Fourth moderator candidate announced
By Edward Terry, The Layman, April 28, 2010
Editor’s note: Article updated April 29, 2010
What originally appeared to be an either-or choice for moderator of the Presbyterian Church (USA)’s 219th General Assembly, has apparently expanded to a four-person race.
The Rev. Eric Nielson
Office of the General Assembly Director of Operations Thomas Hay has confirmed that the Rev. Eric Nielsen, pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Eau Claire, Wis., has announced his candidacy.
Nielsen confirmed his candidacy with The Layman by phone on April 29, and said the Presbytery of Northern Waters will vote on it at the May 6 meeting.
According to the church Web site, Nielsen is an M.Div. graduate of Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary and has been with First Presbyterian in Eau Claire since 2001. He also has served churches in Iowa and Illinois, and is former moderator of the Synod of Lakes and Prairies.
Currently, Nielsen serves on the Presbytery of Northern Waters Permanent Judicial Commission, and the budgeting and finance committee. He is married and has two children.
Nielsen joins Elder Cynthia Bolbach from National Capital and the Rev. Jin S. Kim from Twin Cities Area, both of whom had announced their candidacy months ago. On April 27, the Presbytery of Western North Carolina endorsed the Rev. Maggie Lauterer, pastor of First Presbyterian in Burnsville, N.C., as a candidate for moderator.
As of Wednesday, Hay had not received notice from Lauterer, he said. At the Western North Carolina Presbytery meeting, however, Lauterer confirmed her intent to notify the Office of the General Assembly this week.
Now that there are four candidates, Hay said he does not anticipate any additional ones, but admitted that Nielsen’s announcement was a surprise.
“I think with two there was an itch to fill out the field, that itch is probably gone at this point,” Hay said. “We hadn’t had two in long time.”
The moderator election will take place during the GA meeting, which is scheduled for July 3-10 in Minneapolis, Minn.