Svennungsen Elected Fund for Theological Education President

Chicago (ELCA)-JAC* — The Rev. Ann M. Svennungsen, a pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), was elected president of the Fund for Theological Education July 22 in Atlanta. Svennungsen, most recently of Trinity Lutheran Church, Moorhead, Minn., succeeds James L. Waits, who retires at the end of this year. Waits served as president for the past five years.

The Fund for Theological Education, established in 1954, attracts young people to ministries of the church. It also awards scholarship support to candidates of color or whose primary language is not English for their doctoral work in theology. Since its founding, the Fund has supported more than 6,000 individuals.

"It has made a very important contribution to the quality of ministry," said Waits about the fund.

Svennungsen received her bachelor degree in mathematics from Concordia College, Moorhead, Minn. She received her master of divinity degree from Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minn. Concordia and Luther are among 28 colleges and universities and eight seminaries of the ELCA.

Svennungsen has served in several ELCA leadership positions, including chair of the Annual Conference of ELCA Senior Pastors of Larger Congregations, principal administrator of a Lilly Endowment Transition into Ministry Grant and board member of the Alban Institute, Washington, D.C.

"Svennungsen was attractive to the Fund because she has had a very successful career as a pastor," Waits said. "There's a warmth of personality and deep devotion to ministry in her."

Svennungsen will become president effective Jan. 1, 2004. She will serve as president-elect until that time.

The Fund for Theological Education is supported through personal gifts and grants from several foundations.

*Jessica A. Crane is completing her bachelor of arts degree at Concordia College, Moorhead, Minn. This summer she is an intern with ELCA News and Media Production.