Steve Shussett became the pastor of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Allentown, Pennsylvania in July 2015. He is also a spiritual director, retreat leader, and writer for a variety of publications. He previously served as the Teaching (Executive) Presbyter of Lehigh Presbytery, Associate for Spiritual Formation for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A), and as a pastor in Virginia and Maryland. He is a graduate of Pittsburgh Theological Seminary and Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia, where he received his Doctor of Ministry in Christian Spirituality.

 

Steve and his wife, Alicia, live in Allentown, while daughter Rachel is a senior at Westminster College and son Daniel is a first-year student at Gettysburg College.

 

Long story made short: I am, according to my Twitter bio (the bio taking more time to create than I have actually spent on Twitter), “a laid back husband and father who loves God, my family, and things that make me laugh...and cry,” and owned by a surprisingly kitten-like 14-year-old cat named Lady. I am an avid reader, sports fan of all things Pittsburgh, and a walker.

(You can learn a bit more about me at www.steveshussett.com)

 

For inquiring minds that want to know more...

I am a native of Pittsburgh PA, and I attended the University of Pittsburgh for my BA (Political Science and English Writing), and its Graduate School of Public and International Affairs (GSPIA).                                                                                       

It was at GSPIA that I met Alicia, with whom I am more in love now than I was over 25 years ago when we got married. She is from the Main Line area outside Philadelphia. It was during this time that I began attending church more regularly and was eventually baptized in a church that valued asking questions as much as giving answers. After my first opportunity to serve as a liturgist I began to think about pastoral ministry, eventually graduating from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary.

 

While serving congregations in Buchanan, VA and Frostburg MD, Alicia and I became the parents of Rachel, now a senior at Westminster College in western PA, and Daniel, who will be starting Gettysburg College in the fall. In parish ministry I enjoyed the wide variety of pastoral responsibilities like leading worship, visitation, and programming, and appreciated opportunities for ecumenical and social justice activities.

 

In 2002 I received my Doctor of Ministry from Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia and Chestnut Hill College, focusing on Christian Spirituality. By then we lived in Louisville KY, where I was the Associate for Spiritual Formation for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and editor of the national publication, Hungryhearts. This ministry included teaching and writing on matters of Christian spirituality, including resources like Lord, Teach Us to Pray.

 

Since 2005 we have lived in Allentown, in the Fogelsville area, as I served Lehigh Presbytery [of the Presbyterian Church (USA)].

Similar to a Lutheran bishop, my charge was the care of 8500 Presbyterians and their 34 worshipping communities in an eight county area. In addition to being a spiritual director, I am also a Teaching Associate in the Formative Spirituality Program at Moravian Theological Seminary, and serve on the faculty of Kairos: School for Spiritual Formation, where I teach people to become spiritual directors.

 

God is all in all,Pastor Steve Shussett

 

Be astonished, be astounded! For I am doing things among you that you would not believe if you were told!   ~Habakkuk 1:5