Reformation Lutheran Church

About Reformation...

Reformation Lutheran Church is a Reconciling In Christ congregation as part of a national ministry, Lutherans Concerned, designed to encourage inclusive ministry. We affirm that we welcome all persons regardless of race, gender, national origin, sexual orientation, or gender identification.

CONGREGATIONAL MISSION STATEMENT:

THE PURPOSE OF REFORMATION LUTHERAN CHURCH is to participate in the mission of Jesus Christ by living lives of thankfulness for all that we have received from God and reaching out to serve the needs of one another in Mt. Airy and beyond. We do this by:

Ø providing worship services to give glory to God

Ø sharing the sacraments

Ø inviting others into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ

Ø caring for the sick, helpless, and others in need

Ø working to support efforts of community organizations

Ø and encouraging service to Christ in our daily lives

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Brief History of Reformation Lutheran Church (as of April 2008)

Reformation Lutheran Church was founded in 1942. In December of the previous year, The Lutheran Church had sent a pastor, Wilton Ernst , into the area of Temple Stadium to begin to develop a congregation. He found a family on the 1400 block of Cardeza Street, which became charter members and opened its home for the first service. By May of 1942, the congregation was organized. Before the end of the year, it purchased a home on Cliveden Street, which became the temporary church building. The congregation worshipped there until it moved into its new church facility on Vernon Road. In 1958 a second stage of the building, an educational unit of three large classrooms, was added to the rear of the church.

Pastor Ernst remained at Reformation until 1967. By the early 1960's the congregation had over 700 members and a large Sunday school. The church was built primarily from persons who lived in the neighborhood of the church building, but already in the 1950's with the development of Glenside, Oreland, and Roslyn, many of the members had gone to find larger homes in the suburbs. By the time Pastor Ernst left, Reformation was ready to make a transition.

The late 1960's and early 1970's saw a rapid racial change in the neighborhood as thousands of young African American families moved in and purchased homes. Reformation, pastored by Victor Pieschl (1968-1971) and Larry Miller (1972-1980), followed that transition and tried to make Reformation the Welcome Place for the new residents as it had been for those in the past. By the end of the 1970's, Reformation was a mixed congregation, smaller than it had once been (with 100 or so on an average Sunday), but active and again re-rooted in its neighborhood.

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Pastoral transition happened quickly in the early 1980's. Julius Carroll served from 1981-1983 and William Robertson from 1984-1987. In 1987, Gordon Simmons, began his ministry at Reformation. The congregation was blessed with significant growth and outreach in the 1990's. In 1998 additional staff was added: first a parish worker (Angie Henderson) and then, in place of that, two part-time positions: Scholarship Director (David Jenkins) and Parish Administrator (Evelyn Trent).

Reformation now has over 600 members, an average worship attendance of 270, and an active neighborhood ministry for people of all ages. Charlene Jenkins, Minister of Music since 1988, has developed a music program that has received national recognition in the Lutheran Church. Sheralina Baker serves as the Gospel Choir Director. The Sycamore Tree, Reformation's after school program, is an integral part of Edmonds School and Camp RC is now a full summer day camp. The S T R E T C H Academy (Scholarship Center) provides educational resources for children, youth and adults in the church community. Pastor Simmons ended his tenure in February, 2006, leaving Reformation with Jeff Ziegler as the interim pastor. Pr. Jeff as he was affectionately called, guided Reformation through the "wilderness" of our transition and was faithful in his placement with us. Our transition period ended on March 31, 2008, as our newly called pastor, the Rev. Lamont Anthony Wells, began his Pastorate on April 1, 2008.

Pastor Lamont Anthony Wells

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In 1998, the congregation launched a campaign to add to its church facilities with a new addition housing a sanctuary and social hall on the adjacent property. Groundbreaking took place in the fall of 2002 and the services of dedication were held on January 11, 2004.

The church has been a site for the training of future pastors through the Horizon Intern Program. Reformation participates in Philadelphia Interfaith Action (PIA) and has developed a reputation for dramatic productions at worship services and in the community. Charlene Jenkins also currently serves as the S T R E T C H Academy Director and Director of Congregational Minitries. Reformation has an active health ministry, lead by Mary Johnson, organized as a holistic health care program called "The Connecting Center." In emphasizing its outreach efforts, the congregation has come to call itself "The Welcome Place."

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