Receiving a Bachelor of Arts in English, with honors, from
Concordia College-New York, she went on to receive the Master of Divinity degree from
Union Theological Seminary in Manhattan. At Union, she was privileged to study with
Cornel West,
Raymond Brown and
Phyllis Trible, among other noted scholars.
Having begun her tenure at Christ Lutheran Church in 1991, Pastor Swertfager has also served as the Dean of Manhattan; member of the Executive Committee of
Seafarers International House; member of the Pastoral Care Committee at
NYU Langone Medical Center; and participant in the Lutheran-Roman Catholic Dialogue of the Archdiocese of New York.
Pastor Swertfager is married to the
Rev. William Eric Baum, retired pastor of
Saint Barnabas Church. On the home front, she guides her household's daily life, insuring the family's
eastern box turtle, Northford, is fed a proper diet of worms and berries. The couple have two tall sons. The family is full of avid hockey players and fans. Pastor Swertfager enjoys dining locally. Check-out her favorite neighborhood
restaurants!
