The Reverend Ralph A. Kempski served as Bishop of the Indiana- Kentucky Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America from 1979 to 1998. The synod had 241 congregations, 87,000 members and 320 clergy. Kempski’s chief functions were to give counsel and guidance to the synod’s churches, pastors, and associates in ministry, to administer a $2.9 million budget and a professional and support staff of clergy and lay persons, to represent the Synod and Evangelical Lutheran Church in America in a variety of situations and on a number of boards, and to preside over an annual assembly. Prior to his election as bishop, he served as pastor of Epiphany Lutheran Church, Minneapolis, MN: St. Stephen Lutheran Church, Fern Creek, KY; and Our Saviour Lutheran Church, West Lafayette, IN.