In May of 1988, the Rev. Brooke L. Swertfager was the first person to be ordained by the late Bishop William Lazareth.  The service took place at St. John - St. Matthew - Emanuel Lutheran Church in Park Slope, Brooklyn.

Born and reared in Sylvan Beach, NY, she was baptized there at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church by Pastor Paul Steinke and later confirmed there, as well.

Receiving a Bachelor of Arts  in English, with honors, from Concordia College, Bronxville, she went on to receive the Master of Divinity degree in 1985 from Union Theological Seminary in Manhattan.

In addition to her eighteen year pastorate at Christ Lutheran Church, Pastor Swertfager has served as the Dean of Manhattan; on the Executive Committee of Seafarer's & International House; Pastoral Care Committee at NYU Medical Center; and the Lutheran-Roman Catholic Dialogue of the Archdiocese of New York.

Pastor Swertfager is married to the Rev. William Eric Baum, pastor of Saint Barnabas Church in Howard Beach. The couple reside in Manhattan together with their sons. The family is full of avid hockey players and fans.