Rev. Marie C. Jerge (née Scharfe, born c. 1953) is a former bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
Marie Jerge | |
|---|---|
| Church | Evangelical Lutheran Church in America |
| Diocese | Upstate New York Synod |
| In office | 2002–2014 |
| Predecessor | Lee M. Miller |
| Successor | John S. Macholz |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 1978 |
| Personal details | |
| Born | |
| Nationality | American |
| Denomination | Lutheranism |
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]