Christa M. Compton Elected Bishop of the ELCA New Jersey Synod

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 on their website.