CHICAGO — The Rev. Christa M. Compton, Chatham, N.J., was elected June 7 to serve a six-year term as bishop of the New Jersey Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). The election took place during the synod assembly, June 5-7 at the Hilton East Brunswick Hotel & Executive Meeting Center in East Brunswick, N.J.
Compton was elected on the fifth ballot, with 235 votes. The Rev. Maristela Freiberg, assistant to the bishop and director for evangelical mission in the New Jersey Synod, received 116 votes.
The bishop-elect has served as pastor of Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, Chatham, since 2013.
Compton earned a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Arts from the University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Va., both in 1993, and a Doctor of Philosophy from Stanford (Calif.) University in 2007.
She will take office on Sept. 1 and will be installed at First Baptist Church of Lincoln Gardens, East Franklin, N.J., on Aug. 23, at 1:30 p.m.
The Rev. Tracie L. Bartholomew has served as synod bishop since 2013.
Information about the New Jersey Synod is available here.
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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
