CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. E. Roy Riley, Jr., was re-elected to a six-year term as bishop of the New Jersey Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) at the synod assembly May 10-12 at East Brunswick, N.J. Riley, 53, has served as bishop of the synod since 1991.
He was re-elected on the second ballot for bishop with 356 votes, over the Rev. Phillip M. Johnson, St. Paul Lutheran Church, Jersey City, N.J., with 12 votes, and the Rev. Patricia S. Medley, Hope Lutheran Church, Freehold, N.J., with 10 votes. There were 36 names on the nominating ballot. Riley's new term begins Sept. 1.
Riley, a native of Columbia, S.C., was assistant to the bishop of the New Jersey Synod before he was elected bishop. He served as pastor at Augsburg Lutheran Church, Winston-Salem, N.C., following his ordination in 1974.
Riley completed his seminary education at Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary, Columbia. He earned a bachelor's degree in English from Lenoir-Rhyne College, Hickory, N.C. Lenoir-Rhyne is one of 28 ELCA colleges and universities.
Riley and his wife, Elizabeth, have four grown children.
The ELCA New Jersey Synod has 79,139 members in 195 congregations. Its offices are in Trenton.
*Kathy Knodt is stewardship/communications specialist for the ELCA New Jersey Synod.
For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://listserv.elca.org/archives/elcanews.html
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About the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America:
The ELCA is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States, with 2.8 million members in more than 8,500 worshiping communities across the 50 states and in the Caribbean region. Known as the church of "God's work. Our hands.," the ELCA emphasizes the saving grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, unity among Christians and service in the world. The ELCA's roots are in the writings of the German church reformer Martin Luther.
For information contact:
Candice Hill Buchbinder
Public Relations Manager
Candice.HillBuchbinder@ELCA.org
