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Jim Fretheim New Northwest Conference Superintendent

ROSEMONT, IL (June 25, 2003) - Jim Fretheim is the new superintendent of the Northwest Conference of the Evangelical Covenant Church, replacing Paul Erickson who retires this year.

Fretheim, who previously served as the lead pastor of First Evangelical Covenant Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan, was recognized during the 118th Annual Meeting currently in progress. Before becoming the pastor of the Grand Rapids congregation of approximately 500 members, Fretheim served 16 years as senior pastor at Bloomington Covenant Church in the Twin Cities. He also served as pastor at Kingsburg Evangelical Covenant Church in central California and Bemidji Covenant Church in Bemidji, Minnesota.

A graduate of North Park Theological Seminary and an ordained Covenant pastor, Fretheim has served on numerous Northwest Conference boards. He also has many other denominational connections that should serve him well. He is finishing his term on the Executive Board of the Evangelical Covenant Church and previously served on the Board of the Ordered Ministry.

"Jim's experience in conference leadership and denominational leadership were important, as well as his ministry experience in a variety of contexts and involvement in both urban and rural ministry," said Brian Schanil, chair of the Northwest Conference. "He has demonstrated leadership and vision and a desire to develop, position and enable staff to carry out the mission and vision of the conference.

"Jim will bring maturity, wisdom, experience and compassion to the position of superintendent in a good balance between professional 'directiveness' and 'Lake Wobegon friendliness,'" said Schanil continued. "He is as comfortable in the board room as he is in the barn or the boundary waters."

Fretheim is the son of the late Arthur Fretheim, a longtime Covenant pastor and church planter. He and his wife, Kathleen, have two grown daughters.

Editor's note: For a pictorial look, see A pictorial look

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