WINNIPEG, Manitoba — The top bishop in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America was elected president of the Lutheran World Federation during the July 26 Winnipeg, Manitoba, meeting.
Mark Hanson was elected to a six-year term. Hanson, who will remain as head of the 5.1 million-member ELCA, was elected on the first ballot in a 267-111 vote, beating out Susan C. Johnson, vice president of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada.
The Geneva-based LWF is comprised of 136 member churches representing 61.7 million Lutherans around the world. The LWF’s Winnipeg meeting ended July 31.
Hanson said he assumes the post “with a great spirit of humility” and pledged “to listen, to lead by learning and accompanying you.” Hanson said he wants to improve relations with the Roman Catholic Church and the St. Louis-based Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod — which is not a member of the LWF — and increase leadership roles for women.
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