Bishop steps in to help Minn. congregation heal

The Minneapolis bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is resigning his position to become the interim pastor at the largest ELCA congregation in the U.S.

Bishop Craig Johnson will become interim pastor on August 1, announced a statement released Monday by Mount Olivet Lutheran Church in Minneapolis. Johnson replaces longtime Mount Olivet pastor Paul Youngdahl, who died last week.

"My primary role will be to build a foundation for helping the members and staff heal from this trauma and move the congregation forward in its mission." said Johnson in the church statement. "Rarely do pastors receive an opportunity to give back to a congregation later in life that has so profoundly shaped their ministry. Rarely are we able to honor the legacy of a friend, mentor, and colleague."

For the last 10 years, Johnson was the ELCA's Minneapolis Area Synod bishop. He also is a member of Mount Olivet and served as associate pastor under Youngdahl for 14 years.