Kurt Kusserow re-elected bishop of the ELCA Southwestern Pennsylvania Synod

​CHICAGO – The Rev. Kurt F. Kusserow was elected June 13 to serve a third six-year term as bishop of the Southwestern Pennsylvania Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). The election took place during the synod assembly, held June 13-15 at California University of Pennsylvania in California, Pa.

Kusserow was elected on the second ballot, with 232 votes. A total of 219 votes were needed for election.

Prior to becoming bishop in 2007, Kusserow served as pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Latrobe, Pa., from 1997 to 2007, and as pastor of the Westmoreland Unit of Town and Country Lutheran Ministry, serving Faith Lutheran Church, Apollo (Oklahoma Boro), Pa., and Hebron Lutheran Church, Avonmore, Pa., from 1989 to 1996.  

Kusserow received a Bachelor of Arts from Thiel College in 1985 and a Master of Divinity from Trinity Lutheran Seminary in Columbus, Ohio, in 1989. Thiel is one of 26 ELCA colleges and universities and Trinity is one of seven ELCA seminaries.

Information about the Southwestern Pennsylvania Synod is available at swpasynod.org.

- - -

About the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America:
The ELCA is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States, with nearly 3.5 million members in more than 9,100 worshiping communities across the 50 states and in the Caribbean region. Known as the church of "God's work. Our hands.," the ELCA emphasizes the saving grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, unity among Christians and service in the world. The ELCA's roots are in the writings of the German church reformer Martin Luther.

For information contact:
Candice Hill Buchbinder
773-380-2877
Candice.HillBuchbinder@ELCA.org