The Rev. Nicole Schwalbe
Biographical Information
Current Position:
Pastor
Congregation Membership:
Lutheran Church of the Resurrection, Mt. Kisco
Date and Year of Birth:
5/23/1973
Date and Year of Ordination:
8/25/2007
Previous Positions:
Speech-Language Pathologist
Teacher with ELCA Division for Global Mission
Campus Minister, Lutheran Ministries in Higher Education
Education and Earned Degrees (with institutions and years, most recent first):
Duke Divinity School, MDIv (2005)
University of Wisconsin-Madison, MS (1997)
Augustana College, Rock Island, IL (1995)
List up to five (5) current or past community-related activities that would inform your
service as bishop of this synod:
Chair of Northern Westchester Interfaith Council
Member & co-founder of area clergy for pride
Work with Neighbor’s Link (community service for immigrants)
Participant in community’s Emergency Shelter Partnership for unhoused neighbors & Local food pantry
Participant and organizer in interfaith community prayer services and vigils
What do you see as the principal challenge to this synod in the next six (6) years, and how
would you address it? (1,000 characters maximum):
Six years from now? Who knows?! But, I think that we, in this synod, need to get serious about what our priorities are and then begin to focus our time and energy on those things. Many of us are facing diminishing resources both monetarily and people-wise. While this is certainly a challenge, perhaps it is also an opportunity to right-size, decide where our priorities lie and realign our missions and assets with the heart of the gospel. To me, the non-negotiables in our mission are to love God and neighbor. It seems we easily forget that in our desperation to “survive.” And then as we retrench, our challenge becomes trying to think in different ways. We often fail to thrive because of a failure of imagination.
List up to five (5) current or past synod or churchwide activities that would inform your
service as bishop of this synod:
MNYS Synod Council
Co-Dean of Tappan Zee Conference
First Call Theological Education Facilitator
MNYS Committee for Child, Youth and Family
Work with ELCA Division for Global Mission
Describe your leadership style. (1,000 characters maximum):
I am a collaborator. I am highly relational and am happiest when working with people. I like to surround myself with people who have complimentary gifts to mine. I come into most situations from a place of curiosity and am a listener. I am not a micro-manager but a permission-giver and supporter. I prefer the image of walking alongside people to walking in front of them (but will take that position when it is necessary).
What gifts would you bring to the office of bishop of this synod? (1,000 characters
maximum):
I bring a love of people and of the church. I also bring a flexibility in the way things are done and an openness to innovation and new ways of thinking and doing. I am a patient and hopeful person and believe there is a place for all of us in this body of Christ. I am a multi-tasker and like being “out and about.” I also care deeply about our call to care for those marginalized and most in need.