Our staff

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mwanderson140@gmail.com

Interim Pastor + Pilgrim Lutheran in Lexington, SC

Having served as a pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America since 1983, I’ve seen the church do amazing work, screw-up big time, be there for people in intimate and life-changing ways, and drive people away. Yes, the church is very much an imperfect institution struggling to live out its call to follow Jesus. 

In my professional career and in my life as a disciple, I’ve witnessed the transformation of the church in its discipleship and its decline as an institution. These are both exciting and unnerving times. To all that, I say, Game On!

I live in Columbia, SC, my ancestral home, with my husband, Frank, who is the pastor of St. Michael’s Lutheran Church. We have two adult daughters. Colleen is a nurse in Catawba, NC, and Elise is a Lutheran pastor in Abingdon, VA.

As a graduate of Newberry College, Newberry, SC, the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Philadelphia (now United Lutheran), and the Lutheran School of Theology in Chicago, I have served in rural and urban congregations in Philadelphia, South Carolina, and metro-Chicago. I have a doctoral degree in preaching and have taught at the Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary. I’m currently serving as an Interim Pastor here at Pilgrim. It's a fast-paced, rebuilding ministry, and I love it!

plc@wearepilgrim.com

Office Administrator

Courtney has shared her heart for service and love of community at Pilgrim since 2023, where she serves as Office Administrator. She helps manage the church’s daily operations with care and attention, supporting the ministry behind the scenes and ensuring things run smoothly. For Courtney, Pilgrim feels like family, and she is grateful for the opportunity to serve in a place where faith and fellowship are lived out daily. Outside the office, she cherishes time with her children, her boyfriend, and loved ones, and enjoys photography as a way of capturing God’s beauty in everyday life.

susan@wearepilgrim.com

Director of Music

Susan has shared her love of music and heart for service in the Midlands for over 30 years, both as an educator and through church ministry. She has served as Director of Music at Pilgrim since 2019, joyfully offering her musical gifts in worship and outreach while also serving as Director of Education and Community Engagement with the South Carolina Philharmonic. Susan and her husband, Brendan, are proud parents of four children and love spending time with family, traveling, and cheering on Gamecock football.

Property Committee Chair & Live-Streaming Team Leader

Keith has been part of the Pilgrim family since 2020. He serves as Chair of the Property Committee, leads the Live-Streaming Team, is a member of the Disaster Preparedness Team, and is active in Lutheran Men in Mission. His wife, Lou, is also deeply involved at Pilgrim through Bible study, the SALT Family group, helping with Children’s Time, and serving as a worship assistant.

Together, Keith and Lou share their warmth, faith, and dedication in countless ways that enrich the life of the church. Outside of Pilgrim, they enjoy spending time with their family—including their new grandchild—working in the yard, and caring for their dog, Beamer (yes—named after Shane).