The Rev. Cuttino Alexander

Denomination: Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA)
Organization: Christus Victor Lutheran Church, Ocean Springs, MS

Pastor Cuttino (pronounced "CUT-no") Alexander came to Christus Victor Lutheran Church in Ocean Springs, MS, in January 2017, having served as pastor at two parishes in North Carolina. He grew up in a small town in the foothills North Carolina and attended Presbyterian and Episcopal churches. Cuttino studied at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He graduated with degrees in history and Russian language. While at UNC-Chapel Hill, he became active in Lutheran Campus Ministry, where he discovered his call to ministry and met his wife, Jessica.

Before entering seminary, Cuttino served as a US Peace Corps Volunteer. For two years, he worked in the country of Georgia as a consultant to a non-profit organization that served homeless youth and refugees. In 2009, Cuttino returned to the United States and enrolled at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago. During his internship year of seminary, Cuttino was assigned again to Tbilisi, Georgia, to work as a vicar in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Georgia. There, he (somewhat) mastered preaching in Russian and (totally) mastered driving Soviet-made jeeps.

Cuttino is especially passionate about liturgy, preaching, and spirituality. He was the 2013 recipient of the David H. C. Read Preacher/Scholar Award, given by Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church of New York City. He has been the featured preacher on the Day1 radio program and he is a regular contributor to Sundays and Seasons: Preaching. As a pastor in North Carolina, he served as an organizing member of the NC Synod's Justice and Advocacy team. He continues to have a strong interest in global mission and ecumenical relations, particularly in Europe and the Middle East.

Outside of church, Cuttino enjoys traveling, printmaking, binge watching TV, and taking his young son to the aquarium.