A Twin Cities-educated minister has been elected as the next bishop of the Northeastern Minnesota Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
The Rev. Thomas M. Aitken, 52, was elected Sunday on the fifth ballot by voting members to the annual Synod Assembly at the Duluth Entertainment and Convention Center.
He succeeds the Rev. Peter Strommen, who is completing his second six-year term and was not eligible for reelection.
"Bishop Peter has led our [synod's] congregations faithfully and carefully for the past twelve years," Aitken wrote in recent days on the website of his church, First Lutheran Church in International Falls, Minn. "He has modeled what it means to be grounded in the Gospel of Jesus Christ and faithful to our call to do ministry in Jesus name."
Aitken, was born in Fargo and grew up in Minneapolis. He received his Bachelor of Arts from Northwestern College in Roseville and Master of Divinity from Luther Seminary in St. Paul. His first call was to Emmanuel/Immanuel Lutheran Parish in Hillman, Minn., followed by a call as associate pastor to First Lutheran Church in Brainerd, Minn. Along with First Lutheran, where he has been pastor for 16 years, Aitken is currently serving Bethany Lutheran Church in Loman, Minn.
Aitken will take office Aug. 1. His installation service will be Aug. 23 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Brainerd.
Aitken and his wife, Becky, have two adult children.
Paul Walsh • 612-673-4482
