) 380-2958 or
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