916 Hickory St., Hollidaysburg PA 16648
814.942.1042
Office hours: Mon. - Fri., 9:00 am - 1:00 pm; afternoon hours by appointment
Our mission: Inviting people to love one another.
Our vision: All creation living in harmony with Christ.
Sister Marianne Brock
Regional ELCA Gift Planner
Sister Marianne Brock is our Regional ELCA Gift Planner, supported by the synod. Most recently she served a dual role as the Associate Executive Director of the Lutheran Camping Corporation of Central PA and Director of Camp Nawakwa in Arendtsville. Prior to that time she served in congregational settings in youth, children, and family ministries.
The Rev. Tara Lynn
Regional Portico Representative
Many congregations use Portico Benefit Services for their benefit needs of the congregation. Our Regional Representative is Pastor Tara Lynn. While the Portico Customer Care Center (800.352.2628) remains the primary point of contact for benefit questions and processes, Portico’s Regional Reps provide education, encouragement, and a personal connection.
The Rev. John Kratz
Director, Go Tell it IN the Mountains Initiative
The Rev. John Kratz was hired as Director of the Go Tell It IN the Mountains Initiative on September 1, 2024. Though this Initiative is a cooperative ministry of Upper Susquehanna, Northwest PA, and Allegheny Synods, he was hired through the Allegheny Synod Council and his office is in our synod offices in Hollidaysburg.
Pastor John is a second career pastor. He worked for the Area Agency on Aging for four counties in North Central PA and for MH/MR as the Case Management Supervisor of Early Intervention Services for Bradford and Sullivan Counties.
Pastor John has served large and small congregations in the Central PA regional with 32 years in pastoral ministry before becoming the Go Tell It IN the Mountains Initiative Director. He has a wealth of leadership roles including Chair of the Board of Global Ministries for the Susquehanna Conference of the United Methodist Church and many years as a mentoring pastor to new clergy and lay preachers.
Pastor John and his wife Jane relocated to the Hollidaysburg area but still are within driving distance of their four children and five grandchildren. Family plays an essential role in their life together and they often share being blessed with such a wonderful family.
For more information about the Go Tell It IN the Mountains Initiative, please visit the website through the link on this site or go directly to https://www.gotellitinthemountains.org.
The Rev. Deacon
Sue Ellen Spotts
Director of
Evangelical Mission
The Rev. Deacon Sue Ellen Spotts is serving as the Director of Evangelical Mission for the Allegheny and Upper Susquehanna Synods.
She grew up on the move in a military family, cultivating a love of travel, of different cultures and people. She was also shaped by church experiences such as summer camp (as a camper and a counselor), youth ministry leadership, campus ministry, and service in the Lutheran Volunteer Corps.
Deacon Sue Ellen put her community nutrition degree from Penn State to use staffing an interfaith hunger task force in Washington DC and training village health promoters in rural Bolivia.
She earned an MA in Religion from the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg (now ULS), which led her into congregations as a Director of Christian Education, as well as to staff positions at Tressler Lutheran Services (now Diakon) and Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service. She also has ecumenical experience, most recently in congregational vitality efforts with the Episcopal Diocese of Maryland.
A common thread of her vocational journey is connecting who we are as Christ’s people with how we live in the world. Deacon Sue Ellen is excited to bring these experiences and passions to the work of the DEM at this moment, and to explore with the people of the Upper Susquehanna and Allegheny synods how to be vital witnesses to God’s redeeming work in our changing communities and world.
She may be reached at 570-898-0255.
Meet The Office of the Bishop Team
The Rev. Kevin T. Shock
Bishop
The Rev. Kevin T. Shock began the work of bishop on February 1, 2026, having been elected during the 2025 Allegheny Synod Assembly. Prior to his election as bishop, he served as Assistant to the Bishop for the Allegheny Synod since 2022, having concurrently served as Director for Evangelical Mission (DEM) from 2022-2023.
Prior to this role, he was Pastor at St. Mark Evangelical Lutheran Church, Pleasant Gap (2006–2022) and Intern Pastor at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, Verona, NY (2004–2005). Before entering ordained ministry, Bishop Kevin worked as Ministry Assistant at Zion Lutheran Church, Hollidaysburg (1998-2002) and as a counselor at Camp Sequanota, Jennerstown (1995).
Bishop Kevin earned his Master of Divinity degree from the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia (now United Lutheran Seminary) in 2006 and Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Education (English/German) from Juniata College in 1998.
Despite his strong identity as a central Pennsylvanian Lutheran, Bishop Kevin feels at home in situations that stretch his comfort and understanding. He has lived or traveled on four continents and has worshiped alongside people of various faith traditions. Bishop Kevin believes we learn more about ourselves and about God in learning the stories and experiences of others.
He and his spouse, Lisa Bahr, live in Howard with two dogs (more dogs always pending). Thanks to Lisa, his other passion is animal rescue. Bishop Kevin finds renewal in praying, hiking, bicycling, kayaking, and listening to his record collection.
The Rev. Tyler Graham
Assistant to the Bishop
for Transition
The Rev. Tyler Graham works closely with congregations who are seeking new leaders, clergy who are seeking a new call, and with Deans to secure pastoral coverage for ministries in times of vacancy. Pastor Tyler also serves as Pastor of the Living Waters Lutheran Parish.
He received a call to the Living Waters Parish in July 2025. He previously served as Pastor of the Salisbury Lutheran Parish from May 2020 to June 2025. While a candidate for ministry, Pastor Tyler served at Faith United Lutheran Church (Houtzdale), Faith Lutheran Church (Somerset), Emmanuel Lutheran Church (Bittinger, MD), the Accident Lutheran Parish (Accident, MD & Friendsville, MD), and Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church (Elizabethtown).
Born and raised in Houtzdale, Pastor Tyler graduated from the Moshannon Valley School District and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from the University of Phoenix. He received a Master of Divinity degree from United Lutheran Seminary.
He also serves as a chaplain with the Maryland State Police, and as a member of various community organizations
He and wife Michelle are the parents of three daughters - Amber, Riley, and MaKenna.
Pastor Tyler enjoys riding motorcycles, kayaking, hunting, and reading.
The Rev. Deacon
Alicia Anderson
Assistant to the Bishop
for Formation
The Rev. Deacon Alicia Anderson oversees our Synod’s candidacy process, work with people who are discerning public ministry, and coordinate educational events for lay people and clergy. She also serves as Campus Minister for Lutheran Campus Ministry at Penn State.
Deacon Alicia has lived in central PA for 25+ years and grew up in the Chicago area (northwest suburbs). She graduated from Luther College with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English Literature and Psychology. and received her Master of Arts Degree from Wartburg Theological Seminary (both in Iowa). and served in campus ministry in Nebraska and Wisconsin.
Before coming to Penn State, Deacon Alicia served at the Lutheran Student Center at the University of Nebraska - Lincoln following seminary graduation. She then served at the University of Wisconsin - Whitewater as campus minister for Lutheran Campus Ministry, She has served a variety of volunteer roles within campus ministry and currently serves on the Knutson Endowment Committee. She is also currently the LuMin Network Facilitator for Regions 7 and 8 and volunteers with her alma mater, Luther College, as a member of the Parent and Family Council, Class Agent, and Reunion Planning Team.
She and her husband, Bob Skelly, live in Lemont with their two Siberian Husky dogs. They are the parents of two adult daughters: Mara, who currently lives in Petersburg; and Jessa, who lives in St Paul, MN with her husband Luke and daughter Nina.
In her spare time, Deacon Alicia enjoys bicycling, walking and training the dogs, taking road trips, and reading.
The Rev. MJ Irvin-Stellabotte
Assistant to the Bishop for Communications
The Rev. Marty Jo Irvin-Stellabotte generates official synod communications across all of our media, interprets ELCA communications for our synod, and works with congregations to help them share their news in our synod and local communities. She also serves as Pastor of the Geeseytown-Newry Lutheran Parish.
Pastor MJ received a call to serve the Geeseytown-Newry Parish in October 2021. She served as a pastoral intern at St. Matthias Lutheran Church, Carlisle, and completed ministerial leadership at First English Lutheran, Tyrone. Prior to her ordination in 2021, Pastor MJ was an Authorized Lay Worship Leader in our synod.
She earned her Master of Divinity degree from United Lutheran Seminary; Master of Business Administration degree from Saint Francis University; and Bachelor's degree in Communications/ Public Relations from Penn State. Before entering full-time ministry, Pastor MJ worked in communications and fundraising for Penn State, ALSM, and in the healthcare industry, and also served as an adjunct college instructor. She's involved in a number of community volunteer organizations.
A native of Altoona, Pastor MJ and husband Tim are the parents of one daughter, Morgan, and share their home with their Beagle Scooby and four cats. She enjoys reading, travel, shopping, music, coffee, and time with friends and family.
The Rev. Traci Marriott
Assistant to the Bishop
for Life Together
The Rev. Traci Marriott works with others to match people’s gifts to ministry needs in our Synod, to encourage a healthy philosophy of stewardship for congregations and individuals, and to ensure that Synod resources feed ministry well. She also serves as Pastor at St. Matthew Lutheran Church, Martinsburg.
Pastor Traci began her call at St. Matthew in November 2018 after serving in Somerset County and as interim chaplain of Lutheran Campus Ministry at West Virginia University.
Born and raised in Altoona, she graduated from Altoona Area High School and Thiel College, where she majored in English Literature. She was both a private and public school teacher before going back to school to prepare for public ministry. Pastor Traci earned her Master of Divinity degree from the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg and was ordained in 2012.
In addition to her work within St. Matthew, she has served on staff and as a board member and chaplain at Camp Sequanota, a member of the Allegheny Synod Finance Committee, a coordinator for synod youth programming, and a participant in the Martinsburg ecumenical ministerium.
In her spare time, Pastor Traci enjoys reading, knitting, biking, skiing, travel, and hiking with her Labrador retriever Otto. She is the proud godmother of twins.
Michelle Bossler
Office Manager
Michelle is an Altoona native graduating in 1989 from Altoona Area High School with an emphasis in business. Prior to coming to the Allegheny Synod office in 2001, she worked as an insurance agent and in banking.
As Synod Office Manager, she has a wide range of responsibilities including financial data entry, website maintenance, database management, calendar administration, congregational, rostered leaders and financial records management, office communications, and oversight of the day-to-day operations of the synod office.
She is married and has two children. In her spare time, Michelle enjoys traveling and spending time with her family.