CHICAGO (ELCA) -– The Rev. Gregory R. Pile, 54, was re-elected on the first ballot for bishop of the Allegheny Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) June 13 at the synod's assembly June 12-14 at Altoona Casino, Altoona, Pa.
Pile has served as bishop of the synod since 1993. He received 211 votes of the 244 ballots cast. The Rev. Brian W. Armen, pastor, Bethany Lutheran Church, Altoona, Pa., and the Rev. Kenneth M. Diable, pastor, Faith Lutheran Church, Somerset, Pa., received three votes each.
Before becoming bishop, Pile was pastor of New Centerville Parish, New Centerville, Pa. and was pastor of St. David's Lutheran Church, Davidsville, Pa.
Pile was born in Somerset, Pa. In 1971 he received his bachelor of arts degree from Gettysburg College, Gettysburg, Pa. He received his master of divinity degree from Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg (LTSG) in 1975. Gettysburg College is one of 28 ELCA colleges and universities, LTSG is one of eight ELCA seminaries.
Pile resides in Davidsville, Pa., with his wife, Barbara. They have three grown children.
The ELCA Allegheny Synod has 42,988 baptized members in 132 congregations. The synod office is in Altoona.
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* Jessica A. Crane is completing her bachelor of arts degree at Concordia College, Moorhead, Minn. This summer she is an intern with ELCA News and Media production.
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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.
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Candice Hill Buchbinder
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