Alumni Update: July 2009–February 2009

In August, Art Freeman ‘52, retired professor of New Testament at MTS, was named Cambridge Who’s Who Professional of the Year in Theological Education, an honor based on his academic achievements, leadership and service.

In addition to his service as pastor of Lebanon Moravian Church in Lebanon, PA, Rich Thierolf ‘78 is serving in part-time service as Chaplain at Moravian Manor retirement community in Lititz, PA.

Janice Young ‘82, ‘91 retired from her pastoral counseling ministry at Epworth United Methodist Church (Bethlehem) last summer. In recognition of her ministry there, the congregation planted a tree with a commemorative plaque beside the church sign in the front yard.

Executive coach and workplace trainer, Jean Thumm ‘84, published the book, Soft Skills for Tough Issues: Fostering Interpersonal Communication in the Workplace.

After retiring from Trinity Lutheran Church in Nazareth in 2004, Harv Weitzel ’86 and his wife moved to Stamford, Connecticut, where he served for two years as Director of Stewardship and Planned Giving at St. James’ Episcopal Church in Manhattan. In 2006 he retired a second time and accepted a position as Director of Development for Hospice St. Joseph in Port au Prince, Haiti. A year later he was asked by the Bishop of the New England Synod of the ELCA to accept a part-time interim position at Emanuel Lutheran Church in New Haven, CT, while at the same time being invited to join the Stamford (CT) Counseling Center’s staff as a Pastoral Counselor. He continues to serve in those positions (until he retires a fourth time!).

Betsy Miller ‘85, who serves as director of Congregational Leadership and Resources for the Moravian Church Western District, accepted a seat on the board of directors of the Fort Memorial Hospital Foundation in Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin.

In January, Reed Acheson ‘86 began serving as pastor of the Moravian congregations of Coopersburg and Grace Center Valley.

Darrell Johnson ‘88 began serving the Heckewelder Memorial Moravian Church in Gnadenhutten, Ohio, in January 2009.

In mid-November, Kenneth Daniel ‘89 began serving as Executive Director of the Presbyterian retirement community, Ingleside at Rock Creek, in Washington DC.

On July 1, Keith Harke ‘99 began serving as part-time Chaplain of Scandia Village retirement commununity in Sister Bay, Wisconsin.

Mary Bielke ‘00 was installed as pastor of the Canaan Moravian Church in Cass County, ND, on December 7th.

In August 2008, Brian Holben ‘02 was installed as pastor of Jerusalem Lutheran Church in Trachsville, PA.

In October, Jason Graf ‘03 began an independent ministry, Resurrected Life Church, in southern Indianapolis.

In January 2009, Wellesley Ferguson ‘04 began serving as part-time pastor of Vanderbilt Moravian Church on Staten Island. He also serves as part-time pastor of Fellowship Moravian Church in Brooklyn.

Jane Wegner ‘04 was consecrated a Presbyter of the Moravian Church on October 12th at Ebenezer Moravian Church in Watertown, Wisconsin.

Lynne Trout ‘05 was installed on November 20th as pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Delanco, New Jersey. At her installation, Nicole Melara ‘06, pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Williamstown, NJ, gave the Charge to the Pastor.

Lynn Hanninen ‘06 was featured in a November article of the Express-Times newspaper for helping to organize a Thanksgiving meal ministry for residents of Lexie’s Dream, a facility in Bethlehem that provides independent living for wheelchair-bound men and women.

Elizabeth Haines ‘06 was installed as pastor of Hope Lutheran Church in Bowers, PA, on September 7.

In February 2009, Rebecca Craver ‘07 began serving as church planter of the New Hope Community Moravian Church, an emerging congregation in Indianapolis.

Michael Hedrick ‘08 was appointed to a CPE Resident position at Lehigh Valley Hospital on December 1st.

Linda Leuser ‘08 was ordained in September and installed as pastor of Salem United Church of Christ in Moorestown, PA.

In July 2008, Erin McLean ‘08 was hired as Children’s Bereavement Coordinator for St. Luke’s Hospice and Ryan’s Tree for Grieving Children, Lehigh and Northampton counties.

In Memory

Walser Allen, Jr. ‘51 passed away on August 28, 2008, in Wilmington, NC. He was the founding pastor of Raleigh Moravian Church in Raleigh, NC. In 1955, he became the resident chaplain and a professor of religion at Salem College in Winston-Salem, NC. In 1964 he joined the faculty of Wilmington College. He retired from UNC-Wilmington as an Associate Professor Emeritus in History in 1993 after 29 years of dedicated service.

George Beidelman ‘56 passed away on November 1, 2008, in Indianapolis. He was a pastor of Moravian congregations for ten years in Utica, NY, and Indianapolis and then served as a teacher in the Indianapolis public schools for twenty years.

Sharon Conn ‘87 passed away on November 26, 2008, in Reading, PA. Sharon had been a pastoral care coordinator at the Brooklyn Hospice in Brooklyn, NY, and served as pastor of the Reading Moravian Church.