CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. David G. Mullen was elected to a six- year term as bishop of the Sierra Pacific Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) at the synod assembly in Fresno, Calif., April 25-27. Mullen will succeed the Rev. Robert W. Mattheis, who announced in October he would resign as bishop May 31.
Mattheis, who was treated for kidney and prostate cancer, expects to make a full recovery, he said in a letter to synod congregations. But because the treatment and recovery process had taken longer than anticipated, Mattheis said he felt his decision to resign was necessary.
Mattheis was elected to a six-year term as bishop of the synod in 1994 and re-elected to a second six-year term in 2000.
Mullen, 59, is pastor at Calvary Lutheran Church, Rio Linda, Calif., where he has served since 1994. He was elected on the sixth ballot for bishop with 348 votes over the Rev. Richard O. Johnson, Peace Lutheran Church, Grass Valley, Calif., 133 votes, and the Rev. Brian H. Hughes, assistant to the bishop, Sierra Pacific Synod, Oakland, Calif., 101 votes. There were 87 names on the nominating ballot.
Mullen's installation as bishop is planned for June 15 in Stockton, Calif.
Born in Bloomer, Wis., Mullen earned a bachelor's degree in 1965 from St. Olaf College, Northfield, Minn., one of 28 ELCA colleges and universities. He earned a master of divinity in 1969 from Luther Seminary, St. Paul., Minn., one of eight ELCA seminaries.
Following his ordination in 1969, he served as associate pastor of Christ Lutheran Church, Minot, N.D., until 1974, when he was called to serve as pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church, Westhope, N.D. In 1984 he became pastor of Calvary Lutheran Church, Eureka, Calif., where he served until he was called to Calvary, Rio Linda.
Mullen and his wife Susan reside in Antelope, Calif. They are parents of three grown children.
The ELCA Sierra Pacific Synod has 74,301 baptized members in 214 congregations. The synod office is located in Oakland.
For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://listserv.elca.org/archives/elcanews.html
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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 2.8 million members in more than 8,500 worshiping communities 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.
For information contact:
Candice Hill Buchbinder
Public Relations Manager
Candice.HillBuchbinder@ELCA.org
