Our Mission
Responding to the call of Jesus Christ, the mission of the Lehigh County Conference of Churches is to unite communities of faith as ecu-menical partners. Putting our faith into action, we minister to and advo-cate for those in need and encourage all to reach their full potential.
1954-2004
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Table of Contents
50th Anniversary Message 3
Highlights of our History 4
Ministries of the Conference 10
Executive Directors 13
Presidents of the Conference 14
Ecumenical Service Award Recipients 15
The Staff 16
Member Congregations and Faith Based Organizations
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Celebrate 50 years of Ministry
The Lehigh County Conference of Churches, with one accord, sings the praises of the thousands of professionals and volunteers who, over these 50 years, have made God’s presence evident in our Valley.
Thankful are we for those early pioneers, churches and clergy, who re-sponded to an idea that all God’s people should work together for good and God in their community.
Thankful are we for those who answered the call to leadership through the years. “Great will be your reward in heaven”…God knows you’re not receiving it now!
Thankful are we that from its inception, so many had the heart of Mi-cah, seeking to “do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with God,” speaking out for human and civil rights, reaching out to new populations as they came to the community.
Thankful are we for the practical minded, who could not see the least of their brothers and sisters and not respond. For all the thousands of volun-teers who feed the hungry at the Soup Kitchen and walk for the hungry in the Cropwalk, form friendships with our Daybreak members and Aspires youth, provide direction for folk to make a new way for themselves via Linkage, Homelessness Prevention, and Pathways, support those who can no longer help themselves via Guardianship, give healing through the Phar-maceutical Program, and exchange the peace of Christ and holy exertion through Community Exchange.
Most importantly, we give thanks for the hope Christ gives us, the strength received through sharing with like-minded folk, and the partner-ship of hearts united in prayer and hands immersed in God’s work.
We dedicate this 50th Anniversary booklet to two extraordinary persons whose combined 20 years of leadership brought the Lehigh County Confer-ence of Churches this far by faith. To Carol Closson and Rev. William Sea-man we give our deepest gratitude and the distinguished title of Executive Directors Emeritus.
The Rev. Dr. Christine L. Nelson
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1950s – Beginnings Partners in Faith Join Together
May 2, 1954 Building on the success of the Minister’s League, a fellowship of clergy
representing 34 committed congregations meet for the first time as the Greater Allentown Council of Churches at Asbury United Methodist Church, then located at Jefferson and Hamilton Streets in Allentown.
An office is opened in the YMCA and a part-time secretary was em-ployed. Community Vesper services are held at the Fairgrounds and Lenten Holy Week services are expanded to every Wednesday during Lent.
1960s – Adolescence Developing Ministry
The Council moves to St. John’s UCC. Budg-eted expenses are $18,240, receipts total $23,934.52.
Members work on establishing a chaplaincy to Juvenile Court and develop networks around gambling, Sunday sales, and ministry to the growing minority population, with Rev. Addi-son Cash, pastor of St. James AME Zion Church, called as coordinator of Inner City Missions.
The Council, in partnership with The Morning Call, co-sponsors the first “Least We Can Do” campaign to benefit an orphanage in Viet Nam. A weekday chaplaincy program is be-gun at Allentown Hospital.
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1970s – Expanding the Mission
Ministry Takes Shape
In recognition of an expanding geographi-cal focus, the Allentown Council of Churches officially changes its name to the Lehigh County Conference of Churches. Meals On Wheels becomes the recipient of the “Least We Can Do’ campaign.
The Hospital I.D. system is established for Sacred Heart Hospital, Allentown General, and Allentown-Sacred Heart Hospital. Op-eration Rice Bowl, an ecumenical offering to combat world hunger, is held for the first time in the Lehigh Valley.
The Conference received tax exempt status and the bylaws were rewritten to reflect 501(c)(3) status. The Conference partners in the establishment of Consumer Credit
Counseling Service.
A furniture bank is established in cooperation with the Hispanic Ameri-can Organization and CASA, services in the high-rise apartments are be-gun, and the first Ecumenical Fel-lowship Dinner is held.
The Daybreak drop-in center opens three days a week to aid persons being released from Allentown State Hospital. Ecu-menical clergy dialogues begin and the Church in Challenge tele-vision series is produced in coop-eration with the Bethlehem Area Council of Churches, St. Thomas More Roman Catholic Church, and Channel 39.
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1980 – Adulthood Faith Takes Action
The first CROP Walk is held. An emergency fuel fund is established
with the Community Action Committee of the Lehigh Valley.
The Ecumenical Soup Kitchens open and the Homelessness Prevention representative payee program is inaugurated.
The Conference receives $95,000 worth of surplus food for distribution to soup kitchens and pantries. A part-time housing advocate is hired and the first FEMA grant is received for emergency housing and food vouch-ers.
Daybreak opens for five days a week and serves three meals a day.
The Police Chaplaincy Program becomes fully operational and a prison chaplaincy board established. Two task forces are instituted: one, a work-ing group to consider the space needs of the Conference; the second to develop an “Urban Institute” program to acquaint people who live and work in downtown Allentown with the urban community.
Pathways, a program to draw churches and human service organiza-tions to respond to emergency human needs, begins.
Cold Weather Alerts are put in place to warn people living on the street when dangerous weather ap-proaches. The Linkage pro-gram grows out of this effort. The space task force first gives consideration to the All-American Culture Center as a location for the Conference and the Allentown Ecumenical Food Bank, a separate entity.
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1990s – Rapid Growth
Faith In Action Pathways establishes new programs: Housing Case Management,
Transition to Permanency, and the SuperCupboard.
An endowment is established in the name of Robert K. Campbell, PPL executive and ecumenist, to provide for an annual lectureship on Christian unity.
The Conference and its programs find a permanent home in Alliance Hall, creating a unique partnership with the Allentown Health Bureau, Lehigh Valley Child Care, and the Housing Association and Develop-ment Corporation. Together and with the aid of the YM/YWCA, the partners institute a recreation program for in-ner city youth.
Cold Weather Alerts surface a lack of available shelter space for women in times of extreme weather. The Shared Hospitality Program was de-veloped in cooperation with the Sal-vation Army. Dubbs UCC was the first church to host women in crisis, beginning in 1993.
A Janitorial Training Program was begun through Daybreak to help en-able some of the members to move toward self-sufficiency.
By 1993, the Conference has grown to 118 members with a budget of $480,000. The Conference be-comes a United Way agency.
The Conference participates in an interfaith effort to comfort and heal in the wake of the Oklahoma City bombing.
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A feasibility study funded by the Rider-Pool Foundation leads to the es-
tablishment of the Guardianship Program. An Endowment Fund is estab-lished to provide long-term financial stability. The Conference partners with Lehigh Valley Hospital in a MESH initiative that institutes Community Ex-change, in which people share their abilities through Time Dollars. The Pharmaceutical Assistance Program begins to provide one-time, non-narcotic prescription assistance for individuals and families who have ap-plied for but not yet received Medical Assistance or who are working poor.
Justice and Advocacy becomes a standing committee of the Conference, focusing on issues involving the Sabbath and gambling.
2000 – 2004 Today and Tomorrow A New Millennium, A New Vision
Pathways receives a Community Connections grant as part of the Wel-fare to Work initiative. A trial period begins that results in the Aspires Men-toring Program coming under the Conferences’ umbrella.
In the wake of 9/11, the Conference once again takes the lead in the community of faith to promote unity and healing.
Receiving its first grant from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Homeless Supportive Services program is established with the goal of providing stable housing to the disabled, chronically home-less in partnership with area housing agencies.
To undergird the faith-driven mission of the Conference to feed the hun-gry, house the homeless, provide supportive services to those with mental illness, mentor at-risk youth, and work toward greater unity among people of faith, the Conference establishes staff positions for development, opera-tions, and ecumenism.
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The Interfaith Coalition on Poverty, established through a partnership of
the Conference, the Greater Bethlehem Council of Churches, and the Com-munity Action Committee of the Lehigh Valley, comes solely under the Con-ference’s auspices.
The Conference now consists of 141 churches, Orthodox, Catholic and Protestant, representing 60,000 people of faith annually walking with 10,000 persons annually to-ward greater self-sufficiency into God’s future.
Vision Statement - February, 2004
Lehigh County Conference of Churches… Striving to be the face, feet, hands and heart of God’s grace in the Lehigh Valley, leading the faith community in feeding, clothing, healing, hous-ing, and uniting God’s children.
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The Ministries of the Conference
Soup Kitchen - provides hot, nutritionally balanced meals at noon on
Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, temporarily, due to the fire, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 8th and Walnut. Since inception, the Soup Kitchen has been hosted by St. James A.M.E. Zion Church. Approximately 18 different churches and community groups each day prepare and serve the meal to about 125 people/day.
Pathways - provides help with housing, utility bills, emergency shelter, employment, medical care, and assists people toward self- sufficiency. Four staff members and volunteers provide one-to-one counseling and re-ferrals for 7,000 people/year.
Daybreak - Drop-in-center for people in or released from treatment in Mental Health/Mental Retardation, Drug & Alcohol, and HIV affected. The daily socialization program offers life skills, job training, three nutritious meals, and supports people re-establishing a meaningful life. There are five staff and 200 volunteers.
Linkage - The Linkage Coordinator meets homeless people "on their own turf" and guides them through the process of linking them with a program that may offer the means of a more directed life, providing blankets, clothing and guidance.
Transportation - Bus tick-ets are available to assist peo-ple who have no transportation to get to job interviews, doc-tors’ appointments, and other emergency appointments.
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Pharmaceutical - Upon referral from hospitals or human service agencies, the Conference provides emergency assistance for approved non-narcotic prescriptions. Homeless Prevention - Assists about 70 people who receive SSI and SSD payments who have difficulty handling their money. People are helped with budgeting, money management and paying rent and utilities.
Guardianship - The Guardianship Program acts as guardian for individuals deemed incapacitated by the Orphans Court. Volunteers provide services with direction by the Program Coordinator. Community Exchange - Community Exchange is a community based service exchange program that matches volunteers with their neighbors to share services and build relationships. Aspires Mentoring - A program dedicated to the recruitment of caring adults who offer one-on-one support for 30-35 students in high school who are at-risk of not graduating. Ecumenical Activities - Campbell Lecture on Christian Unity, interfaith and ecumenical worship services, One Homeless Night, Roundtable discussions, CROP Walk, Week of Prayer for Christian Unity Service, noontime Lenten services and justice and advocacy work.
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“When did I
see you
hungry?”
“When did I
see you
Thirsty?”
“When you did it to the least of these my brothers and sisters, you did it to me.”
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Executive Directors
Mr. Edward Sandow, United Methodist
President and Executive Secretary
1954-1957
Dr. Donald Timmerman
1957-1961
The Rev. John Ickes, Lutheran
1961-1968
The Rev. George Wilson, Episcopalian
1968-1973
The Rev. Thomas Harris, American Baptist
President of the Conference
1973-1975
The Rev. Gordon Irvine, Presbyterian
1975-1979
Mrs. Carol Closson, United Church of Christ
1979-1985
The Rev. William Seaman, United Church of Christ
1986-1999
The Rev. Dr. Christine L. Nelson, United Church of Christ
1999-Present
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Presidents of the Conference
Mr. Edward Sandow, Asbury United Methodist Church
The Rev. Arthur Sherman, Episcopal Church of the Mediator
The Rev. Arnold F. Keller, Jr., St. John’s Lutheran Church
The Rev. Dr. Charles Zweizig, Salem United Church of Christ
The Rev. F. Lewis Walley, Asbury United Methodist Church
Mr. George B. Reinert, Dubb’s United Church of Christ
The Rev. Phares O. Reitz, St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church
The Rev. Lloyd H. Kenyon, Jr., Calvary Baptist Church
Mrs. Reba Cartwright, Asbury United Methodist Church
The Rev. Daniel C. Thomas, First Presbyterian Church
The Rev. Thomas Harris, Calvary Baptist Church
The Rev. Kenneth F. Frickert, Redeemer Lutheran Church
The Rev. Malcolm MacMillan, Episcopal Church of the Mediator
The Rev. Richard Stough, St. John’s Lutheran Church
Ms. Beth Moore, St. Elizabeth’s Episcopal Church
The Rev. Dr. Elaine Bogert, St. Peter’s United Church of Christ
Sen. Henry Messinger, St. James Lutheran Church
The Rev. Dr. Iris Simpson, Faith Tabernacle Deliverance Temple
Mr. Watson Skinner, Ecumenist
The Rev. Richard Guhl, St. John’s United Church of Christ
Msgr. John Murphy, St. Thomas More Roman Catholic Church
Dr. Patricia Murray, First Presbyterian Church
Mr. Anthony Muir, Cathedral of St. Catherine of Siena
Mr. Charles Ehninger, Current President, Asbury United Methodist
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Ecumenical Service Award Recipients
For Outstanding Service
2004 - Fr. Daniel Gambet LutherCrest Lauren Reifsnyder Carmen Machado 2003 - Alan Jennings 2002 - Rev. William Horn 2001 - William Diehl 2000 - Rev. Gary Piatt
Betty Minor 1999 - Rev. Richard Guhl 1998 - Leone Schuler 1997 - Patricia Gaukler Elizabeth Benke 1996 - Carol Closson 1995 - Lois & Jim Hunter 1994 - Rev. Timothy Downs
Rev. Melvin Tatem 1993 - Geri Bodnar 1992 - Herbert Stahl 1991 - Robert Moser 1990 - Ruth & Henry Messinger 1989 - Elizabeth Preston 1988 - Margaret Koether 1985 - James Hottenstein 1984 - Rev. Tom Harris 1983 - Ruth Holben 1982 - Rev. A. Malcolm MacMillan 1981 - Anne Shire
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Conference Staff
The Rev. Dr. Christine L. Nelson, Executive Director
Ira Faro, Development Senior Director Tom Smith, Operations Director
Tom Walker, Human Services Director Administration
Ms. Linda Gentile, Office Manager Ms. Cindy Kemmerer, Accounting Manager
Mr. Peter Helt, Information Services Coordinator Ms. Marnie Wilson, Office Assistant
Ms. Alicia Walls, Custodial Care Daybreak
Ms. Kimberly Stauder, Director Ms. Madeline Gonzalez-Lopez, Kitchen and Volunteer Coordinator
Ms. Deb Pavan, Community Service Coordinator Open , Activities Coordinator
Mr. John Weaver, Kitchen Assistant Homelessness Prevention
Ms. Sheri Lopez Linkage
Mr. Matt Wasel Pathways
Ms. Joan Farrell, Director Ms. Sharon Mullay, Housing Case Management
Ms. Margaret Sunny, Housing Case Management Ms. Theresa Leguillow,
Community Connections Initiative Coordinator Soup Kitchen
Mr. Charles Brannon, Coordinator Mr. Tony Silva, Assistant
Guardianship Ms. Laurie Schnaufer, Coordinator
Ms. Wendy Murray, Assistant Aspires Mentoring
Ms. Gale Siess, Coordinator Community Exchange
Ms. Anne Rogers, Coordinator
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Member Congregations and Organizations
AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL: (1) St. James AME Zion, Allentown BAPTIST: (5) Allentown Baptist, Allentown Calvary Baptist, Allentown First Baptist, Slatington Lighthouse Baptist, Allentown Union Baptist, Allentown CATHOLIC: (11) Annunciation BVM- St Mary’s, Catasauqua Cathedral of St. Catharine of Siena Immaculate Conception BVM, Allentown Our Lady Help of Christians, Allentown Sacred Heart of Jesus Christ, Allentown St. Francis of Assisi, Allentown St. John the Baptist, Allentown St. Joseph the Worker, Orefield St. Paul’s Roman Catholic, Allentown St. Stephen of Hungry, Allentown St. Thomas More, Allentown CHURCH of CHRIST SCIENTIST: (1) First Church of Christ Scientist, Allentown EPISCOPAL: (6) Church of the Mediator, Allentown Grace Episcopal, Allentown St. Anne’s Episcopal, Trexlertown St. Elizabeth Episcopal, Orefield St. Margaret’s Episcopal, Emmaus St. Stephen’s Episcopal, Whitehall EVANGELICAL CONGREGATIONAL: (3) Boulevard E.C., Allentown Grace Worship Center, Allentown New Bethany E. C., Allentown
INDEPENDENT: (4) Calvary Temple, Allentown Cornerstone Fellowship, Orefield Faith Tabernacle Del. Temple, Allentown St. John’s Church of Faith, Allentown CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER DAY SAINTS: (1) Jesus Christ Latter Day Saints, Coplay LUTHERAN: (39) Cedar Lutheran, Allentown Christ Lutheran, Allentown Church of the Redeemer, Allentown Faith Lutheran, Whitehall Frieden’s Lutheran, Center Valley Grace Lutheran, Allentown Grace Lutheran, Macungie Heidelberg Lutheran, Slatington Jerusalem Lutheran East Salisbury, Allentown Jerusalem Lutheran W. Salisbury, Allentown Jordan Lutheran, Orefield Lutheran Church of the Holy Spirit, Emmaus Nativity Lutheran, Allentown St. Martin De Porres Lutheran, Allentown Shepherds of the Hills Lutheran, Whitehall St. Andrew’s Lutheran, Allentown St. James Lutheran, Allentown St. James Lutheran, Coopersburg St. John’s Lutheran, Emmaus St. John’s Lutheran, Fogelsville St. John’s Lutheran, Allentown St. John’s Lutheran, Whitehall St. Joseph Lutheran, Allentown St. Luke’s Lutheran, Allentown St. Mark’s Lutheran, Allentown St. Matthew’s Lutheran, Allentown St. Michael’s Lutheran, Allentown
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St. Paul’s Lutheran, Allentown St. Paul’s Lutheran Blue, Coopersburg St. Paul’s Lutheran, Trexlertown St. Peter’s Lutheran, Allentown St. Stephen’s Lutheran, Allentown St. Timothy’s Lutheran, Allentown Trinity Memorial Lutheran, Allentown Union Evangelical Lutheran, Neffs Weisenberg Lutheran, New Tripoli Zeigel’s Lutheran, Breinigsville Zion Lehigh Lutheran, Alburtis Zion Lutheran, Old Zionsville MENNONITE: (1) First Mennonite, Allentown METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY CHURCH: (1) Metropolitan Community Church of the Lehigh Valley, Allentown MORAVIAN: (5) Calvary Moravian, Allentown Emmaus Moravian, Emmaus Grace Moravian, Center Valley Midway Manor, Allentown The Moravian Church, Coopersburg NAZARENE (1) First Church of the Nazarene ORTHODOX (1) Protection of the BVM, Allentown PRESBYTERIAN: (5) Faith Presbyterian, Emmaus First Presbyterian, Allentown First United Pres (HKNDQ), Whitehall Presbyterian Church, Catasauqua The United Presbyterian Church, Slatington
SALVATION ARMY: (1) Salvation Army, Allentown SOCIETY of FRIENDS: (1) Lehigh Valley Society of Friends UNITED BRETHREN IN CHRIST (1) International Church of UBC, Allentown UNITED CHURCH of CHRIST: (40) Cedar UCC, Allentown Chestnut Hill UCC, Coopersburg Christ’s Church at Lowhill UCC, New Tripoli Christ UCC, Allentown Church of the Good Shepherd UCC, Alburtis Dubb’s Memorial, Allentown Egypt UCC, Whitehall Emmanuel UCC, Allentown Faith UCC, Allentown Faith UCC, Center Valley Good Shepard UCC, Slatedale Grace UCC, Allentown Greenwald’s UCC, Allentown
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Heidelberg UCC, Slatington Hope UCC, Allentown Jacob’s UCC, New Tripoli Jerusalem UCC West Salisbury, Allentown Jordan UCC, Allentown Old Zionsville UCC, Old Zionsville Salem UCC, Allentown Salem UCC, Catasauqua Solomon’s UCC, Macungie St. James UCC, Allentown St. John’s UCC, Allentown St. John’s UCC, Coopersburg St. John’s UCC, Emmaus St. John’s UCC, Fogelsville St. John’s UCC, Fullerton St. John’s UCC, Laurys Station St. John’s UCC, Slatington St. John’s UCC, Mickley, Whitehall St. Marks UCC, Allentown St. Paul’s UCC, Allentown St. Paul’s UCC, Trexlertown St. Paul’s UCC, Seiberlingville St. Peter’s UCC, Allentown Trinity UCC, Coplay Union UCC, Neffs Ziegel’s UCC, Breinigsville Zion’s UCC, Allentown UNITED METHODIST: (6) Asbury United Methodist, Allentown Emmanuel United Methodist, Allentown Iglesia Metodista Unida la Trinidad, Allentown Salem United Methodist, Allentown Salem United Methodist, Slatedale Salem United Methodist, Zionsville
ASSOCIATE MEMBERS: (7) Allentown Rescue Mission, Allentown LutherCrest, Allentown Manor Care Health Services, Allentown Phoebe Ministries, Allentown Sacred Heart Hospital, Allentown St. Luke’s Hospital - Allentown Campus, Allentown Vision Misionera Ministries, Allentown UNION CHURCHES: (1) St. Peter’s Union, Lynnville
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The Lehigh County Conference of Churches
534 Chew Street, Allentown, PA 18102
610-433-6421
610-439-8039 - Fax
[email protected] - Email
http://www.lcconfchurch.org - Website
