Marie Jerge Explained

Birth Place:Mineola, NY, United States
Term:2002–2014
Church:Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Diocese:Upstate New York Synod
Nationality:American
Ordination:1978
Predecessor:Lee M. Miller
Religion:Lutheranism
Successor:John S. Macholz
Type:Bishop

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

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. 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]

Notes and References

  1. News: Congratulations Class of '70, Babylon High School . Babylon Beacon . 1970-06-18.
  2. Book: Smith College Catalogue . 1974 . Smith College . https://archive.org/details/smithcat7475smit/page/n277 . Academic Degrees. 271.
  3. Web site: Marie Jerge Elected Bishop of ELCA Upstate New York Synod. Wineinger. Amy. Luisi. Mary. 2002-06-24. www.elca.org. en. 2020-02-14.
  4. Web site: Alumni Honors: Philadelphia . United Lutheran Seminary . 2020-02-16.
  5. News: Rev. Jerge Speaker at AAUW Meeting. 1988-10-14. Dunkirk Evening Observer. 8. NewspaperArchive.com.
  6. News: Jacobs. Jennifer. New Lutheran Bishop Makes Local History: Faithful Cheer Marie C. Jerge as CNY Leader of Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. 2002-09-22. The Syracuse Post-Standard. B1, B5. NewspaperArchive.com.
  7. News: Syracuse gets first female Evangelical Lutheran Bishop. 2002-09-27. Mount Carmel Daily Republican Register. 1B. NewspaperArchive.com.
  8. News: Religion Briefs. 2002-09-28. Del Rio News-Herald. 5A. NewspaperArchive.com.
  9. Web site: EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH TO INSTALL BISHOP TODAY. 2002-09-21. The Buffalo News. en-us. 2020-02-15.
  10. News: Gadoua. Renee. Lutheran Bishop cites challenges. 2003-06-03. The Syracuse Post-Standard. B3. NewspaperArchive.com.
  11. Web site: MARILLA PASTOR QUITS AMID SEX ALLEGATIONS. Goller. Robert Lowell. 2004-02-12. Arcane Herald. 2020-02-15.
  12. News: Tokaz . Jay . Lutheran bishop is visiting Israel and Palestinians . The Buffalo News . 2009-01-05 . en-us.
  13. Web site: Church closures become a sign of changing times, demographics. Chanatry. David. 2014-02-13. WRVO. en. 2020-02-14.
  14. Web site: Immigration reform will benefit Upstate New York: Commentary from Bishop Marie Jerge. 2013-10-03. Syracuse.com. en. 2020-02-14.
  15. Web site: Honorary Degree Recipients Thiel College. www.thiel.edu. 2020-02-15.
  16. Web site: John Macholz elected bishop of the ELCA Upstate New York Synod. Lensing. Jeremy. 2014-06-03. www.elca.org. en.
  17. News: Rev. James N. Jerge Weds Marie Charlotte Scharfe . The New York Times . 1977-08-28.
  18. News: Marie Scharfe Sets Marriage to a Cleric. 1977-03-20. The New York Times. 64. Proquest Historical New York Times.
  19. News: Voell . Paula . Clergy couples: God calls some people to combine marriage with ministry, and it isn't always a heavenly union . The Buffalo News . 2003-11-21 . en-us.

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