Synod Staff
Upper Susquehanna Synod Staff
Bishop Robert L. Driesen
bishop@uss-elca.org
Bishop Robert L. Driesen is the second bishop of the Upper Susquehanna Synod, having been elected to a six-year term on June 16, 2007. He was born in Baltimore, Maryland where he graduated from the Baltimore Polytechnic Institute. He is a graduate of Towson University with a bachelor degree in the social sciences and history and a Master of Education degree with a concentration in curriculum development. He graduated from the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, with a Master of Divinity degree and was ordained on June 17, 1979.His past work experience includes serving as the Social Studies Department Chairman at the Holabird Junior High School in Dundalk, and as a Social Studies teacher in the Baltimore County Schools. From 1979-1986, he served as the pastor of the Sidman-Elton Lutheran Parish in Johnstown, Pennsylvania and most recently served as the Senior Pastor of the Messiah Lutheran Church in South Williamsport (1987-2007).
Bishop Driesen has had several articles and papers published on the topics of parish nursing and preaching. He is a past president of the United Churches of Lycoming County and received the Ecumenical Service Award in 2000. He was named “Boss of the Year” by the Penn Laurel Chapter of the American Business Women’s Association, in 1992. He has served on the Boards of Directors of Susquehanna University, the Health Improvement Coalition of Lycoming County, and the Lycoming Mediation Project. He was the founding President of AIDS Resource Alliance, now known as AIDS Resource, headquartered in Williamsport, and was instrumental in forming a local chapter in Lycoming County of the National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI).
Pastor Beth Ann L. Stone
bethann@uss-elca.org
The Rev. Beth Ann Lechtenberger Stone serves as a full-time assistant to Bishop Driesen. Her areas of responsibility include: Candidacy, Leadership ministries, Global Mission, World Hunger, Campus Ministry, Lay Ministry Institute Board, the Bishop’s Committee on Worship, Healthy Congregations, and continuing education events. She relates primarily to the Buffalo Valley, Tulpehocken, and West Branch Conference ministeria. Pastor Beth Ann grew up in Lincoln, Nebraska. She received the Bachelor of Arts degree from St. Olaf College (Northfield, MN) in English literature in 1992. She worked in the North Carolina Synod office as a Youth Ministry Intern (1992-1994); as a Lay Associate on the staff of Christ Lutheran Church, Bethesda, Maryland. She received a Master of Divinity degree from Trinity Lutheran Seminary in Columbus, Ohio in 2001, and was ordained on July 14, 2001, having been called to serve as pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in McClure, PA (2001-2007). She and her husband, Karl-John, are the parents of two boys, Henry and Liam.
Pastor Karl-John N. Stone
Assistant to the bishop, karljohn@uss-elca.org
The Rev. Karl-John N. Stone serves as a full-time assistant to Bishop Driesen. His areas of responsibility include: Congregational Life ministries, Synod Youth Council, Stewardship, Christian Education, Evangelism, Small Church/Outreach, Health Ministries, Healthy Congregations, the Bishop’s Committee on Ecumenism, Camp Mount Luther, ELCMA (Evang. Lutheran Commission for Mission in Appalachia). He relates primarily to the Juniata Valley, Middle Creek, and North Branch Conference ministeria. Pastor Karl-John grew up in Queens, New York. He received the Bachelor of Arts degree from St. Olaf College (Northfield, MN) in history in 1997. He received a Master of Divinity degree from Trinity Lutheran Seminary in Columbus, Ohio in 2001, and was ordained on August 4, 2001, having been called to serve as pastor of Messiah Lutheran Church in Troxelville, PA (2001-2007). He and his wife, Beth Ann, are the parents of two boys, Henry and Liam.
Elizabeth "Beth" Yenchko
Director for Evangelical Mission and assistant to the bishop, eyenchko@uss-elca.org
Elizabeth Yenchko serves half-time as Director for Evangelical Mission and assistant to Bishop Driesen in a partnership between the ELCA Evangelical Mission and Congregational Mission Unit and the Upper Susquehanna Synod. She is responsible for partnering with and resourcing synod lay and clergy leaders as well as congregations in catalyzing missional outreach, evangelism, stewardship, mission support and mission interpretation within the synod, as they proclaim the Gospel to the greater community in word and deed. Her work in keeping the focus on missional outreach and stewardship includes facilitating processes of congregational renewal and consolidation; experimenting with newly emerging ministry strategies together with congregations and leaders; and training, equipping and networking of leaders. Beth grew up in Hazleton PA. Her first career was as an historic preservationist and community organizer, both in the US and in the Slovak Republic. In later serving as an ELCA missionary, she was assistant for international affairs to the Lutheran bishop of Slovakia. She holds a masters degree in organization development and strategic human resources from Johns Hopkins University. Beth’s husband, Juraj Kittler, is an associate professor of media and mass communications at St. Lawrence University, Canton NY.
Virginia Frantz
Administrative assistant to the bishop virginia@uss-elca.orgBrenda Jeirles
Secretary, secretary@uss-elca.orgSusan Mahserjian-Smith
Bookkeeper, office@uss-elca.orgChad Hershberger
Director of communications, news@uss-elca.org
Chad Hershberger serves as the part-time Director of Communications for the synod. He works with the bishop and his assistants on communications pieces, including: the monthly electronic and print newsletter, USS Ark; the rostered leader publication Headwaters; and the synod’s website. He also serves as the liaison between the synod and the local media, providing news releases and answering requests for interviews. Chad serves full-time as the executive director of Camp Mount Luther, Mifflinburg, the outdoor ministry site of the Upper Susquehanna. He is also a adjunct communications instructor at Susquehanna University and the Pennsylvania College of Technology. He is a graduate of Penn State University with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Journalism and is working on a Master of Arts Degree in Religion from the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg, where he also serves on the Board of Directors. He and his wife, Sarah, reside in rural Millmont.
