Our Mission
“Christ’s Evangelical Lutheran Church connects individuals to God, each other and the community.”
Our Vision
“Christ’s Evangelical Lutheran Church exists to welcome people to faith in Christ Jesus, to equip persons with a faith that works in real life, and to send us in service into the world in Jesus’ name.”
Our mission and vision statements are not simply “words on a web page.” We deeply believe that it describes the unique character of our church and community. Our “heartbeat” at Christ’s Lutheran Church is welcoming, connecting, equipping, and serving others as disciples of Jesus!
Congregational History and Pastors
Christ’s Evangelical Lutheran Church (CLC) began on a cold, wintry, Sunday afternoon in January 1903, when the Reverend J. Eugene Dietterich and several members of the Whitemarsh (Zion) Lutheran Church met to make arrangements to hold services in a little white-framed church on Plymouth Ave. in Oreland. What began around a pot-bellied stove with a few dedicated people has grown into a congregation of over 600 baptized members. The congregation outgrew that little church on Plymouth Ave. and built a 380-seat sanctuary, parish hall, and educational and office wing at the current site on Pennsylvania Ave. in 1959.
The early years of CLC had some moments of challenge, transition, and growth. After Pastor Dietterich left in 1907, the congregation had many supply pastors, as well as a shared pastorate with St. John’s Lutheran, Ambler.
During the 1940’s the Oreland community expanded with new housing and a growing population, making this a time of growth and vitality as well for the community of faith at CLC with the calling of our first full-time pastor, Rev. Ernest Huston, a young and energetic pastor who began the first Parish Newsheet, Vacation Church School, Junior Choir, and Women’s Missionary Society. In addition, CLC began a sponsorship of Oreland Boy Scout Troop #1, which continues to this day.
With the post-war housing boom, the community and membership at CLC grew dramatically. Pastor Huston was followed by Pastor Kenneth Zimmerman (1951-1961), who grew the church to a communing membership over 500. The little white church was bursting its rafters – it could only seat 155. A building committee was formed and at a congregational meeting in 1956, it was decided to build a new church a short distance away at its current location on Pennsylvania Avenue. The new church, complete with a parish hall and an office wing, was dedicated in 1959.
Over the next 45 years, CLC experienced several leadership transitions as it continued to grow and play an important role in the community. Our Weekday Nursery School was formed in 1956 and is a well-known ministry in the community. Over 2,500 neighborhood children, ages 2-5, have attended this program since its inception.
CLC has always had a strong focus on education leading to the building of a new educational wing and chapel in 1965 and an active youth ministry, in which the youth are involved in the total life of the congregation. This focus continues today with a full-time Director of Spiritual Formation, an active Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, and Confirmation Program. In ministry, Faith in Action projects are undertaken and summer youth mission trips have been taken to Costa Rica, Alaska, and the Lakota Indian Reservation in South Dakota, to name a few.
In addition, to our Sunday worship services, CLC has several adult fellowship programs including Adult Bible Study, Women’s Circles and a Men’s Group. Our music program serves as an integral part of our worship and has a dedicated Director Music and strong choir membership. CLC’s Chancel Choir offers special music throughout the year.
A Service of Lessons and Carols is offered in Advent and a Music Sunday is offered in the Spring. Our music ministry is complemented by soloists and special instrumentalists to enhance our worship services throughout the year.
Despite changing economics and demographics, CLC has been fortunate to have a dedicated congregation both spiritually and financially. In 1986, the church became debt-free when the chapel mortgage was retired. Extraordinary Benevolent Acts was started to fund worthy ministries close to home or far away. Within the last decade a successful $800K capital campaign allowed for a major renovation of the building and the facilities including installation of a new digital organ and an elevator along with other physical improvements.
In 2003, CLC celebrated 100 years of service to its members and the community. Despite its humble beginnings and many transitions, CLC has demonstrated its ability to embrace change and move forward.
In the spring of 2015, the congregation called the Rev. William A Vanderslice, as its senior pastor. Under the leadership of Pastor Vanderslice, a ministry team was developed to launch the CLC 2020 Vision to revitalize the congregation’s mission. The CLC 2020 Vision strives on all levels of congregational life “to connect individuals to God, each other and the community.” Worship and faith formation opportunities invite people to grow in God’s Word, while experiencing practical life applications from the teachings of scripture. New youth, family and adult ministries were developed and small group ministries have been revitalized. Outreach ministries, with an emphasis on reaching youth and families, bring the community together for an annual Fall Festival, an annual community dinner, Advent Lessons and Carols, Christmas Concert, Breakfast with Santa, and Summer Movie Night under the Stars. After a year long study process in 2018, the faith formation team introduced three table gatherings on Sunday morning. These groups include the Family Table, Confirmation Table and Adult Bible Table. Each table format brings individuals together to strengthen connections to God, each other and the community through our faith formation ministries.
Special gifts to the congregation since 2015 have provided a media center for worship, which utilities video illustrations as part of the sermon, and the following capital improvements to the church campus: a new youth and confirmation room, energy efficient air & heat units for the main level of the building, protective coverings for the sanctuary stained glass, comprehensive wifi coverage, resurfacing of the parking lot, new energy efficient hallway and room lighting, exterior directional signs, new energy efficient sanctuary light chandeliers, and other exterior enhancements to the building.
You are invited to join us in this new chapter of ministry and service as the congregation strives to welcome and build a diverse community of faith that makes meaningful connections to God, each other and the larger community.
History of Pastors who served Christ’s Lutheran Church
The Rev. Axel Kaegler
December 1, 2022 –
Senior Pastor
The Rev. Pastor Ronald Wesemann
August 1, 2022 – October 2022
Interim Pastor
The Rev. Heidi Rodrick-Schnaath
August 22-2021 – July 31, 2022
Interim Pastor
The Rev. Paul Jann
March 24, 2021 – August 21, 2021
Bridge Pastor
The Rev. William A. Vanderslice
June 1, 2015 to March 24, 2021
The Rev. Shirley Guider
November, 2013 – May 31, 2015
Interim Pastor
The Rev. Katherine Braun
March 1, 2009 – November, 2013
The Rev. William Shafer
September 4, 2007 – February 15, 2009
Interim Pastor
The Rev. Michael Carlson
August 1, 1986 – July 15, 2007
The Rev. Jeanne English
January 13, 1986 – August 1, 1986
Interim Pastor
The Rev. Gordon Simmons
June 9, 1985 – January 12, 1986
Interim Pastor
The Rev. William DeHeyman
December 5, 1983 – January 12, 1986
Second Pastor
The Rev. Rodney Kopp
June 1, 1977 – February 15, 1981
Assistant Pastor
The Rev. Barry Ridge
May 21, 1972 – December 31, 1976
Assistant Pastor
The Rev. John Scherch
October 22, 1971 – July 13, 1985
The Rev. Jesse Houck
June 15, 1968 – October 23, 1971
The Rev. James Shelton
June 1, 1964 – March 24, 1968
The Rev. John Newpher
December 16, 1961 – May 1, 1971
The Rev. Frank Klos
July 1, 1961 – December 17, 1961
Supply Pastor
The Rev. Kenneth Zimmerman
April 1, 1951 – June 30, 1961
The Rev. W. Huston
September 1, 1941 – November 1, 1950
The Rev. Ferdinand Hesse
February, 1929 – November 1, 1940
The Rev. Edgar Cooper
1928 – February, 1929
Supply Pastor
The Rev. E. Parson
February 1, 1920 – June 24, 1928
The Rev. Charles Smith
March, 1919 – January, 1920
Supply Pastor
The Rev. M. Wagenseller
October 28, 1915 – February 23, 1919
The Rev. Tholan, Noah Yeiser
The Rev. Samuel Shannon
July, 1908 – October, 1915
Supply Pastors
The Rev. E Dietterich
January 18, 1903 – July, 1908
Aerial View – Early Spring
Aerial View – Early Summer