wfn.org | Jones Elected Bishop of ELCA Northwestern Pennsylvania Synod

[News News <NEWS@ELCA.ORG>]

ELCA NEWS SERVICE

June 12, 2001

JONES ELECTED BISHOP OF ELCA NORTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA SYNOD
01-158-MH*/JB

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Ralph E. Jones was elected June 8 to a
six-year term as bishop of the Northwestern Pennsylvania Synod of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).  Jones, 46, is pastor of
St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Corry, Pa.
     Jones was elected on the fourth ballot for bishop at the synod
assembly at Thiel College, an ELCA college in Greenville, Pa.  Assembly
voting members elected Jones 135-48 over the Rev. John W. Tickner, an
assistant to the bishop for the synod.  The Rev. Harold O. Jacobson,
Grace Lutheran Church, Clarion, Pa., received 42 votes on the fourth
ballot.  There were 32 nominees on the first ballot.
     Jones will become bishop Sept. 1, succeeding the Rev. Paull E.
Spring, who has served as synod bishop since 1987.  Spring, 62, said
earlier he wanted to return to parish ministry and has accepted a call
to serve at Grace Lutheran Church, State College, Pa., when his term
concludes.  Jones will be installed as bishop Sept. 29 at Good Hope
Lutheran Church, Oil City, Pa.
     Jones was born in Kittanning, Pa.  He earned a bachelor's degree
in theology from Gettysburg College, an ELCA college in Gettysburg, Pa.
Jones earned a master of divinity degree from the Lutheran Theological
Seminary at Gettysburg, an ELCA seminary.
     Before he became pastor at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Jones
served as a pastor at the synod's Town and Country ministry, a
cooperative ministry of 19 congregations which shared pastors.  He also
served ELCA congregations in Apollo and Oil City, Pa.
     Jones is the father of one grown son.  His wife Wendy died in
April following a lengthy battle with cancer.
     The ELCA Northwestern Pennsylvania Synod has 31,871 baptized
members in 93 congregations.  Its offices are in Seneca, Pa.
-- -- --
[*Mary A. Housholder is administrative assistant for the ELCA
Northwestern Pennsylvania Synod.]

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