The Northwestern Ohio Synod is pleased to announce Sherry W. Krieger as our new Director of Leadership Development and Congregational Care.
Sherry holds a Masters in Theological Study from Trinity Lutheran Seminary with an emphasis in liberation theology, cross-cultural dialogue, and urban ministry, and holds a Masters in Social Service Administration with an emphasis in organizational and community development from Case Western Reserve University.
Sherry is a Licensed Social Worker and a 19-year veteran of the mental health field. For the last seven years she has served in Administration and Communication with the Northwestern Ohio Synod, focusing on organizational management, administration, communication, and conflict resolution. Sherry is currently finalizing processes for attaining her Independent Social Work License and rostering in Word and Service with the ELCA.
Sherry is married to Andrew Krieger and they are busy raising three active children, Jessica (18), Cassidy (16) and Cory (14). B esides supporting her children’s activities, Sherry enjoys travel, photography, watching movies, and reading. She has traveled across Europe with her family and some years ago participated on a consciousness-raising tour in Tanzania and Zimbabwe, and looks forward to returning to Tanzania.
Sherry is passionate about the intersection of faith, mental health and leadership development and is enthusiastic about developing the new strategies, teams, and partnerships that will help us tend to our world, our congregations, and the many people in our pews who are in significant pain. Healthy leaders are key to realizing God’s call to live out the Great Commission and Sherry is excited to be a part of the movement of God’s healing and growth in this time and place that frees us up to be beacons of Christ’s light and love in the world.
As the Director of Leadership Development and Congregational Care, Sherry will:
- Help foster a culture that encourages, equips, and empowers leaders to create communities of passionate disciples who make disciples with a strong collegiality among peers
- Craft a framework that equips leadership to invest in the preventative health of our congregations, and coordinate teams to overcome congregational and pastoral misconduct Collect and share “best and healthy practices” for empowering congregational and rostered leadership while equipping and deploying teams with adaptive solutions and interventions for times of conflict
- Oversee and revise the call process, transitioning into a process that is more individualized and responsive to congregations’ needs
- Sherry can be reached at sherry.krieger@nwos-elca.org . She is available to congregations for teaching, leading retreats, assisting in vision and mission processes, conflict resolution, and leading congregations through times of transition.
(We will often refer to this position simply as the Director of Congregational Care, abbreviated as DCC.)