of
St. Paul’s United Church of Christ,
St. Paul’s Reformed Church, &
St. Daniel’s Reformed Church
History of the Pastors
History of Pastors
St. Paul's United Church of Christ was formed of the merging of two congregations worshipping in Robesonia: St. Paul's Reformed Church and St. Daniels Reformed Church. In the early years, the pastors of St. Paul's served multiple point charges (which means they served as the pastors of more than one church at a time). Below is a listing of the pastors who have served our church in chronological order.
The Rev. Thomas C. Leinbach
Founding Pastor of St. Daniel's Reformed Church
September 2, 1876 - May 1, 1909
On September 2, 1876 the St. Daniel’s German Reformed Congregation was formed, and the Rev. Thomas Calvin Leinbach was elected as their pastor.
St. Daniel’s Reformed Congregation was a part of the “Bernville Charge,” which included six Reformed Churches: St. Daniel's, North Heidelberg, St. Thomas-Bernville, Christ (Little Tulpehocken), St. John's (Host), and Zion’s Strausstown.
The Rev. Thomas Leinbach served St. Paul's for 33 years until his death on May 1, 1909. The church was draped in black in mourning of his death. His obituary can be found on our website by clicking on the following link: In Loving Memory of The Rev. Thomas C. Leinbach.
The Rev. Thomas M. Yundt
Founding Pastor of St. Paul's Reformed Church
July 11, 1888 - December 27, 1903
On July 11, 1888, the Rev. Thomas M. Yundt organized the St. Paul’s German Reformed Congregation. The Rev. Yundt was also the Superintendent of Bethany Orphans Home in Womelsdorf. That first St. Paul’s German Reformed congregation began meeting in the Robesonia Furnace Chapel (a nondenominational chapel). In 1889, the Lebanon Classis added St. Paul’s to the congregation at Bethany Orphan’s Home as part of the Bethany Charge.
The Rev. Yundt served as Pastor of St. Paul's for 15 years until it merged with St. Daniel's in December of 1903.
His obituary can be found on our website by clicking on the following link: In Loving Memory of the Rev. Thomas M. Yundt.
The Rev. Edwin S. Leinbach
Associate Pastor and then Called Pastor
December 1903 - April 29, 1946
The Rev. Edwin Samuel Leinbach is the son of the Rev. Thomas C. Leinbach. He was elected as Associate Pastor of the Bernville Charge.
On August 22, 1909 the Bernville Charge was divided in half, and the Rev. Edwin Leinbach became the Pastor of the Robesonia Charge, which included three Reformed Churches: St. Paul’s, St. John’s (Host), and North Heidelberg Reformed congregations.
The Rev. Edwin Leinbach served St. Paul's for 43 years until his death in April 1946. His obituary can be found on our website by clicking on the following link: In Loving Memory of The Rev. Edwin S. Leinbach.
The Rev. Elmer A. Dech
Fourth Called Pastor and Pastor Emeritus
November 14, 1946 - November 14, 1974
The Rev. Elmer Dech served as the Pastor of the Robesonia Charge from November 1946 to 1963, and the Robesonia-Wernersville Charge from 1963 to November 1974. The Robesonia-Wernersville Charge included: St. Paul's Reformed Church, Robesonia and First Reformed Church, Wernersville.
He served as St. Paul’s pastor for 28 years until he resigned on November 14, 1974 due to ill health and the right to early retirement. The congregation honored him with the title of Pastor Emeritus, and there were two testimonal dinners in celebration of his ministry.
Following his retirement, he became the Stated Supply Pastor of the North Heidelberg Church until March 31, 1978.
His obituary can be found on our website by clicking on the following link: In Loving Memory of The Rev. Elmer Dech.
The Rev. George J. Miller
Fifth Called Pastor and Pastor Emeritus
September 1, 1975 - January 31, 2002
On September 1, 1975, the Rev. George J. Miller was called as pastor of the Robesonia-Wernersville Charge. In 1988 the charge was dissolved, and the Rev. George Miller became St. Paul's first sole pastor.
He served as St. Paul's pastor for 26 years until his retirement on January 31, 2002, and was honored by the congregation with the title Pastor Emeritus. The “Miller Fellowship Hall” is named in his honor. Throughout his retirement, the Rev. Miller continued to worship at St. Paul's, share in its ministries, and sing in its choir. During his retirement, he also served as a Sunday supply preacher for churches throughout our Pennsylvania Southeast Conference. His wife Alberta, also continues to be an active member of St. Paul's UCC, including singing in the church choir and serving through Soup 'n' Such.
His obituary can be found on our website by clicking on the following link: In Loving Memory of The Rev. George J. Miller.
The Rev. James W. Adam
Full-Time Interim Pastor
2002 - 2004
The Rev. James W. Adam served as the Interim Pastor of St. Paul's UCC twice. The first time he served was as a full-time Interim Pastor from 2002 to 2004. The second was as a part-time Interim Pastor from October 1, 2009 until his death on October 17, 2011.
An Interim Pastor serves to help churches during the transition time from one pastor to the next, helping a congregation in the process of calling their next pastor.
His obituary can be found on our website by clicking on the following link: In Loving Memory of The Rev. James W. Adam.
The Rev. Raymond J. Jachowski
Sixth Called Pastor
April 18, 2004 - August 31, 2008
The Rev. Raymond J. Jachowski began his ministry on April 18, 2004, the first pastor that St. Paul’s called on its own (without being a part of a combined charge). The Rev. Jachowski served for four years until his resignation in August 2008.
The Rev. Daniel W. Hinkel
Full-Time Interim Pastor
January 1, 2009 - August 31, 2009
The Rev. Daniel W. Hinkle became the second full-time Interim Minister on January 1, 2009 and served until August 31, 2009.
The Rev. James W. Adam
Part-Time Interim Pastor
October 1, 2009 - October 17, 2011
The Rev. James W. Adam served as the Interim Pastor of St. Paul's UCC twice. The first time he served was as a full-time Interim Pastor from 2002 to 2004. The second was as a part-time Interim Pastor from October 1, 2009 until his death on October 17, 2011.
An Interim Pastor serves to help churches during the transition time from one pastor to the next, helping a congregation in the process of calling their next pastor.
His obituary can be found on our website by clicking on the following link: In Loving Memory of The Rev. James W. Adam.
His wife Ruth Adam continues to be an active associate member of St. Paul's UCC, including helping in worship by reading scripture and leading children sermons.
Following the death of the Rev. James Adam, St. Paul’s was served by a series of part-time interim and supply pastors.
The Rev. Charles S. Neese, Jr.
Part-Time Interim
2011 - 2012
The Rev. Charles S. Neese, Jr. served St. Paul's UCC as a part-time stated supply pastor beginning in 2011 following the death of the Rev. Adam.
The Rev. Barry “Chuck” Galley
Part-Time Stated Supply
2012
The Rev. Chuck Galley, who was previously retired from Phoebe Ministries, served during 2012 as a part-time supply pastor.
His obituary can be found on our website by clicking on the following link: In Loving Memory of The Rev. Chuck Galley.
The Rev. Dr. Harold A. Henning
Part-Time Interim Pastor
October 28, 2012 - December 23, 2012
The Rev. Dr. Harold Henning, who was previously retired from Bethany Children's Home, served during 2012 as a part-time Interim Pastor. On May 12 & 19, 2013, Dr. Henning served as a pulpit supply.
Dr. Henning and his wife Doris continued to participate in the ministries of St. Paul's UCC as members of the church, until his death and her transition to a retirement community in 2015.
His obituary and additional photos can be found on our website by clicking on the following link: In Loving Memory of The Rev. Dr. Harold A. Henning.
The Rev. Peter Goguts
Part-Time Supply
December 24, 2012 - August 25, 2013
The Rev. Peter Goguts and the Rev. Christine Pifer-Foote served as Supply Pastors for St. Paul's until the calling of the Rev. Dr. Benjamin D. Motz as Pastor.
The Rev. Christine L. Pifer-Foote
Part-Time Supply
June 2013 - August 25, 2013
The Rev. Peter Goguts and the Rev. Christine Pifer-Foote served as Supply Pastors for St. Paul's until the calling of the Rev. Dr. Benjamin D. Motz as Pastor.
The Rev. Dr. Benjamin D. Motz
Seventh & Final Called Pastor
August 25, 2013 - November 30, 2024
On Sunday, August 25, 2013, the Rev. Dr. Benjamin David Motz (Pastor Ben) preached his first sermon at St. Paul’s UCC, following which the congregation called him to be their pastor. He began serving this congregation as a three-quarter time pastor that Monday.
Pastor Ben helped lead the congregation through the COVID-19 pandemic and through St. Paul’s UCC merger with Zion UCC. On Sunday, November 13, 2022 the combined congregation called him to be a three-quarter time Pastor & Teacher and the Lead Pastor of Vision and Administration for the merged United Church of Christ of Robesonia.
Pastor Ben resigned to the Consistory on Tuesday, August 13, 2024 and to the congregation at the end of worship on Sunday, August 18, 2024 to be effective November 30, 2024, with his final “Service of Release” held on Sunday, November 24, 2024. For the words of his resignation, click on this Letter of Resignation link.
The Rev. Robert Masenheimer
Minister of Music - Organist & Choir Director
February 24, 2019 - August 25, 2024
The Rev. Robert Masenheimer (Pastor Bob) began serving as our Minister of Music, organist, chancel choir director, children’s choir director, and Sunday school pianist in February 2019, and continued in this role for the newly merged United Church of Christ of Robesonia until his retirement on Sunday, August 25, 2024.
Pastor Bob was instrumental in the process of merging St. Paul’s and Zion UCC, and especially instrumental in helping the congregation journey well through the COVID-19 pandemic, including creating home music devotionals, preaching for virtual worship, and organizing virtual choirs.
