2012 is an election year in America, and that means enduring the endless round of primaries across the country where immense sums of money are spent and nasty things are said that will later be used against the candidate who is eventually nominated. As the primaries roll on, the number of candidates dwindles. Michelle Bachman, Herman Cain, and Rick Perry had their moment in the sun, along with the character in New Hampshire known for wearing a snowshoe on his head, while promising a pony for every family in America if he would be elected president.

2012 also happens to be an election year in the Rocky Mountain Synod of the ELCA. We will elect a successor to Bishop Alan Bjornberg in April, 2012, when the Synod Assembly gathers in Colorado Springs. This election is not preceded by a series of primaries, but rather through what is known as an “Ecclesiastical Ballot.” Getting oneʼs name on this ballot is relatively easy to do, for any rostered ELCA clergy-person can be considered for this office, even if they are not currently serving a call within the Rocky Mountain Synod.

Usually, this ballot is created on the first day of a Synod Assembly where the election is to take place, and as you might guess, when it is presented to the delegates, it often contains a long list of names. Not surprisingly, there is the suspicion that some of the names appear as “self nominations” or as a way to honor someone who is respected and loved. Some are names of people who are well-known within the synod, but in many cases the names are of persons who are not recognized at all.

For the 2012 election, the Rocky Mountain Synod has made a change in this process. A series of meetings for clergy and lay persons were held across the Synod during 2011. In these meetings, information and ideas were shared about the office of bishop and an invitation extended to suggesting names to create the Ecclesiastical Ballot in advance of the Synod Assembly.

Earlier this month, these names appeared on the Synod Website. Our “Ecclesiastical Ballot” is now in place. The next step will be for those who have been nominated to indicate whether or not they feel called to be considered for election. If that is the case, they will submit biographical information to be shared with assembly delegates prior to gathering in Colorado Springs, so that there is a greater potential for an informed vote than was possible in the past.

Some 64 names are listed currently on the Rocky Mountain Synod web-site. Most of the individuals currently serve calls within our Synod; a number currently live and serve in other synods and in other parts of the county. Males outnumber females approximately 4:1, and at least 7 individuals who have been nominated are either retired or “on leave from call.” Of interest to members of Atonement is the fact that Pastor Jim Gonia, who served Atonement a few years ago and who currently serves in the Church Office in Chicago, has been nominated.

In a few short weeks, we will not only learn how many of these 64 names will be considered by the assembly delegates as the election process           proceeds. And more importantly, each of us, whether we are delegates or not, will also have access to important information on the background and qualifications each nominee brings for the process that will lead to a new bishop of the Rocky Mountain Synod, ELCA.

Rev. Dr. Carl L. Hansen +