The Rev. Dr. Russ Norris, Associate Pastor, is a Lutheran pastor and seminary professor with a lifelong commitment to pastoral care and environmental justice. With over 20 years of parish ministry experience, Pastor Russ has served in various leadership roles throughout his career. For four years, he was the Executive Minister of the South Carolina Christian Action Council, fostering collaboration among 19 different denominations. He then spent six years as a professor at Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary, overseeing internship programs, field education, and clinical pastoral education.

In 1998, Pastor Russ was called to serve as President and CEO of Lutheran Social Services of Metropolitan New York, where he managed services for over 500 children in foster care and group homes. His career later included directing services for homeless veterans through the Salvation Army and coordinating Meals on Wheels and senior programs at the Bay Ridge Center in Brooklyn, New York. Since retiring in 2006, Pastor Russ has continued to serve as an interim pastor for congregations across southeast Massachusetts. He and his wife, Dixie, reside in West Hyannisport, where he is an active model railroader and a dedicated member of various community organizations.