Deacon Chelle Huth

By the will of our great God and the call of the church, the Northeastern Pennsylvania Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America joyfully announces the call of Deacon Chelle Huth as our new Director for Leaders, beginning November 1, 2025.

Deacon Chelle brings over 30 years of experience in faith formation, leadership development, and theological education within the ELCA. She currently serves at United Lutheran Seminary (ULS) as the Director of Contextual/Field Formation, Certificate Studies, and TEEM Ministry, and is a long-time teacher and mentor for seminarians, interns, and rostered leaders. Chelle has devoted her ministry to equipping leaders for the public church and nurturing creative, resilient, and faithful leadership for Christ’s mission in the world.

In this new full-time role with our synod, Deacon Chelle will walk alongside rostered and lay leaders, helping them to grow in health, faith, and capacity for ministry. Her work will include guiding candidacy, internship, call, and mobility processes; supporting first-call formation; overseeing Licensed Lay Ministry; and fostering ongoing leadership development opportunities in alignment with our synod’s three Values and three Lanes—especially Going Beyond Death to Life and Gaining Strength.

At the same time, Deacon Chelle will continue quarter-time with United Lutheran Seminary, maintaining her collaborative work between seminary and synod. This unique partnership allows her to strengthen the essential bridge between theological education and ministry practice—especially in areas of candidacy, contextual learning, and first-call formation.

“I am thrilled to continue serving both the seminary and the synod in this new way,” Deacon Chelle shares. “My heart has always been in walking with leaders—helping them listen for God’s call, discover their gifts, and grow into the ministries God is shaping in them. I’m deeply grateful for the trust this call represents, and excited to continue building strong and creative connections across the church.”

Bishop Christopher deForest expressed his enthusiasm and gratitude: “Deacon Chelle brings extraordinary experience, energy, and care to this vital ministry. She has a deep understanding of how leaders grow—from the first stirrings of vocation to lifelong discipleship. Her collaborative spirit and joyful faith are exactly what our synod needs as we continue Gaining Strength together. I thank God for her call to this work among us.”

As Director for Leaders, Deacon Chelle will collaborate closely with Bishop deForest and the synod staff to strengthen relationships with pastors, deacons, lay ministers, and congregations across Northeastern Pennsylvania. She will be a key resource for supporting leaders through every stage of their ministry—encouraging continuing education, spiritual wellness, and healthy leadership practices that serve the Gospel.

Please join us in welcoming Deacon Chelle Huth to her new role, and in giving thanks to God for this new chapter of partnership between the Northeastern Pennsylvania Synod and United Lutheran Seminary!

Starting November 1, visit our Synod Leadership page to find Deacon Chelle Huth’s contact information.