OFFICIAL PROVINCIAL ELDERS’ NEWS

NORTHERN PROVINCE

Central Moravian Church

Sister Janel Rice has accepted a call to serve as the full-time senior pastor at Central Moravian Church in Bethlehem, PA. She began her call on April 8, 2024, but will be officially installed on June 23, 2024.  Prior to the call Janel had served as associate pastor to Central Moravian since September 17, 2023.  Please be in prayer for the members of Central Moravian and for Janel and her family as they transition together in this ministry.

 Lake Auburn Moravian Church

Sister Judy Ganz began serving as the part-time Intentional Interim Pastor at Lake Auburn Moravian Church in Lake Auburn, Minn., on April 22, 2024, and was installed officially on May 12, 2024.  Judy is a retired Moravian pastor who has previously served several congregations in the Northern Province and as Executive Director of the Board of World Mission.  Please hold Judy, her husband Charlie and the Lake Auburn congregation in your prayers as they begin this ministry.

Schoeneck Moravian Church

Brother Ian Edwards has accepted the call to serve as the full-time pastor of Schoeneck Moravian Church in Nazareth, PA.  Ian began his call on May 6, 2024, and was installed on Sunday, May 12, 2024. Ian will continue to serve as the part-time chaplain to the Moravian Houses Senior Living Residence on Main Street, Bethlehem, Pa., where he began serving on February 5, 2024.  Please hold Ian, his family, the Schoeneck Congregation, and the Moravian Houses in your prayers as Ian serves these communities.

Pastoral Appointment

Br. Joshua David Follweiler has accepted a one-year appointment to serve as the full-time assistant pastor at Central Moravian Church in Bethlehem, Pa. Br. Follweiler began his appointment on May 28, 2024, but will be officially installed on June 23, 2024.  Prior to the appointment, Joshua served as a student pastor at Calvary Moravian Church, Allentown PA from 2021-2024 and as student pastor to Central Moravian Church from 2023-2024. Br. Follweiler graduated from Moravian Theological Seminary, Bethlehem, PA with a Master of Divinity Degree on May 4, 2024.  See Southern Province Official News below for information about Josh’s ordination.  Please be in prayer for the members of Central Moravian Church and for Joshua and his wife, Molly, as they transition together in this ministry. 

SOUTHERN PROVINCE

Pine Chapel Moravian Church

Brother Ted Kimball was installed as the interim Congregational Acolyte at Pine Chapel Moravian Church, 324 Goldfloss Street, Winston-Salem, NC on Sunday, May 19, 2024 at 12:00 p.m. Please support Ted and the Pine Chapel congregation as they begin this new relationship in ministry together. 

St. Philips Moravian Church

The Rev. Ken Pettigrew was installed as the interim Congregational Acolyte at St. Philips Moravian Church, 911 South Church Street, Winston-Salem, NC on Saturday, June 1, 2024 at 12:00 p.m. Please support Ken and the St. Philips congregation as they begin this new chapter in ministry together.

Ordination

Brother Joshua Follweiler, a 2024 graduate of the Moravian Theological Seminary, was ordained a deacon on Sunday, June 9, 2024, 3:00 p.m. at Mayodan Moravian, Mayodan, N.C. with The Rt. Rev. Dr. Wayne Burkette officiating.

Home Moravian Church

The Rev. Dr. Craig Atwood was installed as associate pastor at Home Moravian Church, Winston-Salem, N.C. on June 2, 2024. Brother Craig was ordained a deacon on May 31, 1987. Craig served as chaplain and assistant dean at Moravian College and Theological Seminary from 1986 until 1990. From 1992 until 1994 Craig served as pastor at Third Moravian Church in Philadelphia, PA and upon concluding his time there he returned to Winston-Salem to serve as chaplain and professor at Salem College and later at Home Moravian as theologian in residence until 2009. In 2010, he returned to Pennsylvania to serve as professor and interim dean at Moravian Seminary. Craig was recently awarded emeritus professor status upon retiring from Moravian Theological Seminary. Please be in prayer for Craig and the Home Moravian congregation during this time of transition.  

 The Table, Raleigh, N.C.

The Rev. Suzanne Parker Miller and The Rev. Elizabeth Yarborough Neely were installed on May 5, 2024 as Co-Pastors for The Table in Raleigh, N.C..  Sister Suzanne was ordained at Raleigh Moravian Church (by Holly Springs Congregation but held at Raleigh Moravian) on August 10, 2008, with The Rt. Rev. Lane Sapp officiating. She is currently the convener for the Advocacy & Justice Action Team of the CCD of the MCSP and is the Executive Director and founder for Pastors for North Carolina Children. Suzanne has served previously as the associate pastor at Raleigh Moravian and as the program coordinator at Holly Springs. 

The Rev. Elizabeth Yarbrough Neely grew up at Bethania Moravian Church where her family continues to be active. She attended Lenoir Rhyne University and Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary before being ordained as a part of the ELCA. She has served in a variety of positions, including hospice chaplaincy, outdoor ministry, youth and family ministry, and interim pastoral positions. She has been serving as a supply pastor and is excited to begin a relational ministry with The Table. She is a homeschool teacher/administrator, a Girl Scout leader, a Girl Scout day camp director, and a children’s choir co-leader, among other things. Please support Suzanne, Elizabeth, and The Table as they begin this new relationship in ministry together.