Marie Jerge elected Bishop of ELCA Upstate New York Synod

From the ELCA News Service:

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.

From the Ecunet listserv, a note from Marie Jerge

Dear friends,
I can't thank you all enough for your many prayers through the days, weeks and in some cases years that have led to this day. This morning it was announced that the Upstate New York Synod had called me to be their next bishop. The whole experience was awesome, overwhelming, exhausting, exhilarating and as spirit-filled as I could have hoped for. There is a huge job ahead... but for now I am savoring the grace of these days and singing God's praises. Please continue praying - and especially for today - make it a prayer of thanksgiving. Yesterday (when all the balloting was done) was my 24th anniversary of ordination and it is surely a day that I will always remember. Much is still a blur, but I wanted you to know the news. I'm sure you will hear more in the days to come. My installation is set for Sat. Sept. 21 in Syracuse for any who are able to make the trip.

In Christ,
Marie, Bishop-elect
Upstate New York Synod (I keep writing that hoping it will begin to sink in!)