Rev. Melissa Stoller Elected Bishop

The Rev. Melissa L. Stoller was elected on June 13 to serve a six-year term as bishop of the Southwestern Pennsylvania Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). She is the first woman to hold the position of Bishop in the Southwestern Pennsylvania Synod.

The election took place during the synod assembly, held June 12-14 at La Roche University. Rev. Stoller was elected on the fourth ballot with 189 votes.

“In these liminal times, it is important that we strengthen our ties,” Rev. Stoller said, “so that we may be Church together, communities of justice of hope, sharing the Good News with our neighbors.”

The bishop-elect has served as Director for Evangelical Mission (DEM) and Assistant to the Bishop for the Southwestern Pennsylvania Synod since 2017. Prior to this role, she was Pastor at Zion Lutheran Church in Penn Hills, Pennsylvania (2011–2016), Trinity Lutheran Church in Cook, Minnesota (2005–2010), and Intern Pastor at the Moscow Protestant Chaplaincy in Russia (2003–2004). Before entering ordained ministry, she worked in housing and healthcare advocacy for the Minnesota Senior Federation. Her current synod leadership includes stewardship coaching, transitional ministry training, and vocational formation initiatives.

Rev. Stoller earned her Master of Divinity from the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago and a Bachelor of Arts in Religion and Governmental Affairs from Augustana University.

Rev. Stoller begins the work of bishop on September 1, and will be installed on Saturday, October 18, 1 PM at Berkeley Hills Lutheran Church, 517 Sangree Rd, Pittsburgh, PA 15237.

The Rev. Kurt F. Kusserow has served as bishop since 2007 and was re-elected for a total of three terms. He will retire on August 31.