GREEN LAKE, WI (June 25, 2008) \u2013 Delegates to the 123rd Annual Meeting of the Evangelical Covenant Church today elected Gary B. Walter to serve as the denomination\u2019s ninth president.
\n
\nHe will assume his new responsibilities on September 1, succeeding retiring President Glenn R. Palmberg.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a day of great joy, of wonder, and of excitement,\u201d said Brian Madvig, chair of the Presidential Nominating Committee when introducing the nomination.<\/p>\n
![\"Gary\"](\"http:\/\/www.covchurch.org\/uploads\/UW\/f4\/UWf4QJwBm26iCDN5fjdBZA\/Gary.jpg\")
A 27-member Presidential Nominating Committee chose Walter from among seven finalists. \u201cEvery one of them would have led us in wondrous ways,\u201d Madvig said. He added that all of the finalists prayed for one another during the process.<\/p>\n
Walter has served as executive minister of the Department of Church Growth and Evangelism (CGE) since 1999. Prior to being elected to that position, Walter served as the director of church planting.<\/p>\n
Since Walter began as CGE executive minister, the Covenant has experienced 56 percent growth through church planting and initiatives to strengthen existing churches. Much of this growth has been in ethnic ministry with 22 percent of all ECC congregations now in that category.<\/p>\n
Marva Watts placed Walter\u2019s name into nomination. There were no nominations from the floor.<\/p>\n
In remarks prior to the vote, Walter said, \u201cI am humbled by the nomination, I am overwhelmed by the responsibilities.\u201d He added, however, \u201cIt will be no burden, it will be an honor to give myself to the church that has given so much to me.\u201d<\/p>\n
Walter, 53, gave his life to Christ while in high school and attending a Covenant church plant. \u201cI am a product of the mission of the Covenant,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
His remarks also announced his hope for the future of that mission. Quoting current President Glenn Palmberg, Walter declared, \u201cWe are a small denomination, but not too small to change the world.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI also have a vision for the character of the Covenant,\u201d Walter said. \u201cWe all want to be part of something great, and I want to be part of something great.\u201d He explained that he prays the Covenant will live out the true meaning of greatness, but not as the world uses the word. \u201cI want Jesus to help me understand what great really means.\u201d<\/p>\n
Walter said Jesus\u2019 comments in Matthew 5:19, Matthew 18:2-4, and Matthew 20:25-27 reflect that the character of greatness is being an obedient, humble, servant. \u201cI want that to be the mark of our greatness.\u201d<\/p>\n
The result, he said, \u201cwill be the entire church living out the entire gospel in the entire world.\u201d<\/p>\n
Walter said that although he views his election as an honor, \u201cIt really matters not who is president. What matters to our future is who is the head of this church and in all of our lives, and in this church. May it always be – and only be – Christ.\u201d<\/p>\n
Walter is a graduate of the University of California-Berkeley and North Park Theological Seminary. He previously served as a pastor at Newport Covenant Church in Bellevue, Washington, and Clairemont Covenant Church in San Diego, California. He and his wife, Nancy, are founding members of DeerGrove Covenant Church in Palatine, Illinois, and have three daughters: Amy, Alissa, and Lauren.<\/p>\n