PASTOR NATHAN PIPHO was elected bishop of the New England Synod of the ELCA on Friday, June 7th, 2024 at the New England Synod Assembly. Pastor Nathan was elected on the fifth ballot. 425 votes cast: Rev. Nathan Pipho (261 votes), Rev. Sara Anderson (164 votes)
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The results of the fourth ballot for synod bishop were announced at 3:50 p.m. on Friday. 427 legal votes cast; Rev Nathan Pipho (232 votes); Rev Sara Anderson (151 votes); Rev. Marjo Anderson (44 votes). The fifth and final ballot comes next with a simple majority between the top two candidates.
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The results of the third ballot for synod bishop were announced at 10:30 a.m. on Friday. 415 legal votes cast; Rev Nathan Pipho (151 votes); Rev Sara Anderson (143 votes); Rev Marjo Anderson (41 votes); Rev. Scott Howard (26 votes); Rev. Kari Jo Verhulst (21 votes); Rev. Erica Kennedy (18 votes); Rev. William Peterson (15 votes). Pastors Pipho, S. Anderson, and M Anderson move on the the Q & A at 11:00 a.m.
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The third ballot for synod bishop took place Friday morning at 9:30 a.m. Watch here for the results tentatively scheduled for 10:45 a.m.
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The second ballot for synod bishop was announced at 5:50 p.m. on Thursday. 417 votes cast: Rev, Sara Anderson (182 votes); Rev Nathan Pipho (81 votes); Rev. Marjo Anderson (38 votes); Rev. Kari Jo Verhulst (25 votes); Rev. Erica Kennedy (23 votes); Rev. Scott Howard (16 votes); Rev. William Peterson (16 votes); these represent the top seven candidates which move on to the third ballot.
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The first ballot for synod bishop was announced just after 3:30 p.m. on Thursday. 400 votes cast, 399 were legal ballots: Rev. Sara Anderson (139 votes); Rev. Nathan Pipho (48 votes); Rev. Marjo Anderson (40 votes); Rev. Kari Jo Verhulst (33 votes); Rev. Erica Kennedy (29 votes); Rev. William Peterson (24 votes); Rev. Scott Howard (21 votes); Rev. Jeanette Leisk (18 votes); Rev. Susan Gaeta (18 votes); Rev. Kyle Seibert (10 votes); Rev. Jonathan Hopkins (3 votes); Rev Timothy Keyl (2 votes); 16 others received one vote each
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The Annual New England Synod Assembly will be held June 6-8, 2024 at the DCU Center in Worcester.
With the theme “Journey Forward,” the Assembly will elect a new bishop for the New England Synod, fill open positions on the Synod Council and Synod Discipline Committee, and elect rostered ministers and lay members as voting members to the ELCA Churchwide Assembly. Special Assembly guests will include the Rev. Dr. Guy Erwin, President of United Lutheran Seminary; the Rev. Dr. Mark Alan Powell who will be giving the keynote address; Mr. Imran Didiqui, ELCA Vice-President; and Ms. Lori Fedyk, ELCA Treasurer.
Pastor Nathan is among 10 Pre-Identified Persons (PIP’s) participating in the Bishop’s election. Other PIP’s include: Pastors Marjo Anderson, Sara Anderson, Susan Gaeta, Scott Howard, Erica Kennedy, Jeanette Leisk, William Peterson, Kyle Seibert, and Kari Jo Verhulst. Additional candidates may be identified on the first ballot. Balloting will occur June 6-7 with the Bishop-elect identified by the end of business on Friday, June 7th.
More information, including a Livestream link to watch the Assembly, the Assembly Book of Reports, and biographies of the Pre-Identified Persons participating in the bishop’s election, can be found at this link: NE Synod Assembly.
Let us pray … Come Holy Spirit. Call, gather, enlighten, and make holy your Church gathered as the New England Synod Assembly and keep it one common faith in Jesus Christ. Strengthen and uphold all persons offering their gifts for ministry for leadership positions in the New England Synod. Grant wisdom to voting members that, together as one, the Assembly may discern the Spirit’s call. In the name of Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.