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Helping us through the transition . . .
With Pastor Frank’s departure, to be closer to his ailing mother in Rhode Island, we find ourselves in the process of seeking a replacement. Helping us through this transition is Rev. Judith A. Meier, OCC.
 The initials “OCC” after her name indicate membership in the Order of Corpus Christi, a covenant order within the United Church of Christ, which includes both ordained and lay people who enjoy a life of common prayer, study, discipline, and practices. Rev. Meier received special training in transitional ministry through the Interim Ministry Network in Baltimore, Maryland and she attends a two-day regional event for interim ministers every year, and a monthly meeting of interim ministers at the Church House.
Rev. Meier graduated from Lancaster Theological Seminary in 1998 and served a full-time called pastorate at Gulph UCC, Gulph Mills, before beginning the specialized service as interim/transition minister at First Church, Royersford; St. Luke’s in North Wales; St. John-Hill, Boyertown; St. Matthew’s, Chester Springs; and Linfield.
Rev. Meier likens the image of the Transition Minister to that of a Harbor Pilot, guiding and steering the congregational ship toward port through choppy waters and rocky shoals, attending to the passengers and crew, paying particular attention to those who might have already jumped ship or are thinking about it, welcoming new sailors on board, scraping the barnacles from the hull and splashing on new coats of paint and eventually joining in the celebration of turning over the helm to the new pilot, the new called Pastor. She feels it’s an exciting kind of ministry, an exciting time for the congregation, and offers the opportunity for working closely under the watchful eyes of God.
The interim time is definitely a time of change, and that is not always comfortable for folks. But the church does not stay the same. No interim minister will ever be like our former Pastor and no called Pastor will be just like our former Pastor or our Interim Pastor.
Rev. Meier writes: “I am going to make myself as available as possible to you all, in the office, on the telephone; you name it, I’ll meet you there. I guarantee you: We are going to have a good time together under the loving care of the Triune God for the furtherance of God’s mission at Christ Church.”
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Pastors
1896 - Present
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Name
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Started
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Ended
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Rev. Benoni Bates
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August 1, 1896
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May 6, 1917
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Rev. John M. Peck
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October 10, 1917
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October 15, 1921
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Rev. Dr. Cyrus T. Glessner
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March 28, 1922
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October 1, 1952
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Rev. J. Edmund Lippy
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February 3, 1953
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October 31, 1957
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Rev. Dr. Harold C. Baer
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January 1, 1958
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January 11, 1969
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Rev. Victor G. Vogel, Jr.
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June 25, 1969
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February 28, 1977
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Rev. Dr. Robert E. Reiff
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April 1, 1978
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August 31, 1986
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Rev. Arnold A. Lewinger
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September 1, 1987
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August 13, 1989
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Rev. Melvin S. Mundie
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December 1, 1990
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October 31, 1991
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Rev. Dr. Martha B. Boyer
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November 16, 1992
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January 14, 2001
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Rev. Frank D. McKenzie
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March 1, 2002
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January 31, 2010
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