Leading by example

From The Pittsburgh Trib-

The ups and downs of his first five years as leader of the McCandless-based Evangelical Lutheran Church in America‘s Southwestern Pennsylvania Synod have, at times, been both literal and painful for Bishop Kurt Kusserow.

The pain has been tempered by the joy of sharing the journey as spiritual and administrative leader of 78,000 baptized members in 177 congregations over a 10–county region.

“I am often surprised by the depth of faith and hope and love that I find among the members of our congregations when I go to visit, even in difficult situations,” says the Hampton resident, raised by his missionary parents in the Far East, where he spent 15 years.

Significant challenges presented themselves soon after he was installed as only the synod‘s second bishop in 2007. He‘ll reach the end of his six-year term this summer.

“He certainly has experienced some trial by fire,” says John Frantz of Franklin Park, former synod treasurer, “with the economic meltdown of 2008, the loss of congregations, membership and financial support following the 2009 national church-wide votes on the sexuality statement and the ordination of gay and lesbian clergy, and his own personal recovery from injuries he sustained.
More here-

http://triblive.com/aande/moreaande/3089586-74/church-kusserow-synod#axzz2HOLNVpCz