
Gettysburg College continues to inspire Gettysburgians to Do Great Work in service to others. The Rev. Stephen R. Herr ’89, P’28 exemplifies this spirit of service fostered by Gettysburg’s liberal arts and sciences education.
The Rev. Stephen R. Herr ’89, P’28 has been elected as bishop of the Lower Susquehanna Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). His six-year term as bishop will begin on Sept. 1.
Following his graduation from Gettysburg College as a history major, Herr attended and received a Master of Divinity and a Master of Sacred Theology from the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg, now known as United Lutheran Seminary. He was ordained on July 2, 1994, in Gettysburg.
Herr’s campus, parish, and synodical leadership spans more than three decades. He was the pastor of Hebron Lutheran Church in Blairsville, Pennsylvania, from 1994 to 1999. He has served as pastor of Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church in Gettysburg since 1999. His leadership with the ELCA covers several councils and committees at the ELCA Churchwide (national) level and with the Lower Susquehanna and Southwestern Pennsylvania synods. Herr served as dean and secretary of the Gettysburg Conference for 16 years.

Amid his many responsibilities, Herr has continued to stay connected with his alma mater. He served as a chaplain intern at Christ Chapel at Gettysburg College from 1991 to 1992 under the leadership of the Rev. Karl Mattson, who was the College’s chaplain during that time. Herr later served as interim chaplain at Gettysburg during the 2021-2022 academic year.
“Gettysburg College contributed significantly to my preparation to serve as a Lutheran minister. The liberal arts curriculum introduced me to new and diverse fields of study. College staff and professors, especially in the History Department, instilled in me the value of intellectual curiosity and the importance of lifelong academic inquiry and research,” Herr said. “The College Chapel program, weekly worship services, social justice work, and the Gettysburg College Chapel Choir all contributed to a community in which I could explore faith, wrestle with hard questions, advocate for justice, serve others, and experience the grace, love, and presence of God. I feel blessed by my Gettysburg College experience, and it continues to shape my life and relationships.”
Furthering his interest in history, developed during his undergraduate experience at Gettysburg College, Herr has served as president of the Lincoln Fellowship of Pennsylvania from 2014 to 2022 and as a board member of the organization since 2010. Along with Gettysburg College History Prof. Michael Birkner ’72, P’10, he is currently co-editing a collection of papers about Gettysburg College founder Samuel Simon Schmucker presented at the 225th anniversary of his birth.
Beyond his pastoral responsibilities, Herr stays involved in the artistic, educational, and historic preservation life of the greater Gettysburg community. He has been a member of the boards of several organizations, including the United Lutheran Seminary at Gettysburg, Gettysburg Community Theatre, and Gettysburg Area Ecumenical Ministerium. Herr has also coached basketball at Blairsville and Gettysburg Area high schools.
Learn more about Gettysburg College’s Center for Religious & Spiritual Life.
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By Michael Vyskocil
Photography provided by Rev. Stephen R. Herr ’89, P’28
Posted: 07/08/25