Mary Susan Gast

Background

Gast, Mary Susan was born on October 27, 1945 in Benton Harbor, Michigan, United States. Daughter of Charles Adolph and Mary Ann (Pihulic) Gast.

Education

Bachelor cum laude, Michigan State University, 1970. Doctor of Ministry, Chicago Theological Seminary, 1975. Doctor of Divinity (honorary), Chicago Theological Seminary, 1994.

Career

Campus minister, Iowa State University, Ames, 1975-1978; pastor, 1st Congressional United Church Christ, Union City, Michigan, 1978-1981; pastor, Smith Memorial United Church Christ, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1981-1986; director, S.W. Michigan Riverside Project in Nuclear Disarmament, Grand Rapids, 1981-1984; associate conference minister, Indiana-Kentucky Conference United Church Christ, Indianapolis, 1986-1991; executive director coorinating center for women in church and society, United Church Christ, Cleveland, since 1991. Denominational representative Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice, since 1991. Personnel and organizational life and conflict consultant, since 1991.

Achievements

• Mary Susan Gast has been listed as a noteworthy minister, religious organization administrator by Marquis Who's Who.

Membership

Active Project Oversea, Union City, 1979-1981. Community organizer Smith Center, Grand Rapids, 1982-1986. Peace monitor S. African elections Black Sash, 1994.

Participant United Nations Forum on Women, China, 1995. Member Phi Beta Kappa.

Connections

Married Roger Dean Straw, March 20, 1971. 1 child, Susannah Martin Straw-Gast.