Bishop Paula Lebo of the Allegheny Synod of the ELCA has named Terry Koch to LAMPa’s Policy Council. Koch will be taking up the mantle left by Susan Barclay as she finishes her term. Koch will begin his service on Policy Council at their annual retreat on September 22-24.

Koch is a lifelong Lutheran and resident of Altoona. He was baptized at Bethany Lutheran, worshiped at St. Paul’s for much of his life, and then came back to Bethany Lutheran in 2001. He serves his congregational community as Technology Coordinator, church treasurer, and by coordinating and cooking for their monthly meal giveaways. He also helps with the clothing and shoe ministry monthly.

Koch is a retired public-school teacher and school counselor. He received a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Penn State University in 1993, and a M.Ed. in school counseling from Penn State in 2001. He taught for more than 20 years before becoming a school counselor.

He also brings a personal experience of the ways in which our lives and health can suddenly be thrown into uncertainty. “My career ended suddenly when I went into kidney failure. I did dialysis for about five years, then received a kidney transplant in October 2020. Every time that I walked in the dialysis clinic, I would repeat to myself Philippians 4:13,” he said, holding onto that reminder that Paul gives us – “I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.”

Koch’s faith is palpable to those who know him and have witnessed his ministry. The Rev. Kevin Schock, assistant to the bishop, affirmed the bishop’s appointment, saying, “Terry brings the experience from a career in the public school system, both as teacher and counselor. His life and ministry reflect a passion for healthcare advocacy, LGBTQIA+ community advocacy, and feeding and clothing people in need. This passion comes from his own experiences and the experiences of his neighbors, whom he is called to love through his living faith in Jesus Christ.”

Koch said he looks forward to serving with LAMPa because of the shared focus on feeding and clothing the homeless and hungry, lack of affordable housing, equal opportunities for all, and LGBTQ issues and acceptance by church members. “I live by the words of Jesus when he said the greatest commandment is to ‘love God and love others.’ (Matthew 22:37-40, paraphrased) Jesus didn’t put any conditions on those words, so neither should we humans.”

Please join LAMPa in welcoming Terry Koch to the Policy Council!