wfn.org | Marie Jerge Elected Bishop of ELCA Upstate New York Synod

[News News <NEWS@ELCA.ORG>]

ELCA NEWS SERVICE

June 4, 2002

MARIE JERGE ELECTED BISHOP OF ELCA UPSTATE NEW YORK SYNOD
02-128-AW*/ML*

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Marie C. Jerge was elected June 4 to a
six-year term as bishop of the Upstate New York Synod of the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).   She was elected during the synod's
assembly June 2-4 at the State University of New York, Oswego, N.Y.,
June 2-4.
     Jerge (YER-gee), 49, has served as an assistant to the bishop of
the Upstate New York Synod since 1988.  Before she was on the synod
staff, Jerge served as pastor of St. Mark Evangelical Lutheran Church,
Mayville, N.Y., and co-pastor of Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church,
Silver Creek, N.Y.
     Jerge was elected on the fifth ballot with 376 votes over the Rev.
Nelson W. Gaetz, Atonement Lutheran Church, Syracuse, N.Y., who received
171 votes. Jerge led on the fourth ballot with 272 votes, over Gaetz
with 174 votes, and the Rev. Charles "Rusty" May, First Lutheran Church,
Jamestown, N.Y., with 104 votes.  There were 16 names on the nominating
ballot.
     Jerge will succeed the Rev. Lee M. Miller, who announced last fall
he would not seek re-election and retire. Miller has served as bishop of
the synod since 1992.  Jerge begins her term Sept. 1 and she will be
installed as bishop Sept. 21 in Syracuse.
     Jerge was born in Mineola, N.Y.  She earned her bachelor of arts
degree from Smith College, Northhampton, Mass., and a master of divinity
degree from Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia, one of eight
ELCA seminaries.
     Jerge is married to the Rev. James N. Jerge, pastor of Prince of
Peace Lutheran Church, Depew, N.Y.
     The ELCA Upstate New York Synod has 84, 510 baptized members in
197 congregations.  Its main office is located in Syracuse.
-- -- --
EDITORS: Jerge is the sixth woman to be elected as a synod bishop in the
ELCA.

*Amy Wineinger is a junior at Wartburg College, Waverly, Iowa.  She is
an intern this summer with ELCA News and Media Production.

*Mary Luisi is the editor of The Lutheran and Upstate Uplink for the
ELCA Upstate New York Synod.

For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://listserv.elca.org/archives/elcanews.html