The Rev. Jim Engel, pastor at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Uniontown, joins the LAMPa Policy Council representing the ELCA Southwestern Pennsylvania Synod (SWPA).

“I am excited to have the opportunity to return to working with a state government to advocate for those who have been marginalized by power, economics, politics, and systems as a way of living out my baptismal calling,” said Pastor Engel, who had worked for an Ohio state senator after graduating from college. “I look forward to serving with you, learning with you, and lobbying our elected leaders to enact laws that are just and merciful and life-giving.”

Pastor Engel graduated with a BA in History from Allegheny College (2000), earned an MS in Outdoor Recreation from Ohio University (2004), and received his MDiv from Trinity Lutheran Seminary (2009), Columbus, Ohio.

“I see in Pastor Engel a passion for social justice and advocacy that is paired with the kind of self-moderation that I believe makes for constructive advocacy,” said Bishop Kurt Kusserow on naming him to the post. “Our efforts to further the healing of society require both passion and pause.”

Pastor Engel’s first congregational call was in Yakima, Washington, where they had the opportunity to be heavily involved in immigration issues and gang-intervention strategies. In Pennsylvania, he and wife Erica Seaver-Engel, a yoga instructor and 4-H program assistant, have helped develop an outdoor adventure/leadership program for at-risk youth, a school learning garden, and worked on issues related to addiction and mental illness. Information on the leadership program may be found here.

Engel’s first job out of college was as an administrative assistant for an Ohio State Senator.  He served in (then) Senator Mark Mallory’s office for 1.5 years and learned about the importance of public policy and servant-leadership.

“Senator Mallory would always tell his staff that it wasn’t about passing laws, getting reelected, or scoring political points,” Engel said. “He emphasized the importance of helping constituents and the most vulnerable of society.”

“Pastor Engel’s experience in public policy, his dedication to our youth, and his appreciation for the healing that happens in nature will shape LAMPa’s work in important ways,” said LAMPa Director Tracey DePasquale. “We are grateful for his willingness to serve the church in this role.”

The Engels enjoy camping, hiking, kayaking, climbing, coffee shops, and bookstores. They have two “Lab-ish” dogs named Baxter and Tortilla they adopted when Erica worked at the local humane society in Yakima.