The Rev. Steven Delzer, of Faribault, Minn., has been elected to a six-year term as bishop of the Southeastern Minnesota Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Delzer was elected on the fifth ballot during the synod assembly June 7 and 8 in Rochester, Minn. He will replace Rev. Harold Usgaard, who was formerly a pastor St. Olaf Lutheran Church in Austin.

“I have deep trust that the spirit will be with us as we walk through the doors that God opens for us,” Delzer said upon the announcement of his election.

Delzer is currently the lead pastor at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, Faribault, where he has served since 2002. He previously served as an interim pastor at Zion Lutheran Church, West Union, Iowa, from 2000 to 2001 and First Lutheran Church, Albert Lea, Minn., in 2001. Prior to 2000, he served congregations in the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod.

Delzer will be installed on Sept. 7. He and his wife Donita live in Faribault.

Delzer was elected on the fifth ballot with 310 votes. The Rev. Vernon Christopherson received 171 votes on that ballot. Delzer received 232 votes on the fourth ballot, and Christopherson received 135 votes. The Rev. Glenn Monson of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Austin, who was nominated for the position for the second time in his career, received 68 votes on the fourth ballot.

Information about the Southeastern Minnesota Synod is available at semn

synod.org.