Title: The Rev. Gregory R. Pile Re-Elected in Allegheny Synod ELCA NEWS SERVICE - NEWSBRIEF July 18, 1997 PILE RE-ELECTED IN ALLEGHENY SYNOD The Rev. Gregory R. Pile, 48, was re-elected June 13 to a six-year term as bishop of the Allegheny Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The election came on the first ballot during the Allegheny Synod Assembly, June 12-14 in Altoona, Pa. Pile received 221 of the 254 votes cast on the first ballot for 20 nominees. Pile was first elected bishop in 1993 to succeed the Rev. Gerald E. Miller. He is one of the last ELCA bishops to serve a four-year term. The ELCA's 1993 Churchwide Assembly extended the term of a bishop's service to six years. A graduate of Gettysburg College, Gettysburg, Pa., and the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg, Pile was ordained in 1975 by the former Lutheran Church in America, and served as pastor of New Centerville Lutheran Parish, New Centerville, Pa., and St. David's Lutheran Church, Davidsville, Pa. The synod office is located in Altoona, Pa. It serves 44,779 Lutherans in 133 congregations in central Pennsylvania. For information contact: Ann Hafften, Director (773) 380-2958 or [log in to unmask] http://www.elca.org/co/news/current.html