Synod Staff
Called 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
Administration Staff
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
Gwen Missouri
Office Administrator
(o) 412-367-8222
(c) 412-407-2857
gwen.missouri@swpasynod.org
Contact Gwen for:
Reaching the Bishop
Meeting Coordination
Synod Office Access
Roster and Contact Information Updates
General Office Inquiries
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