
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, May 20, 1995                   TAG: 9505220062
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: CODY LOWE
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

LUTHERAN SYNOD CONVENES

The state's largest Lutheran body began its annual assembly Friday on the Roanoke College campus in Salem, charged with considering a $2 million annual budget and electing a bishop.

The Rev. Richard Bansemer is expected to be re-elected bishop of the Virginia Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Though balloting is open to any ordained member of the denomination, there appeared to be no organized opposition to Bansemer's re-election. Balloting for that and other offices will conclude today.

Delegates also are considering a $1,966,000 budget for 1996. Only minor changes are proposed to the current year's $1,931,000 budget.

For the fiscal year that ended Jan. 31, the synod fell about $83,000 short of fully funding its approved budget. The largest single cutback came in a $30,000 reduction in its designation to the national church. Smaller cuts were made to numerous other programs.

In other action Friday, delegates unanimously named retired Bishop Virgil A. Moyer Jr. "bishop emeritus" of the synod.

The assembly will conclude Sunday.

by CNB