Charles Lord '75, died on January 30, 2010. He is remembered as one who made a difference through the peaceful resolution of human conflicts, championed the rights of mentally ill persons, served as a teacher in missionary service in Rhodesia and Tanzania, and pastored UCC congregations in PA, Ohio, Wisconsin and Oklahoma. View Obituary
Vernon Nelson '58,
retired Moravian pastor and church archivist, died on January 26, 2009 after being struck by a car. Vernon served as Archivist for the Moravian Church, Northern Province from 1960 until his retirement in 2001. He presented the 2007 Moses Lectures in Moravian Studies at MTS on his research of the Valentine Haidt paintings commissioned for the 1753 headquarters of the Moravian Church, Lindsey House in Chelsea, England. A memorial service to celebrate Vernon's life will be held on February 27, 1pm at Central Moravian Church. View Obituary
Lew Thomas '59,
retired Moravian pastor, passed away on December 19, 2009. Lew served congregations in Bethlehem, Edmonton, Calgary, and Green Bay, Wis. He was also the Executive Director of Mt. Morris a Moravian camp and conference center near Wautoma Wis.
View Obituary
Lynette McRae, a recent MTS student, passed away on December 18, 2009. She began her studies at Moravian Seminary in 2004 and served as licensed lay pastor for First Moravian Church in New York City and Tremont Terrace Moravian Church in the Bronx.
Richard Splies '60, a former Moravian pastor, passed away on December 6, 2009. Richard served Moravian churches in PA, WI, and MN and as chaplain at Marquardt Manor in Watertown, WI.
View Obituary
The Rev. Polly Applefield ‘00 passed away on November 30, 2009, after a courageous battle with cancer. A former educator, she was ordained as a pastor in the Moravian Church – Southern Province in 2001.
View Obituary
Joyce Pfeiffer ’96 passed away on June 1, 2009. An ordained UCC pastor, she St. Peter’s Union Church of Mantzville, PA and Christ UCC of Jim Thorpe.
View Obituary
Fred Morgenstern ‘60 passed away on April 19, 2009 in Bloomington, Indiana. He served pastorates in Maryland, Ohio and Indiana, and in specialized ministry as a hospital chaplain.
Joseph Meranti '04 passed away on February 17, 2009. He worked as a computer programmer and was a very active elder of the Dunmore Presbyterian Church.
View obituary
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The 40 year ministry of Archivist, Daniel Crews '70 was honored at an open house at the Moravian Archives of the Southern Province in Winston-Salem, NC. He was appointed an archivist of the Moravian Church, Southern Province in 1991. Before that, he served as pastor of Moravian congregations in the United States, England and the Virgin Islands. Read more about Daniel's work from the Winston-Salem Journal online.
The ScottCares Foundation, which awards college scholarships to promising young adults in the areas of the arts and technology, recognized John Jackman '82 as Humanitarian of the Year in the field of technology at an awards banquet on June 4 in Winston-Salem, NC. ScottCares annually recognizes four individuals who have substantially contributed to the Piedmont/Triad community in the areas of Arts, Education, Technology, and Community Service. Jackman, one of the founders of Comenius Foundation, was nominated for the award because of his extensive work in teaching filmmaking and lighting technology through his books and articles, and through his mentoring of many young people starting off in the filmmaking business. For more information visit Scottcares.
Ann Deppen Lutz '70 was honored with a 2010 Alumnae Awards from her undergraduate alma mater, Cedar Crest College (Allentown, PA), on June 4. Anna graduated from Cedar Crest in 1950 where she received the Butz Prize, awarded to the graduating senior who exerted the best influence in her college life and association. Lutz has activitely supported Cedar Crest for six decades. She became the first woman to graduate from Moravian Theological Seminary earning her MDiv in 1970. She served for many years with her husband, Earlin, as co-pastor of First United Church of Christ in Quakertown, where previously she had been director of Christian education. In 1983, she received the John Hus Award for excellence in ministry.
On May 24th, Robert Hachtman '09 was ordained in the United Methodist Church. He is pastor of Fritz Memorial UMC in Bethlehem, PA.
Don Hullenbach '08 is a district licensed pastor in the Church of the Nazarene. He has been serving the First Church of the Nazarene in Allentown since 2008, as well as managing his insurance agency.
Mark Ortwein '08 was accepted into a Ph.D. program in Systematic Theology at Duquesne University (Pittsburgh, PA) beginning in Fall 2010. He received a teaching assistantship which includes full tuition plus stipend to assist a faculty member in either research or teaching.
Jami Possinger '02 was installed as pastor of Hope Lutheran Church in Cherryville, PA on May 16th.
On May 3rd, Kerry Krauss '98 began serving as pastor of the Sister Bay Moravian Church in Sister Bay, WI.
April 2010 |
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On April 18th, Scott Venable 79' was installed as pastor of Fairview Moravian Church in Winston-Salem, NC.
Cheryl Cottingham '08 was ordained on April 18th after accepting a call to serve as pastor of the Immanuel/New Eden Moravian Church in Winston-Salem, NC.
Michael Barnett '03 recently completed a nine-week art/writing residency as a teaching artist with the Lehigh Valley Arts Council in the Urban/Suburban Afterschool Arts Program working with students in middle school. Michael will also be serving on a panel discussion on Margaret Fuller at First Parish in Concord, MA, in honor of her Bicentennial Birthday Weekend, May 21-23. Margaret Fuller was the first woman social and literary critic and foreign correspondent for Horace Greeley’s New York Tribune from 1844 to 1850. In mid-July he will speak about Margaret Fuller at the annual Conversational Series at the Concord School of Philosophy at Louisa May Alcott’s Orchard House in Concord.
March 2010 |
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Patty Garner '98 served as the presiding pastor at the 238th Moravian Easter Sunrise Service in Winston-Salem, NC. It is estimated over 10,000 people attended the service.
After 45 years in the pastorate and 30+ years of studying prophecy, Robert Kramer '53, has published three books: THE REVELATION AND THE RAPTURE—-ARE WE THERE YET?, What the Bible Really Says About That, and A Guided Tour through the Revelation. He also writes and edits a bi-monthly eight page Bible study periodical, Second Thoughts which is sent to 1100 addresses across the U.S. Robert lives in Denver, Pennsylvania.
Maisha Surgeon '07 has recently accepted the position of full time therapist at Underwood Memorial Hospital in Woodbury NJ. She also oversees the hospital's mentally ill and chemically dependant track.
February 2010 |
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Included in the “25 Years Ago Today” almanac section of the February 28, 2010 edition of the Express-Times (Lehigh Valley) newspaper , was a reference to the research and writing that Professor Emeritus Howard Cox was doing on the Bach Bible.
Glenn H. Asquith, Jr., retired professor of Pastoral Theology, has recently published a chapter in Vol. 3 of Religion, Death, and Dying, edited by Lucy Bregman (Praeger Publishing) entitled “Protestantism and Death Rituals.” The 3-volume work covers Perspectives on Death and Dying (Vol. 1), Special Issues (Vol. 2), and Bereavement and Death Rituals (Vol. 3). Dr. Asquith’s chapter includes a discussion of the historic and contemporary Moravian practice of reading a lebenslauf (memoir or life story) at funeral services as a good example of a Protestant ritual that assists mourners with their own grief process.
Dean Emeritus David A. Schattschneider has recently completed a stint as President of the Board of Managers of the Moravian Historical Society and is currently President of the Board of Trustees of the Moravian Music Foundation (http://www.moravianmusic.org/). He was an 'outside examiner' for the Ph.D. oral examination of a Danish Moravian minister at the University of Aarhus in June 2009. This unique experience provided an introduction into Danish academic life and an opportunity to visit the historic Moravian settlement of Chriistiansfeld in southern Denmark. He has contributed a chapter titled, "Moravians Approach the Inuit: Theories and Realities," in the volume Moravian Beginnings in Labrador (Newfoundland and Labrador Studies, Occasional Publication No. 2, Memorial University, 2009).
On January 1, Erdmute Frank '03 began serving in specialized ministry in Herrnhut,Germany, guiding guests on interpretive tours and teaching them about the Moravian Church. Her ministry will be to groups as well and individual visitors, for a few hours or several days, Moravians and non-Moravians, to people from all over the world. This call utilizes her English skills as well as her experiences, knowledge and faith. If you are considering a trip to Herrnhut, please consider contacting Erdmute to serve as your guide.
Two United Methodist congregations in the Hazelton, PA area that are led by Moravian Seminary alumna are beginning a shared outreach ministry to members of the community whose native language is not English. Rev. Carol Vinson Lawfer '94 and Rev. Drena Miller '01 have been instrumental in creating this all-volunteer ministry that will begin serving the community with classes on basic English instruction. Future plans include offering courses on citizenship and basic computer skills. A small computer center is being established with computers that have been donated, and an after-school homework assistance program for neighborhood children and youth is planned as resources and personnel become available.
Reeder Herrick '03, who had been serving as Associate Pastor of Sturgeon Bay Moravian Church, Sturgeon Bay, WI, retired from the active call of the Moravian Church.
Capt. Glenvil Gregory '97, '06, Army Chaplain, returned home from deployment in Iraq. Glenvil serves as chaplain with the 1st Battalion, 108th Field Artillery, out of Newark, NJ and awaits further orders.
Alumnus and former Seminary Dean, William Matz '53, published a devotional study guide, Discovering Promise in a World of Uncertainty. A joint effort, the book is edited by Carol Olzinski, a current MAPC-MSW Moravian Seminary student.
Janice Sbrocci Coffing '99, chaplain of The Women's Hospital in Newburgh, IN, was approved for board certification by the Association of Professional Chaplains in November 2009.
On November 1, 2009, Deb Hess '09 was ordained and installed as 3/4 time pastor at St. Thomas UCC in Bethlehem.
On November 8, Carol Reifinger '84 was named senior pastor of Central Moravian Church in Bethlehem. Reifinger has served at Central Moravian since 1984, and joins Janel Rice '05, who came to Central in 2005. The two now form the pastorate of the 200-year-old church.
John Jackman's '82 film, Wesley, premiered at the Stevens Center in Winston-Salem, NC, on November 14, 2009. Jackman is the director of the independent film that chronicles the colorful life John Wesley, founder of the Methodist church. Jackman is also pastor of Trinity Moravian Church in Winston-Salem.
Rebecca Richie '04 was installed as ordained and installed as Vicar of Lord of Life Lutheran Church in Canfield, Ohio on October 11, 2009. After earning an MAPC from Moravian Seminary, Becky graduated with distinction in May 2009 from the Lutheran Theological Seminary of Philadelphia, with an MDiv. She received the Atonement Lutheran Church of Asbury Park, N.J., Preaching Award from LTSP, an honor that goes to a senior seminarian who exhibits “exceptional potential” in the field of preaching, along with a strong potential for ministry.
Dave Bennett '88 accepted the position of Chair of the Seminary Trustees, after the board accepted the resignation of Chairperson Wilma Lewis who needed to step down after her appointment to President Obama’s cabinet as Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management of the Department of the Interior.
John Wallace '84 was installed as pastor of First Moravian Church in Dover, Ohio on October 18. He had previously served the Waconia Moravian congregation in Waconia, MN.
James Demby '09 was installed as pastor of Pine Chapel Moravian Church in Winston-Salem, NC on October 18th.
Doug Caldwell '69 retired from active call to the Moravian Church on October 31st. Over his 40 years of service he served three Moravian congregations in Pennsylvania: Reading, College Hill, and Central.
Former MAPC Professor, Dr. Glenn Asquith is sharing a private practice office with MAPC alum, Bill Smith '00 and Lenore Stine ’08 at the Counseling and Wellness Center of the Lehigh Valley (formerly the practice of Rev. Dr. Janice Young '82, '91. www.counselingandwellnesscenteroflv.com
Nicole Melara '06,'09 began a PhD program in Religious Studies at Temple University in September.
Christie Melby-Gibbons '09 was ordained a deacon of the Moravian Church on September 6 and installed as pastor of the Downey Moravian Church in Downey, CA on September 13th.
After 17 years of service, Margaret Hassler '92 retired from the active call of the Moravian Church on September 1st. She had previously served congregations in New Jersey, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Toronto, and Edmonton.
Nola Reed Knouse '09 accepted a call to Specialized Ministry as Director of the Moravian Music Foundation. She was ordained September 27, 2009 at Home Moravian Church, in Winston-Salem, NC.
Margaret Wellert '99, '00 was installed as pastor of Great Kills Moravian Church on Staten Island, NY on September 27th. She had previously served the Sister Bay Moravian Church in Wisconsin.
Jodie Lean Harney '09 was ordained a deacon of the Moravian Church on August 30 and installed as pastor of the Mountainview Moravian Church, Hellertown, PA, in September.
Margaret Leinbach '04 accepted an appointment to serve as the Intentional Interim pastor of Sharon Moravian Church in Tuscarawas, Ohio on August 1st.
Matt Gillard '09 was ordained a deacon of the Moravian Church on July 26 and installed as pastor of Heimtal Moravian Church in South Edmonton, Alberta on August 3.
Derek French '95 was installed as pastor of East Hills Moravian Church in Bethlehem, PA on August 2. He had previously served the Mountainview congregation in Hellertown, PA.
Ian '04 and Eileen '05 Edwards were installed as pastors of Good News in Sherwood Park, Alberta on August 23. They had previously served in team ministry at Great Kills Moravian Church on Staten Island, NY.
On July 1, 2009, Tracy Robinson '06 accepted the call to serve as Church Planter for work with the Latino/Hispanic population of the Lehigh Valley. He had previously served the Holly Springs congregation outside of Raleigh, NC.
Craig D. Atwood, '87, became Director of Admissions for the School of Divinity of Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, N.C. on July 1st. He continues to teach theology and church history as an adjunct professor there. Craig's latest book, Theology of the Czech Brethren from Hus to Comenius is available at amazon.com.
Allen Bergmann '68 retired from active call to the Moravian Church on July 1st. During his 41 years of ministry he served congregations in Michigan, Alberta, and Ohio.
After retiring from the active ministry in July, Ron Rice has accepted appointment to serve as part-time Pastoral Consultant to the Advent Moravian congregation in Bethlehem, PA.
Trina Holmberg '09 was ordained a deacon of the Moravian Church on June 13 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, and installed as the pastor of Unionville Moravian Church (Unionville, MI) on July 12.
Tim Sapp '06 was installed as pastor of Mizpah Moravian Church in Rural Hall, NC on July 19. He had previously served the Pine Chapel Moravian congregation in Winston-Salem, NC.
Kurt Liebenow '90 accepted a call to serve as full-time pastor of Christian Faith Moravian Church in Deforest, MN. He had previously served the congregation under part-time appointment.
Eric Renner '09 was ordained a deacon of the Moravian Church on June 21 in Ohio and installed as the pastor of Shepherd of the Prairie in Fargo, North Dakota on July 5.
Catherine Strouse '09 was ordained a pastor of the UCC and installed as pastor of Christ UCC in Alllentown.
Rob Key is working in the field of public accounting providing service to individuals and small businesses in Edmonton, Alberta.
Chris Giesler '86 was installed as pastor of Edgeboro Moravian Church in Bethlehem, PA on a three-quarter time basis on June 8. He continues to serve as one-quarter time Director of Youth Ministry for the Moravian Church, Eastern District.
Margaret Hubbard ’07 accepted a position with the InterFaith Housing Alliance of Ambler (Amber, PA), serving as the Case Manager for two programs, an emergency shelter program and a two year transitional housing program. www.i-fha.org
Linda Staples Borton '09 began a 3-year Chaplain Fellowship at Geisinger Hospital in Danville, PA.
Revocatus Meza '07 sent an email updating that he is still lecturing here at the Bishop Kisanji University in Mbewa, Tanzania and at the same time holding the office of Dean of Faculty of Theology.
On May 3, Doug and Joyce Donigian '08 were installed as co-pastors at First United Church of Christ in Quakertown, PA.
On May 8, Ted Burcaw ’86, principal of Cook Elementary School in Winston-Salem, NC, received the School of Education Distinguished Alumni Award in the Early Career category from the University of North Carolina – Greensboro.
Imro Anys '98 was ordained in the Christian Church in the United States and Canada on May 3rd. On the same day was installed as the Senior Pastor at First Christian Church in Homestead, Florida.
Greg Ellis '07 serves as the Coordinator of the District Disaster Response effort of the Northeast District Eastern Pennsylvania Conference of The United Methodist Church.
Staci Marrese-Wheeler '92 was installed as pastor of the Lakeview Moravian Church in Madison, Wisconsin on April 5. She had previously served as Bereavement Coordinator for Ministry Home Care Hospice Services in Marshfield, Wisconsin.
Barbara Rich '87, '93 retired from the active ministry of the Moravian Church on April 1. During her 15 years of service she served Reading Moravian Church and in service to the United Methodist Church.
On March 4, 2009, the Staten Island Moravian Churches received the Rabbi Marcus Kramer Humanitarian Award from Project Hospitality, the boro-wide interfaith crisis ministry on Staten Island, New York. The four churches received the award in recognition of their collaborative work on mission projects including the Staten Island Moravian Community Garden, clothing distribution, monthly meals for persons with HIV/AIDS, Thanksgiving baskets, Crop Walk, Prayer Shawl Ministry, mission trips to rebuild on the Gulf Coast, and community yoga classes. Seminary graduates currently serving those Staten Island churches are Duane Ullrich '83, Lynnette Delbridge '84, Andrew Meckstroth '86, Ian Edwards '04, Eileen Edwards '05, and Wellesly Ferguson '04.
Michael Barnett '03 is creating a six-week poetry residency for at-risk youth at The Program for Women and Families in Allentown. As a teaching artist in poetry, he creates Arts-In-Education poetry programs and workshops through the Lehigh Valley Arts Council.
On February 22, Rebecca Craver '07 was installed as the pastor of the New Hope church plant on the south side of Indianapolis, Indiana.
Hannelore and Tom Nalesnik '99 were installed as the co-pastors of the Union Congregational Church of Maynard, Massachusetts on February 22. The Nalesniks began their pastorate at the church in late summer of 2008.
Robert Peek '99 retired from the active ministry of the Moravian Church on January 1. During his 10 years of service he pastored congregations in Asheville and Winston-Salem, NC.
Darrell Johnson '88 was installed as pastor of the John Heckewelder Memorial Moravian Church in Gnadenhutten, Ohio on January 11. He had previously served in co-ministry with his wife, Christine '88, at the East Hills Moravian congregation in Bethlehem.
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