The Rev. Barbara Holzhauser, aka “Pastor Barb”, has served the church for nearly 35 years in various roles.  Ordained in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America in 1989, she has served several congregations in Pennsylvania and Ohio.  In addition, she served as Associate Director for Evangelism for the ELCA churchwide organization in Chicago.  She has also served as a Spiritual Care Coordinator for a local hospice and has been active as a congregational transition specialist in the Northeastern Ohio Synod of the ELCA. She has spent much of her pastoral work focusing on the renewal of congregations. 

Pastor Barb was born and raised in Bethel Park PA (Pittsburgh), the oldest of four children. She was very active in her congregation and youth group which shaped her faith and love for the church. After high school she attended Luther College in Decorah, IA.  Prior to entering seminary, she taught in Florida at a church-related school.  Her call to ministry had been pushed to the background for many years until it became evident that seminary was the next step. She pursued her Master of Divinity (M.Div.) degree at Trinity Lutheran Seminary in Columbus, Ohio.  Pastor Barb’s personal mission is to “be an authentic witness to the love of God.”