Rev. Dr. Steven H. Shussett Bio

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.” I feel so blessed to get to do God-stuff all day, from church and worship leadership to spiritual direction and writing. I am an avid reader, sports fan of all things Pittsburgh, and a walker.

For inquiring minds that want to know more…I am a native of Pittsburgh PA, which I fondly refer to as “the land of milk and honey.” I attended the University of Pittsburgh for my BA (Political Science and English Writing), and its Graduate School of Public and International Affairs (GSPIA) for a Master’s Degree focusing on International Relations and International Security.

It was at GSPIA that I met Alicia, with whom I am more in love now than I was over 30 years ago when we got married. She is from outside Philadelphia, in the Main Line area. It was during this time that I began attending church 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 two children, now adults living elsewhere in Pennsylvania. 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.

It was while we were in Maryland that I began a Doctor of Ministry program at Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia and Chestnut Hill College. In 2002, I received my degree, with a focus in 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 Hungryhearts, a periodical with 10,000 subscribers. This ministry included teaching around the country and writing on matters of Christian spirituality in resources like Lord, Teach Us to Pray.

Since 2005, we have lived in eastern PA, where I served as Executive Presbyter for ten years and Stated Clerk for four, and subsequently served two Lutheran (ELCA) congregations. I am also a spiritual director and practice the supervision of directors, as well as a writer and retreat leader. I have also been on the faculty of two educational institutions, teaching spirituality and spiritual direction.