Marie Jerge

Rev. Marie C. Jerge (née Scharfe, born c. 1953) is a former bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

Marie Jerge
ChurchEvangelical Lutheran Church in America
DioceseUpstate New York Synod
In office2002-2014
PredecessorLee M. Miller
SuccessorJohn S. Macholz
Orders
Ordination1978
Personal details
BornMineola, NY, United States
NationalityAmerican
DenominationLutheranism

She graduated from Babylon High School in 1970[1] and earned a bachelor of arts degree from Smith College in 1974.[2] In 1978, she received a master of divinity degree from Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia[3][4] and was ordained as a minister.[5]

She was elected in 2002 to a six-year term as bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's (ELCA) Upstate New York Synod. She was the sixth woman to be elected as a synod bishop in the ELCA. Jerge (YER-gee)[6][7] succeeded the Rev. Lee M. Miller, who did not seek re-election after serving as bishop of the synod for 10 years. She was installed on September 21, 2002.[8][9]

In her time as bishop, she oversaw 198 churches with over 150,000 congregants.[10] She requested the resignation of a pastor who was accused of sexual activity with multiple minors in 2004.[11] In January 2009, during the Gaza War, she traveled with a delegation of American bishops to Israel and Palestine to meet with local officials.[12]

She led the final service at Christ Lutheran Church in Little Falls, New York.[13]

Jerge has written on the benefits of immigration reform.[14]

She received an honorary degree from Thiel College in 2006[15] and an alumni award from Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia in 2015.[4]

After serving two terms, she was succeeded in 2014 by John S. Macholz.[16]

Personal life

Jerge was born Marie Charlotte Scharfe[17] in Mineola, New York.[3] Her father, Charles L. Scharfe Jr., was vice chairman and chief executive officer of L. K. Comstock & Company.[17]

Jerge married James N. Jerge in 1977;[17][18] he is also a minister in the ELCA.[19]

References
  1. "Congratulations Class of '70, Babylon High School" (PDF). Babylon Beacon. 1970-06-18.
  2. "Academic Degrees". Smith College Catalogue. Smith College. 1974. p. 271.
  3. Wineinger, Amy; Luisi, Mary (2002-06-24). "Marie Jerge Elected Bishop of ELCA Upstate New York Synod". www.elca.org. Retrieved 2020-02-14.
  4. "Alumni Honors: Philadelphia". United Lutheran Seminary. Retrieved 2020-02-16.
  5. "Rev. Jerge Speaker at AAUW Meeting". Dunkirk Evening Observer. 1988-10-14. p. 8 – via NewspaperArchive.com.
  6. Jacobs, Jennifer (2002-09-22). "New Lutheran Bishop Makes Local History: Faithful Cheer Marie C. Jerge as CNY Leader of Evangelical Lutheran Church in America". The Syracuse Post-Standard. p. B1, B5 – via NewspaperArchive.com.
  7. "Syracuse gets first female Evangelical Lutheran Bishop". Mount Carmel Daily Republican Register. 2002-09-27. p. 1B – via NewspaperArchive.com.
  8. "Religion Briefs". Del Rio News-Herald. 2002-09-28. p. 5A – via NewspaperArchive.com.
  9. "EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH TO INSTALL BISHOP TODAY". The Buffalo News. 2002-09-21. Retrieved 2020-02-15.
  10. Gadoua, Renee (2003-06-03). "Lutheran Bishop cites challenges". The Syracuse Post-Standard. p. B3 – via NewspaperArchive.com.
  11. Goller, Robert Lowell (2004-02-12). "MARILLA PASTOR QUITS AMID SEX ALLEGATIONS". Arcane Herald. Retrieved 2020-02-15.
  12. Tokaz, Jay (2009-01-05). "Lutheran bishop is visiting Israel and Palestinians". The Buffalo News.
  13. Chanatry, David (2014-02-13). "Church closures become a sign of changing times, demographics". WRVO. Retrieved 2020-02-14.
  14. "Immigration reform will benefit Upstate New York: Commentary from Bishop Marie Jerge". Syracuse.com. 2013-10-03. Retrieved 2020-02-14.
  15. "Honorary Degree Recipients | Thiel College". www.thiel.edu. Retrieved 2020-02-15.
  16. Lensing, Jeremy (2014-06-03). "John Macholz elected bishop of the ELCA Upstate New York Synod". www.elca.org.
  17. "Rev. James N. Jerge Weds Marie Charlotte Scharfe". The New York Times. 1977-08-28.
  18. "Marie Scharfe Sets Marriage to a Cleric". The New York Times. 1977-03-20. p. 64 – via Proquest Historical New York Times.
  19. Voell, Paula (2003-11-21). "Clergy couples: God calls some people to combine marriage with ministry, and it isn't always a heavenly union". The Buffalo News.


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