Pastor Biographies
Pastor Roger
Roger Gustafson has served Advent since being ordained a pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America in 1990. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree (journalism) from the University of Minnesota and his Master of Divinity degree with honors from Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary in Berkeley, Calif., where he met his wife-to-be, Susan Langhauser. Roger’s first career was in print journalism and he worked on a variety of newspapers in the Midwest and West.
In addition to serving as a pastor at Advent, he has served in several capacities in the Central States Synod of the ELCA: He was a member of the Pastor-to-Pastor pilot project; a member of the Bishop’s Pastoral Care Team; co-dean with Pastor Susan of Area Ministry 7; co-chair of the Local Arrangements Committee for the 1993 Church-wide Assembly in Kansas City; chair of Church Planters mission team; and chair of the synod’s Evangelizing Strategy Task Force. He is a contributing writer for "Lectionary Homiletics" and "The Living Pulpit" magazines. He also volunteers as a mediator at Johnson County Small-Claims Court and serves as a mediation coach at Johnson County Community College. He is a Chaplain for the Overland Park, Kansas, Police Department.
Pastor Roger and Pastor Susan have a son, Andy, who works in commercial real estate in Kansas City. Pastor Roger is a fan of rock and jazz music, motorcycles, downhill skiing and, since living in Kansas City, barbecue.
Pastor Roger and Pastor Susan were named 2006
Distinguished Alumni by Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary (PLTS) and honored at a luncheon during the Founder's Day celebration on September 14, 2006.
You can email him here.
Roger Gustafson has served Advent since being ordained a pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America in 1990. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree (journalism) from the University of Minnesota and his Master of Divinity degree with honors from Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary in Berkeley, Calif., where he met his wife-to-be, Susan Langhauser. Roger’s first career was in print journalism and he worked on a variety of newspapers in the Midwest and West.In addition to serving as a pastor at Advent, he has served in several capacities in the Central States Synod of the ELCA: He was a member of the Pastor-to-Pastor pilot project; a member of the Bishop’s Pastoral Care Team; co-dean with Pastor Susan of Area Ministry 7; co-chair of the Local Arrangements Committee for the 1993 Church-wide Assembly in Kansas City; chair of Church Planters mission team; and chair of the synod’s Evangelizing Strategy Task Force. He is a contributing writer for "Lectionary Homiletics" and "The Living Pulpit" magazines. He also volunteers as a mediator at Johnson County Small-Claims Court and serves as a mediation coach at Johnson County Community College. He is a Chaplain for the Overland Park, Kansas, Police Department.
Pastor Roger and Pastor Susan have a son, Andy, who works in commercial real estate in Kansas City. Pastor Roger is a fan of rock and jazz music, motorcycles, downhill skiing and, since living in Kansas City, barbecue.
Pastor Roger and Pastor Susan were named 2006
Distinguished Alumni by Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary (PLTS) and honored at a luncheon during the Founder's Day celebration on September 14, 2006.You can email him here.
Pastor Susan
Susan Langhauser is an ordained pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). Her first book, Blessings and Rituals for the Journey of Life, was published in 2001 by Abingdon Press, and as a result Susan has been a featured speaker and popular leader of workshops and retreats on the subject of creating everyday rituals and marking sacred passages.
Susan regularly contributes articles to "Lectionary Homiletics," a professional preaching journal; as well as being a national trainer for Faith Inkubators, an educational-systems project whose mission is to return faith development to the family. She currently serves as a Chaplain for the Overland Park, Kansas, Police Department, and supports the fine arts community as a member of both the KC Repertory Theatre’s Legacy Society and the University of Missouri-Columbia Department of Theatre’s Stage Door Club.
Susan was raised near St. Louis, Missouri, and graduated with a degree in Speech and Dramatic Arts from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 1973. She then pursued vocal music and the stage in New York City, while working as soloist for St. Luke’s Lutheran Church and in the department of Education and Training for the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA.) In 1978 she moved to San Diego, California, as the Director of Chapter and International Affairs for ASTA and was an active layperson at St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church in La Mesa. While there, Susan served as Evangelism Chair on the Council and on two call committees, and founded the St. Andrew’s Theatre Workshop. She was also the on-air host for a religious news program called Focus5, sponsored by the San Diego Ecumenical Conference on the ABC affiliate.
Susan entered Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary (PLTS) in Berkeley, California, in 1986, where she met her husband-to-be Roger Gustafson. They were married in May of 1988 and served their internship as a pastoral team at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Walnut Creek. She received the Master of Divinity degree with honors and was ordained in 1990. In the Central States Synod, Susan chairs the Lutheran House of Studies curriculum committee and has served on the Continuing Education committee; the First Call Theological Education task force; Assembly workshop and worship committees; as well as being a presenter at numerous synod gatherings. With husband Roger, she has co-chaired the ELCA Church-wide Assembly Host Committee and the Installation Committee for Bishop Gerald Mansholt. They were also the first Conference Deans for Area Ministry #7.
You can email her here.
Susan Langhauser is an ordained pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). Her first book, Blessings and Rituals for the Journey of Life, was published in 2001 by Abingdon Press, and as a result Susan has been a featured speaker and popular leader of workshops and retreats on the subject of creating everyday rituals and marking sacred passages. Susan regularly contributes articles to "Lectionary Homiletics," a professional preaching journal; as well as being a national trainer for Faith Inkubators, an educational-systems project whose mission is to return faith development to the family. She currently serves as a Chaplain for the Overland Park, Kansas, Police Department, and supports the fine arts community as a member of both the KC Repertory Theatre’s Legacy Society and the University of Missouri-Columbia Department of Theatre’s Stage Door Club.
Susan was raised near St. Louis, Missouri, and graduated with a degree in Speech and Dramatic Arts from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 1973. She then pursued vocal music and the stage in New York City, while working as soloist for St. Luke’s Lutheran Church and in the department of Education and Training for the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA.) In 1978 she moved to San Diego, California, as the Director of Chapter and International Affairs for ASTA and was an active layperson at St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church in La Mesa. While there, Susan served as Evangelism Chair on the Council and on two call committees, and founded the St. Andrew’s Theatre Workshop. She was also the on-air host for a religious news program called Focus5, sponsored by the San Diego Ecumenical Conference on the ABC affiliate.
Susan entered Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary (PLTS) in Berkeley, California, in 1986, where she met her husband-to-be Roger Gustafson. They were married in May of 1988 and served their internship as a pastoral team at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Walnut Creek. She received the Master of Divinity degree with honors and was ordained in 1990. In the Central States Synod, Susan chairs the Lutheran House of Studies curriculum committee and has served on the Continuing Education committee; the First Call Theological Education task force; Assembly workshop and worship committees; as well as being a presenter at numerous synod gatherings. With husband Roger, she has co-chaired the ELCA Church-wide Assembly Host Committee and the Installation Committee for Bishop Gerald Mansholt. They were also the first Conference Deans for Area Ministry #7.
You can email her here.
