Pastors old
The Rev. Connie A. Miller,
Senior Pastor, is a native of the Washington DC area. She did her undergraduate studies at Valparaiso University in Indiana, majoring in Theology, Music, and Greek and received her M.Div. from the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago. She also attended the University of Chicago Divinity School as well as Marquette University in Wisconsin.
Pastor Miller has served the church in Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa and now Maryland, serving in congregational ministry, campus ministry, hospital chaplaincy, assistant to the bishop, dean of the community at one of our seminaries, and served the church-at-large in several capacities. She has served at Saint Luke since 1999. Pastor Miller has a special interest in liturgy and worship, the power of ritual, and, of course, the music of the people of God. She has a large extended family and has a special place in her heart for the ones with four legs – yes she is a great animal lover!e ones with 4 legs! – yes, she is an animal lover.
The Rev. Elizabeth Platz,
Teaching Pastor In Residence at Saint Luke, is the Lutheran Chaplain Emerita, University of Maryland Campus Ministry, College Park. She also is known as the first woman in North America ordained by the Lutheran Church. She was ordained in 1970 when earlier that year the ordination of women had been approved. Pastor Platz served Campus Ministry for 47 years and Saint Luke is honored to have her teach and preach on a regular basis. She also enjoys the culinary arts, traveling, and spending time with her extended family in Pennsylvania.
The Rev. Gary C. Nuss
Support Pastor, joined the Saint Luke staff in 2014. A long time member of Saint Luke, Pastor Nuss spent his first career working for the Federal Government. As retirement approached, he felt the call to ordained ministry and went to seminary, was ordained, and served Trinity Lutheran, Galion, Ohio, for 7 years. Family and grandchildren brought Pastor and his wife Ann back to the Silver Spring area and Saint Luke gives thanks for Pastor Nuss now serving on the staff team. In his spare time, Pastor Nuss enjoys his grandchildren, DIY projects, photography, and a sadly neglected golf game.
The Rev. Rosario Hernandez
Associate Pastor at Saint Luke and lead shepherd for La Sagrada Familia, the Latino Ministry Outreach, has served the Latino population for 20 years. Through her leadership a worshiping community has developed along with numerous weekly programs, including ESL, children’s after school homework programs, caring ministries linking university students to the Latino children, and so much more. Pastor Hernandez is a native of Mexico, mother of a grown daughter, and presently shares her home with three furry felines.
The Rev. Rich Zawistoski,
Confirmation Pastor has served in this capacity since 2015. He has been a congregation pastor, a campus pastor, an Assistant to the Bishop, and at the ELCA Churchwide Office served as Associate Director for the National Network of Campus Ministry Sites. Pastor “Z” bring s a wealth of gifts in relating to young people and is a welcome pastoral guide in sharing the faith with our Confirmation students. Pastor is married to Patsy a master handspinner and teacher. Pastor Z also plays the Hammered Dulcimer!