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| Bishop Jessica Crist |
Jessica Crist elected chair of the ELCA Conference of Bishops - News Releases - Evangelical Lutheran Church in America:
'via Blog this'
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Jessica R. Crist, bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Montana Synod, Great Falls, Mont., was elected Oct. 1 to serve as chair of the ELCA Conference of Bishops. Crist, who will serve a four-year term, is the first female synod bishop ever to hold this position.
In response to her election, Crist said she has "great hope for the future of the church and respect for the many fine lay and clergy leaders who serve us."
Crist succeeds the Rev. Allan C. Bjornberg, bishop of the ELCA Rocky Mountain Synod, Denver. The Rev. Michael L. Burk, bishop of the ELCA Southeastern Iowa Synod, Iowa City, Iowa, was elected vice chair.
The ELCA Conference of Bishops is an advisory body of this church that includes the ELCA's 65 synod bishops, presiding bishop and secretary. It is meeting here Sept. 29-Oct. 4.
"Bishop Crist's election as chair of the Conference of Bishops reflects the great confidence the bishops have in her leadership," said ELCA Presiding Bishop Mark S. Hanson.
"She is highly respected for her clear proclamation of the gospel, her attentive listening to ELCA leaders and members, her collaborative approach to leadership and her passion for being engaged in God's mission for the life of the world," Hanson said. "She will lead the Conference of Bishops with a commitment to all voices being heard and our contribution to the life and work of the whole ELCA. It will be an honor to serve with her."
Born in Harrisburg, Pa., Crist earned a bachelor of arts degree in English literature from Yale University, New Haven, Conn., and a master of divinity degree in parish ministry from Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass. She was ordained in 1979 in the former Lutheran Church in America and served as pastor of University Lutheran Church, Cambridge, and First English Evangelical Lutheran Church, Great Falls.
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GJ - Ken Sauer, Ohio Synod, LCA, was chairman of the bishops' conference, and he is a principal leader in taking congregations out of ELCA and into the NALC. I understand six retired bishops belong to the NALC, which is similar to the LCMC.
