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BishopCompton

Bishop Christa Compton

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en español
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August 18, 2026

 

Dear Saints of the New Jersey Synod,

 

Please join me in welcoming the Rev. Priscilla Paris-Austin to the New Jersey Synod staff in the role of Assistant to the Bishop. In addition to accompanying congregations in times of celebration and transition, Pastor Paris-Austin will also focus on ministries related to Leadership and Justice. Ordained in 2011, Pastor Paris-Austin comes to us from the Northwest Washington Synod, where she most recently served as the pastor of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Seattle. 

She has been involved in leadership at the synodical and churchwide levels, including the ELCA Advisory Team for the Strategy Towards Authentic Diversity and various roles with the ELCA Youth Ministry Network. She brings 40 years of experience in Youth and Family ministry and has enjoyed being a writing consultant, speaker, storyteller, and conversation partner for various faith related and community-based organizations.

 

In her life and in her ministry, Pastor Paris-Austin is clear about affirming all persons of every gender, sexuality, race, ethnicity, ability, age, and status as Beloved by God. She has embodied her commitment to Beloved Community by serving as a member of several boards for diversity and inclusion as well as informal interfaith coalitions for justice. She lives in eternal thankfulness for the blessing of her spouse and 3 amazing young adult children with whom she shares a love of God, the arts, basketball, gymnastics, justice for all, and their family podcast for children in progressive Christian families: Sacred Storytime with Pastor Priscilla, available in most places you find podcasts.

 

Pastor Paris-Austin officially started her call in our synod on August 15. Thank you for helping her get to know our synod, and thank you for your patience as she gets oriented to her new role while facilitating a cross-country move. Her e-mail address is pparisaustin@njsynod.org if you’d like to reach out with a word of welcome.

 

With gratitude for our shared ministry,

Bishop Christa M. Compton

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1930 State Highway 33

Hamilton Square, NJ 08690

609-586-6800

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© 2026 New Jersey Synod, ELCA
All rights reserved.

“Our synod office is located on land which is part of the traditional territory of the Lenni-Lenape, called “Lenapehoking.” The Lenape People lived in harmony with one another upon this territory for thousands of years. During the colonial era and early federal period, many were removed west and north, but some also remain among the continuing historical tribal communities of the region: The Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape Tribal Nation; the Ramapough Lenape Nation; and the Powhatan Renape Nation, The Nanticoke of Millsboro Delaware, and the Lenape of Cheswold Delaware. We acknowledge the Lenni-Lenape as the original people of this land and their continuing relationship with their territory. In our acknowledgment of the continued presence of Lenape people in their homeland, we affirm the aspiration of the great Lenape Chief Tamanend, that there be harmony between the indigenous people of this land and the descendants of the immigrants to this land, “as long as the rivers and creeks flow, and the sun, moon, and stars shine.”

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