Welcome Rev. Andrew Genszler!

Thanks from Rev. Drew and family,

A quick note with our deep gratitude for your warm and gracious welcome on Sunday, April 28th to this special community! A special thanks to Rich, Vicki and volunteers for making a point to have a reception with cake on a very busy morning and to Rev. Ryan, Amanda, and family for the scavenger hunt and many thoughtful gifts for our kids (still remaining nameless!); and to Rev. Lindsay who started this tradition with them! Also, a special thanks to Wrean for knitting me a rainbow stole and to you all for your many well-wishes! We even left with a marvelous bouquet which is on our kitchen table. I am indeed fortunate and blessed by this opportunity to work with a committed and faithful Session and so many dedicated parishioners. I’m excited to serve with you all to extend our congregation’s personal, local and global mission.

With our best thanks and our gratitude,
Rev. Drew, Alycia and family

Rev. Genszler brings significant experience to oversee our Fairmount finances and building and support the worship life of our church. Many of you may recognize him as the former CEO of Lutheran Metropolitan Ministry (LMM). While he was there, LMM launched  multiple affordable housing and capital investment initiatives (including “Breaking New Ground,” which Fairmount supported) overseeing a staff of 140 and $11 million annual budget. An ordained Lutheran minister, Drew also served as Director of Advocacy for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), representing the church to Congress, the United Nations, and the media. Most recently, Drew has overseen a $10 million matching gift campaign and $3 million annual goal as Director of Legacy and Planned Giving for United Way of Cuyahoga County. He is a chaplain in the US Navy Reserves and holds a Master of Studies in Christian Ethics from Oxford University. Drew is already connected to Fairmount (his children are alums of the Fairmount Co-op Preschool) and is a Cleveland Heights resident.