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