Synod Staff

Bishop Kurt F. Kusserow

Southwestern Pennsylvania Synod Bishop

412-367-8222
kurt.kusserow@swpasynod.org

Seminary: Trinity Lutheran Seminary

Contact Bishop Kusserow for:
Constitutional Queries
Synod Council Matters
Situations of Crisis, Including Misconduct
Committee Appointments
Congregational Celebrations
Ecumenical Affairs

Kurt Kusserow was born to the Reverend Ralph and Carol (Zigler) Kusserow and grew up in Malaysia and Singapore, where his parents served as missionaries from 1966 to 1982. He was confirmed at Jurong Christian Church, Singapore, on Christmas Day, 1977.

Bishop Kusserow received a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in English from Thiel College in 1985, and a Master of Divinity degree from Trinity Lutheran Seminary in Columbus, Ohio, in 1989. He was ordained to the ministry of Word and Sacrament on September 10, 1989 by Bishop Paull E. Spring, at Mt. Lebanon United Lutheran Church in Pittsburgh. His first call was to a cooperative ministry, Town and Country Lutheran Ministry, where he served Faith Lutheran Church in Oklahoma Boro, and Hebron Lutheran Church in Avonmore. In 1997, he was called to serve St. Paul Lutheran Church in Trauger, until his election to the office of bishop of the Southwestern Pennsylvania Synod in June, 2007. Bishop Kusserow was re-elected to a third six-year term in June, 2019.

Bishop Kusserow resides with his wife Pam in Hampton Township, in Pittsburgh’s North Hills. The Kusserows are the parents of Abby and Ben.

Pastor Peter D. Asplin

Assistant to the Bishop

(o) 412-367-8222
(c) 412-453-6487
peter.asplin@swpasynod.org

Seminary: Trinity Lutheran Seminary & Pittsburgh Theological Seminary

Contact Pastor Asplin for:
Congregational Call Process
Minister Mobility
Church in Society, Care and Leadership of Rostered Ministers, Lay Worship Leader, and Candidacy Committees

Pastor Melissa L. Stoller

ELCA Director for Evangelical Mission & Assistant to the Bishop

(o) 412-367-8222
(c) 412-314-1851
melissa.stoller@elca.org

Seminary: Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago

Contact Pastor Melissa for:
Congregational Vitality
New and Renewing Ministries
Mission Planning
Mission Support, Stewardship, Evangelism, Outreach, and Youth and Young Adult Ministries
Care and Leadership of Congregations Committee, Budget and Finance Committee, and Mission Endowment Fund Board

Deacon Elizabeth (Beth) Caywood

Director of Synod Resource Ministry

(o) 412-367-8222
(c) 412-539-1075
beth.caywood@swpasynod.org

Seminary: Trinity Lutheran Seminary

Contact Deacon Beth for:
Continuing Education
Curriculum
Theological Convocation

Sandy DeLorenze

Executive Assistant to Bishop Kusserow

(o) 412-367-8222
(c) 412-324-2528
sandy.delorenze@swpasynod.org

Contact Sandy for:
Reaching the Bishop
Meeting Coordination
Call Process & Synod Council Administration

Meredythe Hlasnik

Financial Assistant

(o) 412-367-8222
(c) 412-552-3398
meredythe.hlasnik@swpasynod.org

Contact Meredythe for:
Mission Support Contributions
Budget Inquiries
Office of the Treasurer

Carol Ruckert

Receptionist and Administrative Assistant

(o) 412-367-8222
(c) 412-324-2620
carol.ruckert@swpasynod.org

Contact Carol for:
Pulpit Supply Coordination for Congregations Without Pastors
Synod Office Access

Lauren Wolcott

Communications Director

(o) 412-367-8222
(c) 412-407-6936
lauren.wolcott@swpasynod.org

Contact Lauren for:
Synod News, Website, & Media
Publicizing Events
Consultation on Communications and Technology