Jennifer Dee Elected Bishop of the ELCA Northeastern Pennsylvania Synod

CHICAGO — The Rev. Jennifer Dee, Robesonia, Pa., was elected June 6 to serve a six-year term as bishop of the Northeastern Pennsylvania Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). The election took place during the synod assembly, June 4-6 at Split Rock Resort in Lake Harmony, Pa.

Dee was elected on the fifth ballot, with 215 votes. The Rev. Zachary Labagh, pastor of Allegheny Evangelical Lutheran Church in Mohnton, Pa., and associate to the bishop for the East Berks and West Berks mission districts, received 93 votes. A total of 155 votes was needed for election.

The bishop-elect has served as lead pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Robesonia since 2022 after serving as associate pastor from 2011 to 2022. She served as pastor of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Loogootee, Ind., from 2008 to 2011.

Dee earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Keene State College in 1997 and a Master of Divinity degree from the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia (now United Lutheran Seminary) in 2007. United is one of seven ELCA seminaries.

Dee will be installed on Oct. 31. A location has yet to be determined.

The Rev. Christopher deForest has served as synod bishop since 2020.

Learn more about the Northeastern Pennsylvania Synod.

- - -

About the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America:
The ELCA is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States, with 2.7 million members in more than 8,300 worshiping communities across the 50 states and in the Caribbean. 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.Buchbinder@elca.org

‍