Stortz Named Acting President of Pacific Lutheran Seminary

Chicago (ELCA)-FI — Dr. Martha Ellen Stortz, professor of historical theology and ethics, Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary (PLTS), Berkeley, Calif., was named acting president of the seminary, following the May 20 death of the Rev. Timothy F. Lull, PLTS president. PLTS is one of eight seminaries of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).

Stortz' appointment was announced May 22 in an open letter from the Rev. Steven L. McKinley, House of Prayer Lutheran Church, Richfield, Minn., chair of the PLTS board of directors; the Rev. Stanley N. Olson, executive director, ELCA Division for Ministry; and the Rev. Jonathan P. Strandjord, ELCA director for theological education.

"Dr. Martha Stortz, acting dean of the faculty, has agreed to serve as acting president until an interim president can be appointed," they wrote. The board intends to appoint an interim president by the end of June and to begin the presidential search process this fall.

"As we grieve the death of President Tim Lull, we also give thanks for his vision and express our own commitment to the future of Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary. Tim embraced and enhanced a vision that was first shaped 50 years ago by forward-thinking Lutherans on the West Coast," wrote McKinley, Olson and Strandjord.

"We have lost a great leader with a great dream. We claim that dream as our own — a dream that lives on in our alumni, students, faculty, staff, board and friends," they wrote. "The board is committed to an exciting and vibrant future for the seminary we love."

"The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America believes that PLTS is poised to continue strong and faithful and to grow in the service of Christ's mission," wrote McKinley, Olson and Strandjord.