ELCA Churchwide Elections

[JMOtterman]

Is Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson a lock for 6 more years?  Who will be nominated for Secretary of the ELCA?  Who will run against Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson?

I would nominate Dr. Walter Taylor for the post of Presiding Bishop of the ELCA but who would you nominate for our Presiding Bishop?

PJ

[Vern]

Janaine England.

[Charles_Austin]

"We" do not nominate. The voting members of the Assembly nominate. I can only recall one time when a "candidate" presented himself to be president (presiding bishop) of the former LCA and that candidate was solidly defeated.  No one will "run against" Presiding Bishop Hanson, who has said he would accept another six-year term if elected. There will certainly be other names presented at the nominating ballot. There is no speculation so idle as that which muses on who might be or should be or could be a "new" presiding bishop.

[MMH]

We need someone who is not too liberal nor too conservative nor even too moderate.

We need someone who is highly intelligent and well-read, and not afraid to let you know that.

We need someone who has had practical experieince with the media from the inside out and is more than willing to share insights garnered from that experience

We need someone who is gourmet and music lover and not to shy to share.

We need someone, at a time when the ELCA is being pulled in many differnt directions, who is not afraid to tell you when you are wrong and why he is right.

Brothers and Sisters, the man and the hour are met-

I give you-


CHARLES AUSTIN- Next presiding Bishop of the ELCA!

Matt Hummel+

[JMOtterman]

"We" do not nominate. The voting members of the Assembly nominate. I can only recall one time when a "candidate" presented himself to be president (presiding bishop) of the former LCA and that candidate was solidly defeated. No one will "run against" Presiding Bishop Hanson, who has said he would accept another six-year term if elected. There will certainly be other names presented at the nominating ballot. There is no speculation so idle as that which muses on who might be or should be or could be a "new" presiding bishop.

CA said" "We" do not nominate."

PJ replies  "I am not a we, and yes Charles I am a voting member of the ELCA Churchwide Assembly for 2007.  I am looking for suggestions.  I may nominate someone else if someone convinces me why they should be the Presiding Bishop. 

CA said "No one will "run against" Presiding Bishop Hanson.

PJ replies  "it is Symantics to think I meant that someone would "run against" Presiding Bishop Hanson.  But what metaphor would you use instead of "run against"?

CA said "There is no speculation so idle as that which muses on who might be or should be or could be a "new" presiding bishop."

PJ replies "Then why did thee post, or are you just bored?" 

The nomination of another candidate need be a person which would have an opportunity to succeed in creating a healthy environment at the churchwide assembly, the easy way out and not so healthy situation is to forego finding a candidate to face Presiding Bishop Hanson on the issues that continue to divide the church, and just vote Presiding Bishop Hanson in for another 6 years.

CA you didn't say who you would vote for Secretary or Treasurer.  I know, I know "there is no speculation so idle as that which muses on who might be, should be, or could be a new secretary or treasurer."  So I should just keep my mouth shut, my head in the sand, and my posterior exposed for yet another hind end whipin?

pj

[Eric_Swensson]

Charles ir right. Eccesial ballot means that something sacred happens at the assembly. It is a mysterian. It is too holy and sacred that mere mortals should participate in a discussion of it. Even though who leads the ELCA in such perilous times (think, we could get a Schoriite) is probably of historic importance, do not discuss it. It is futile.

I nominate both Donfried and Egland (so to speak, just for the sake of healthy discussion) and would be happy with either.

[Harvey_Mozolak]

To stand any outside chance a number of things would have to happen...
perhaps the PB Hansen could show some weakness in the opening hours of the convention where people might perceive that he is not the best person for the moment....  he falters in some way...
some nominee garners enough votes to keep the process going beyond the second or so ballot and then a candiat speaks or is questioned by the assembly AND has a strong and persuasive verbal presentation ...
people speak of the Spirit guiding the process of the ecclesastical ballot and the do so in sarcastic and in pious tones...
I can accept the view that in up for grabs elections where there is no incumbent that the Spirit has manuvering room... but when an incumbent who has not been incompetent stands for election it is as if the assembly comes not to elect a bishop but to confirm a bishop... do you see my distinction....  who unelects a bishop and why?  the ecclesiastical ballot (and ours is not a pure one) gives the appearance of plenty of openness on that first ballot but there is this big assumption that all those who vote know all the candidates and know them well enough to cast Spirit-inspired ballots.  I think we should go back to nominating and politiking.  Harvey Mozolak

[Jeffrey Spencer]

I'm a voting member to the CWA too.  So I guess there's more than one "we" among us...

I too would like to hear who might have a chance at being elected PB or Secretary.  Unfortunately, I think The Lutheran's subtle hit piece on Donfried (July 2007) will make it hard for him to get any traction as a candidate for PB.  I'll be watching for his name, though.  I'd love to vote for a buddy of B16.

Who else might have a chance at these important offices?  It's sometimes hard out here in the "none zone" of the Pacific Northwest to become aware of potential candidates (or, if that's too political a term, potential presiding-bishop or secretary-elects). 

Unless the ecclessial ballot process makes it to the phase where people get to address the assembly, it is almost entirely an exercise in name recognition.  Even Tim Lull of blessed memory (who was generally pleased with the direction of the ELCA) thought our balloting process had to be reformed for a church of this size. 

Anyway, anyone care to guess whose names might show up with more than a handful of votes?  Too bad Richard Johnson just landed a cushy new job.

I have no idea who might emerge as a potential new secretary of the ELCA, and that's an important position.  I think that's where you'll see the fur fly in Chicago in terms of elections.

So, I second the motion to let the rank speculation begin!

Jeffrey Spencer
St. Paul Lutheran Church
Winlock, WA

[Richard Johnson]

Unfortunately, I think The Lutheran's subtle hit piece on Donfried (July 2007) will make it hard for him to get any traction as a candidate for PB. 

Now that's an interesting suggestion . . . Think there was some conspiracy afoot?

[Eric_Swensson]

Unfortunately, I think The Lutheran's subtle hit piece on Donfried (July 2007) will make it hard for him to get any traction as a candidate for PB. 

Now that's an interesting suggestion . . . Think there was some conspiracy afoot?

Is the sarcasm smiley?

[Keith Falk]

Is Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson a lock for 6 more years?  Who will be nominated for Secretary of the ELCA?  Who will run against Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson?

I would nominate Dr. Walter Taylor for the post of Presiding Bishop of the ELCA but who would you nominate for our Presiding Bishop?

PJ

I'm curious... why Dr. Taylor?

[MEKoch]

Who are the candidates for Secretary of the ELCA?  My wife is a "person of color" delegate.

Michael Koch

[Jeffrey Spencer]

Unfortunately, I think The Lutheran's subtle hit piece on Donfried (July 2007) will make it hard for him to get any traction as a candidate for PB. 

Now that's an interesting suggestion . . . Think there was some conspiracy afoot?

Is the sarcasm smiley?

For the record:

Joking or not, I don't think there was a consipiracy.  Instead of calling it a "hit piece," I should have just described it as an unfair and ill-timed (for Donfried) article that might affect his credibility among many at the CWA.  After all, the voting members at the CWA are probably among those dwindling numbers that still read The Lutheran.  They might well see his name and think, "Hey -- I read about him in last month's Lutheran magazine.  He's that mean guy who said the ELCA is full of aliens."

I also think that even though said article and comments by the editor were unfortunate, that overall, The Lutheran is generally a good magazine which has improved greatly under the new editor.

Jeffrey Spencer

[Richard Johnson]

I also think that even though said article and comments by the editor were unfortunate, that overall, The Lutheran is generally a good magazine which has improved greatly under the new editor.

Wouldn't disagree. OTOH, there was nowhere to go but up!

[JMOtterman]

Keith,

Why Dr. Taylor?  His candidacy would create an opportunity for discussion with Presiding Bishop Hanson and the voting members of CWA.  He is pastoral in his identity even as the toughest scholastic professor at Trinity Lutheran Seminary, he listens to people and he cares even in his disagreements.  I haven't asked him yet if I might be able to put his name into the ring but I will today.  Even as he might not get the nod his presence might carry the CWA to create healthy dialogue and find ways to future agreements.  He is passionate about the bible and the hermeneutic issues that tend to bog down the ELCA.  He would be a viable candidate, he was a successful pastor, he is a successful professor of New Testament, a man who champions tradition, Lutheran theology, identity, and he brings excellence as a way of life.  Of course, if he were editing my slop here at would fail, but my belief is that he might bring back some of those 250,000 folks that have left the church over issues not essential to the meaning of being a Lutheran Christian. 

PJ