The Rev. Robert W. Ihloff, rector of Grace Church, Madison, N.J. was elected 13th Bishop of Maryland at the diocesan convention May 20 at Frostburg State University at Frostburg.

Fr. Ihloff, 53, was elected on the third ballot over four other nominees - the Rev. William P. Baxter, rector of St. Thomas' Church, Garrison, Md.; the Rev. James A. Diamond, rector of Christ Church, Andover, Mass.; the Rev. Canon Patricia M. Thomas, canon administrator of the Diocese of Washington; and the Very Rev. Gustave J. Weltsek, Jr., dean of St. John's Cathedral, Jacksonville, Fla.

The bishop-elect was born in New Britain, Conn., and is a 1964 graduate of Ursinus College; he graduated from the Episcopal Theological School in 1967, and earned his doctorate in 1986 from the Episcopal Divinity School. He is a fellow of the College of Preachers, an associate of the Order of the Holy Cross and a member of the adjunct faculty of Drew Theological Seminary.

Fr. Ihloff, who counts his 1960s civil rights activism among his memorable experiences, served as assistant at St. Mark's Church, New Britain, and as a college chaplain prior to his 1987 call to Grace Church. He has been married to his wife, Nancy, since 1966, and the couple has two grown children, Bruce and Erika.

The focus of the two-day convention preceding the election day was on preparing the delegates and the diocese for the voting. Only 11 resolutions were presented, most of them housekeeping in nature.

The theme, of inclusiveness and tolerance, was reflected in the "state of the diocese" address by the Rt. Rev. Charles L. Longest, the diocese's suffragan bishop and bishop-in-charge since the early 1994 retirement of the diocesan, the Rt. Rev. A. Theodore Eastman. Bishop Longest said: "We have worked hard ... on how we are connected. We have come a long way in our journey of understanding the truth that the well being of the whole body is inextricably tied in with the well being of each member of the body."