“Pastor Rich” Gelson began at South on February 7, 2025. He has over 25 years of PC(USA) ministry experience in a variety of congregational settings and with a faithful focus on building community-wide partnerships for the common good.

He was educated at William Paterson University (B.S., Sociology) and Princeton Theological Seminary (M.Div)

He is a strong mental health, substance use recovery, and inclusivity advocate.

He is husband to Rev. Stefanie Muntzel, father to three young adults, and cat dad to Ellie and Evie.

He maintains a work-life balance by playing pickleball, writing and singing original music on acoustic guitar, taking digital photos of nature, and by kayaking when he can. He also loves baseball and historical mystery novels.

His life-long “anchor” verse of scripture is Mark 5:19, which reports Jesus commanding “Go home to your friends, and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and what mercy he has shown you.”