The Rev. Connie A. Miller - Senior Pastor
Pastor Miller, 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!
The Rev. Elizabeth A. Platz – Teaching Pastor
Pastor Platz, is 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. Earlier that year, the Lutheran Church approved the ordination of women. Pastor Platz served Campus Ministry for 47 years and Saint Luke is honored to have her scholarship among us. She also enjoys the culinary arts, traveling, and spending time with her extended family in Pennsylvania.
Bishop Richard Graham, Pastor-In-Residence
Bishop Richard Graham is a native of the Baltimore, Maryland area. He is presently Bishop Emeritus, having served the Metro DC Synod of the ELCA for 12 years. Before that he served as pastor of Hope Lutheran, College Park, assistant pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Hagerstown, and associate pastor of St. Martin’s Lutheran Church, Annapolis, Maryland. Bishop has been a friend of Saint Luke for many years and we are blessed with his pastoral presence and theological scholarship. With children and grandchildren around the globe, he and his wife, Nancy Ann, make family a priority and find themselves traveling much to see them and stay in touch. Saint Luke welcomes Bishop Graham during the 2023-24 program year as Pastor-In-Residence.
The Rev. Gary C. Nuss – Support Pastor
Pastor Nuss, 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. In his spare time, Pastor Nuss enjoys his grandchildren, DIY projects, photography, and a sadly neglected golf game.
The Rev. Rich Zawistoski – Confirmation Pastor
Pastor Zawistoski 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!