On 15 October this year, the LELBĀL Bishop Election Commission, at a session held on the premises of the Seattle church, established that the list of those entitled to vote comprised 184 units – congregations, clergy, and congregation staff – with 205 votes. Of the 183 envelopes of election materials sent out, 172 responses were received with 196 votes (95%).
Dean Lauma Zušēvica received 140, dean Andris Abakuks 35, and dean emeritus Fricis T. Kristbergs 19 votes. One ballot was blank and one – invalid.
The Church Administration has confirmed the election result.
Congregations from 10 different countries took part in the voting – the USA, Australia, Belgium, New Zealand, Canada, Russia (St. Petersburg), Latvia, Great Britain, Germany, and Sweden.
The LELBĀL congregation comments that the high percentage of participants in the voting and the keen interest in the election and its results indicate that “our Church is alive and active”. LELBĀL also wishes its newly elected bishop, with God’s blessing, to lead the Church for the next seven years, and the congregations to work alongside with faithfulness, cooperation, and love.
Republished with minor corrections from http://www.lelba.org/lv/?timeZone=Europe/Berlin (viewed 19.10.2014.)
Aļesja Lavrinoviča
Proofreader Mag. Theol. Milda Klampe