Present and Previous Pastors
Reverend R. Morris Smith, 1887 – 1907, continued his pastorate for 20 years. He was a faithful worker for the Lord. When the roads were too muddy to drive by horse and buggy or ride horseback, he was seen coming wearing rubber boots. Reverend Smith was an accomplished musician. In the absence of the church organist, he would play the organ and lead the singing. His favorite hymn was “Before Jehovah’s Awful Throne”. The book racks and a hymn board were made by Reverend Smith. Reverend Smith was awarded the degree of Doctor of Philosophy by Indiana University in 1908 and was honored with a degree of Doctor of Divinity by Muhlenberg College in 1913. Later Dr. Smith became a professor at Wittenburg College in Springfield, Ohio. He resided in Springfield until his death in 1936 at 76 years of age. During Reverend Smith’s pastorate in 1904, plans were made to erect a new church building. The cornerstone was laid on September 4 and the new building was dedicated on December 4, 1904 by Reverend D. H. Geissinger, D. D., President of the Pittsburgh Synod. The morning service was conducted by Reverend F. W. Kohler. The 2:30 p.m. dedication service included the hymns, “Open Now Thy Gates of Beauty,” “Come Holy Ghost, Our Souls Inspire,” “Christ, Thou Art the Sure Foundation,” and “Lord of Hosts, to Three We Raise”, with the lesson from I Kings 8: 1 – 13, 22 – 30 and portions of the 24th and 122nd Psalms.
Reverend Ludwig Beisicker, 1907 – 1911, served the Freedom Parish consisting of St. John’s, Freedom; House of Mercy, Crows Run and Rehoboth. He resided in Freedom and held services at our church on alternate Sundays. During his pastorate, a charter was granted and a constitution adopted by the congregation. A Missionary Society was also organized.
Reverend William A. Zundel, 1912 – 1916. His work on earth is through but his sons and daughters are carrying on his legacy. William A. Zundel, Jr., became a minister in Westmoreland County. Daughter Margaret, married Reverend George Gessler, a missionary and they traveled to India. Another daughter, Lydia married Reverend Paul Ruff and they resided in Greensburg. After Reverend Zundel left Rehoboth, he served as a missionary in Montana. His last days were spent near Greensburg, Pennsylvania.
Reverend Wallace E. Arnholt, 1916 – 1924, worked faithfully and endured much with muddy and drifted roads. He, like his predecessors, walked, drove or rode horseback to travel to Rehoboth. Tragedy struck the Arnholt family while during his pastorate. Mrs. Arnholt was fatally burned, leaving the Pastor to care for their five children. After leaving Rehoboth, Reverend Arnholt served St. Mark’s in Jeannette and the Ruffsdale-Hunker Parish, where he celebrated his 40th anniversary in the Gospel Ministry. Death came suddenly on November 4, 1946.
Reverend J. B. Lambert, 1924 – 1929, came at a time when much work was needed at Rehoboth. No ladder was too high for him to climb to help paper the church. A rededication service was held on July 10, 1927. The Lambert’s were sadly missed when they moved to Allentown, Pennsylvania. No further information is available.
Reverend Paul N. Schnur was called to serve the Freedom Parish in February of 1929. In March of that year, our connection with this parish was severed. Rehoboth then united with St. Paul’s in Glenfield and called Reverend W. Roy Goff as its new Pastor.
Reverend W. Roy Goff, 1929 – 1942, served us well during the time of the Depression; however, good use of the free time was made at Rehoboth. The basement was fully excavated. Electricity was installed in the church, a cistern and new chimney were built. A new furnace was purchased and we began to have regular church services every Sunday. The second Ladies Aid Society was organized. Pastor Goff retired and resided in Bellevue where he passed away on September 8, 1953.
Reverend Harvey L. Huntley, 1942 – 1945, was our first Pastor to live in the community upon purchasing a parsonage in 1943. Pastor Huntley and his wife Lucy worked hard to paint the interior. During his Pastorate, a bulletin service was initiated and our choirs were robed. Pastor Huntley left Rehoboth to serve the Trinity Lutheran Church in Bedford until 1953. In early 1953, Pastor Huntley traveled to the Church of the Resurrection in Augusta, Georgia where he served until 1967. From 1967 until 1975 he served as President of the Southeastern L. C. A. in Atlanta. At that time, the title President was the equivalent of our Bishop today. In 1975 Pastor and Mrs. Huntley traveled to the Hot Springs Retirement Village in Arkansas as mission developers. They were instrumental in organizing a congregation of 80 retired executives. Today this parish exceeds 1000 members. The Huntley’s returned to Oglethorpe, Georgia in 1976 where Pastor Huntley served St. Luke’s Parish until 1979 when he took an early retirement after 53 years of service. From 1979 through 1994, Pastor Huntley served as an interim pastor 13 times throughout the states of Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia and Tennessee. His son, Harvey Jr., has followed in his father’s footsteps as the Head Coordinator for Region 9 of the National ELCA. The Huntley’s recently moved from the state of Indiana to Columbia, South Carolina. Pastor Huntley is celebrating his 60th anniversary of ordination this year at the age 86.
Reverend H. Wahl Pfeifer, 1946 – 1949, came to us from the Chaplaincy of the Navy. The Constitution was revised during his Pastorate. A Missionary Society was organized and called the Elizabeth Pfeifer Society. Pastor Pfeifer left Rehoboth to serve St. James Lutheran Church in Ligonier, Pennsylvania. No further information is available.
Reverend Woodrow J. Klinger, 1953 – 1964, formerly served the Liberty Lutheran Parish, Liberty, Pennsylvania, before joining Rehoboth. The following year the Rehoboth congregation celebrated their 50th anniversary. Over 1200 people attended the Anniversary and Homecoming celebration. Reverend Clarence Edward McCartney, D.D., Pastor Emeritus of the First Presbyterian Church, Pittsburgh, preached the sermon. The dreams and plans for a new church building drew closer to reality with the purchase of the Kirk property in 1958. Continued church growth resulted in increased baptized membership from 331 in 1953 to 469 when he resigned in 1964. Pastor Klinger, his wife Ruth and six children moved to Renova, Pennsylvania until 1970. In 1971, he traveled to the Johnstown area to serve the Cairnbrook Parish until 1985. Pastor Klinger served a church in Altoona from 1985 until 1987 where he officially retired. He served yet another parish in his hometown of Liberty until 1997.
Reverend John Chervick, Jr., 1965 – 1969, served parishes in Duquesne, Hazelton and Holy Trinity in Sharon, Pennsylvania. The new church building cornerstone was placed June 25, 1967 and the new church dedicated October 22 by Dr. William Hankey at a cost of $210,000. The Chervick family moved to the Red River Valley district in South Dakota. No further information is available.
Reverend John J. Duffus, 1970 – 1974, came to Rehoboth from his first parish, the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago. Much time and effort was spent in personally planning the development of the complete life of the congregation with study periods and personal involvement of members. Program of the church was implemented by the use of Celebrate and fifth through ninth grade students received communion. Pastor Duffus went onto serve the First English Church of Butler until 1986 then traveled to St. Paul’s Church where he currently resides with his wife Carol in Cumberland, Maryland.
Reverend J. Ray Houser, Jr., 1974 – 1989, former mission developer at Ohioview Parish then served as the Director of Camping for the Wisconsin-Upper Michigan Synod. His installation took place on November 3 by Reverend Donald Zundel, Dean of the Sixth District. Pastor Houser became the Assistant Pastor at the Grace Lutheran Church in Rochester, Pennsylvania from September 1990 until November 1996 at which time he retired. Pastor Houser remarried in January of 1992. He and his wife Barbara have traveled extensively throughout Turkey, Greece and the Caribbean. Pastor and Mrs. Houser are currently living in the Hopewell area.
Reverend Doctor Daniel G. Gilbert, 1989 – 1998, came to our parish from the Peace Lutheran Church in Augusta, Maine where he served as Assistant Pastor. In addition, he also served as the Pastor/Developer of the Water of Life Lutheran Ministry at the same time. Pastor Gilbert received his BA in Philosophy at the University of New Hampshire and attended the Luther Theological Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota. During his pastorate at Rehoboth, the congregation supported his continued education at the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary where he received his Doctor of Divinity in 1996. He put forth numerous ideas and plans such as expanding our worship to two services and developing and implementing a church-owned and operated pre-school with a focus on Jesus and the best in education. He was also instrumental in leading a workshop attended by Council, church leaders and congregation members on Kenneth Callahan’s “12 Steps to Church Growth,” followed by a 10-week workshop training people to develop their personal leadership skills. His continued efforts resulted in the updating of the congregation’s parish records, adding a secretary to the staff and developing a relationship with C.A.S.T. in a countywide effort for social care. Pastor Gilbert resigned in 1998 to lead the Peace Lutheran Church in Palm Bay, Florida.
Reverend Richard D. Schoenly, 1999 – 2000, served as the Interim Pastor of Zion’s First Lutheran Church in Ambridge before receiving the call to Rehoboth. Pastor Schoenly attended Susquehanna University where he received his BA in History/Religion then went onto the Gettysburg Seminary. Subsequently, he continued to pursue a post graduate degree by enrolling in classes at both the University of Pittsburgh and Duquesne University. Pastor Schoenly left Rehoboth to serve the Zion and St. Paul’s Lutheran Churches in Blain, Pennsylvania.
Reverend Doctor Janice A. Altenburger, 2000 - 2001, served as our interim pastor for two years.
Reverend Scott C. Gross, 2001 - Jan 2008.
Reverend Lawrence Camberg, Spring 2008 - July 2009, served as our interim pastor.
Reverend Eric Reimer, July 19, 2009 - February 10, 2013.
Reverend Susan Irons, April 7, 2013 - Present, serving as our pastor.
Reverend Ludwig Beisicker, 1907 – 1911, served the Freedom Parish consisting of St. John’s, Freedom; House of Mercy, Crows Run and Rehoboth. He resided in Freedom and held services at our church on alternate Sundays. During his pastorate, a charter was granted and a constitution adopted by the congregation. A Missionary Society was also organized.
Reverend William A. Zundel, 1912 – 1916. His work on earth is through but his sons and daughters are carrying on his legacy. William A. Zundel, Jr., became a minister in Westmoreland County. Daughter Margaret, married Reverend George Gessler, a missionary and they traveled to India. Another daughter, Lydia married Reverend Paul Ruff and they resided in Greensburg. After Reverend Zundel left Rehoboth, he served as a missionary in Montana. His last days were spent near Greensburg, Pennsylvania.
Reverend Wallace E. Arnholt, 1916 – 1924, worked faithfully and endured much with muddy and drifted roads. He, like his predecessors, walked, drove or rode horseback to travel to Rehoboth. Tragedy struck the Arnholt family while during his pastorate. Mrs. Arnholt was fatally burned, leaving the Pastor to care for their five children. After leaving Rehoboth, Reverend Arnholt served St. Mark’s in Jeannette and the Ruffsdale-Hunker Parish, where he celebrated his 40th anniversary in the Gospel Ministry. Death came suddenly on November 4, 1946.
Reverend J. B. Lambert, 1924 – 1929, came at a time when much work was needed at Rehoboth. No ladder was too high for him to climb to help paper the church. A rededication service was held on July 10, 1927. The Lambert’s were sadly missed when they moved to Allentown, Pennsylvania. No further information is available.
Reverend Paul N. Schnur was called to serve the Freedom Parish in February of 1929. In March of that year, our connection with this parish was severed. Rehoboth then united with St. Paul’s in Glenfield and called Reverend W. Roy Goff as its new Pastor.
Reverend W. Roy Goff, 1929 – 1942, served us well during the time of the Depression; however, good use of the free time was made at Rehoboth. The basement was fully excavated. Electricity was installed in the church, a cistern and new chimney were built. A new furnace was purchased and we began to have regular church services every Sunday. The second Ladies Aid Society was organized. Pastor Goff retired and resided in Bellevue where he passed away on September 8, 1953.
Reverend Harvey L. Huntley, 1942 – 1945, was our first Pastor to live in the community upon purchasing a parsonage in 1943. Pastor Huntley and his wife Lucy worked hard to paint the interior. During his Pastorate, a bulletin service was initiated and our choirs were robed. Pastor Huntley left Rehoboth to serve the Trinity Lutheran Church in Bedford until 1953. In early 1953, Pastor Huntley traveled to the Church of the Resurrection in Augusta, Georgia where he served until 1967. From 1967 until 1975 he served as President of the Southeastern L. C. A. in Atlanta. At that time, the title President was the equivalent of our Bishop today. In 1975 Pastor and Mrs. Huntley traveled to the Hot Springs Retirement Village in Arkansas as mission developers. They were instrumental in organizing a congregation of 80 retired executives. Today this parish exceeds 1000 members. The Huntley’s returned to Oglethorpe, Georgia in 1976 where Pastor Huntley served St. Luke’s Parish until 1979 when he took an early retirement after 53 years of service. From 1979 through 1994, Pastor Huntley served as an interim pastor 13 times throughout the states of Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia and Tennessee. His son, Harvey Jr., has followed in his father’s footsteps as the Head Coordinator for Region 9 of the National ELCA. The Huntley’s recently moved from the state of Indiana to Columbia, South Carolina. Pastor Huntley is celebrating his 60th anniversary of ordination this year at the age 86.
Reverend H. Wahl Pfeifer, 1946 – 1949, came to us from the Chaplaincy of the Navy. The Constitution was revised during his Pastorate. A Missionary Society was organized and called the Elizabeth Pfeifer Society. Pastor Pfeifer left Rehoboth to serve St. James Lutheran Church in Ligonier, Pennsylvania. No further information is available.
Reverend Woodrow J. Klinger, 1953 – 1964, formerly served the Liberty Lutheran Parish, Liberty, Pennsylvania, before joining Rehoboth. The following year the Rehoboth congregation celebrated their 50th anniversary. Over 1200 people attended the Anniversary and Homecoming celebration. Reverend Clarence Edward McCartney, D.D., Pastor Emeritus of the First Presbyterian Church, Pittsburgh, preached the sermon. The dreams and plans for a new church building drew closer to reality with the purchase of the Kirk property in 1958. Continued church growth resulted in increased baptized membership from 331 in 1953 to 469 when he resigned in 1964. Pastor Klinger, his wife Ruth and six children moved to Renova, Pennsylvania until 1970. In 1971, he traveled to the Johnstown area to serve the Cairnbrook Parish until 1985. Pastor Klinger served a church in Altoona from 1985 until 1987 where he officially retired. He served yet another parish in his hometown of Liberty until 1997.
Reverend John Chervick, Jr., 1965 – 1969, served parishes in Duquesne, Hazelton and Holy Trinity in Sharon, Pennsylvania. The new church building cornerstone was placed June 25, 1967 and the new church dedicated October 22 by Dr. William Hankey at a cost of $210,000. The Chervick family moved to the Red River Valley district in South Dakota. No further information is available.
Reverend John J. Duffus, 1970 – 1974, came to Rehoboth from his first parish, the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago. Much time and effort was spent in personally planning the development of the complete life of the congregation with study periods and personal involvement of members. Program of the church was implemented by the use of Celebrate and fifth through ninth grade students received communion. Pastor Duffus went onto serve the First English Church of Butler until 1986 then traveled to St. Paul’s Church where he currently resides with his wife Carol in Cumberland, Maryland.
Reverend J. Ray Houser, Jr., 1974 – 1989, former mission developer at Ohioview Parish then served as the Director of Camping for the Wisconsin-Upper Michigan Synod. His installation took place on November 3 by Reverend Donald Zundel, Dean of the Sixth District. Pastor Houser became the Assistant Pastor at the Grace Lutheran Church in Rochester, Pennsylvania from September 1990 until November 1996 at which time he retired. Pastor Houser remarried in January of 1992. He and his wife Barbara have traveled extensively throughout Turkey, Greece and the Caribbean. Pastor and Mrs. Houser are currently living in the Hopewell area.
Reverend Doctor Daniel G. Gilbert, 1989 – 1998, came to our parish from the Peace Lutheran Church in Augusta, Maine where he served as Assistant Pastor. In addition, he also served as the Pastor/Developer of the Water of Life Lutheran Ministry at the same time. Pastor Gilbert received his BA in Philosophy at the University of New Hampshire and attended the Luther Theological Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota. During his pastorate at Rehoboth, the congregation supported his continued education at the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary where he received his Doctor of Divinity in 1996. He put forth numerous ideas and plans such as expanding our worship to two services and developing and implementing a church-owned and operated pre-school with a focus on Jesus and the best in education. He was also instrumental in leading a workshop attended by Council, church leaders and congregation members on Kenneth Callahan’s “12 Steps to Church Growth,” followed by a 10-week workshop training people to develop their personal leadership skills. His continued efforts resulted in the updating of the congregation’s parish records, adding a secretary to the staff and developing a relationship with C.A.S.T. in a countywide effort for social care. Pastor Gilbert resigned in 1998 to lead the Peace Lutheran Church in Palm Bay, Florida.
Reverend Richard D. Schoenly, 1999 – 2000, served as the Interim Pastor of Zion’s First Lutheran Church in Ambridge before receiving the call to Rehoboth. Pastor Schoenly attended Susquehanna University where he received his BA in History/Religion then went onto the Gettysburg Seminary. Subsequently, he continued to pursue a post graduate degree by enrolling in classes at both the University of Pittsburgh and Duquesne University. Pastor Schoenly left Rehoboth to serve the Zion and St. Paul’s Lutheran Churches in Blain, Pennsylvania.
Reverend Doctor Janice A. Altenburger, 2000 - 2001, served as our interim pastor for two years.
Reverend Scott C. Gross, 2001 - Jan 2008.
Reverend Lawrence Camberg, Spring 2008 - July 2009, served as our interim pastor.
Reverend Eric Reimer, July 19, 2009 - February 10, 2013.
Reverend Susan Irons, April 7, 2013 - Present, serving as our pastor.
