Our Pastor

The Rev. Katherine Scott-Kirschner began her position as Pastor at First Presbyterian Church in Sussex in February 2021. She’s incredibly grateful for the two years of ministry spent together!

Prior to this position, she worked as the Associate Pastor for Youth and Young Families at a PC(USA) congregation in Montclair, NJ. She was ordained as a Minister of Word and Sacrament on June 3, 2018.

Pastor Katherine is passionate about service and mission. She’s inspired by Matthew 25:31-46, and knows that God calls us to care for God’s beloved children wherever we find ourselves. In the midst of the pandemic, service and mission has needed to shift gears, since caring for others now means being physically separated from one another. She knows and believes, this won’t stop the Holy Spirit from presenting ways to serve the people around us in need of food, clothing, shelter, emotional support, or friendship.

Pastor Katherine grew up in Bakersfield, CA, and was born and raised in the PC(USA). She likes to joke that she’s as Reformed as they come,. When not at the church, you can find Pastor Katherine at her home in Montville, NJ, where she loves to bake, read, and walk. Her spouse, Donald, is a United Methodist pastor. This can make for some interesting dinner conversations around theology (at the most unexpected moments). They met at seminary in the lovely state of New Jersey. They’re both transplants and love it here so much they chose to stay, call New Jersey home, and begin their family here. They have a little girl who will be a proud Jersey girl!