Northern Province
Hope Moravian Church, Indiana
Rev. Eric Renner has accepted the call to serve at Hope Moravian Church, Hope, Ind. and will be installed at Hope Moravian Church on Sunday, November 9, 2025. Rev. Renner is currently serving half-time at the Shepherd of the Prairie Church in Fargo, N.D. and half-time at the Canaan Moravian Church in Davenport, N.D. He will conclude his ministry at Shepherd of the Prairie and Canaan on October 19, 2025. Please keep Rev. Renner, his wife Kristine, son Billy and the Shepherd of the Prairie, Canaan and Hope Congregations in your prayers during this time of transition.
You Belong/Freedom Moravian Church, Wisconsin
Rev. Greg Behrend, pastor, and administrative director at You Belong in Green Bay Wis., has accepted the change to serve in a quarter time call to You Belong and has accepted a three-quarter call to Freedom Moravian Church in Appleton Wis. This change was effective July 1, 2025.
This decision comes with the blessing and support of the leadership teams at both Freedom and You Belong, as well as the District Board, PEC, and Emerging Ministries Committee. Please hold the Behrend family and the saints at Freedom and You Belong in your prayers as these ministry transitions take place.
Waconia Moravian Church, Minnesota
Sister Catherine Kolwey has accepted an appointment to serve as the full-time pastor at Waconia Moravian Church, Waconia, Minn. Sister Kolwey was installed on Sunday, September 21, 2025. Prior to the appointment, Sister Catherine had served as the Director of Spiritual Care at Auburn Homes Senior Living. Please be in prayer for the members of Waconia Moravian and for Sister Kolwey and her family as they transition together in this ministry.
The Gate – A Faith Community, Bethlehem, Pa.
After a year of prayer and conversations, the Northern Provincial Elders’ Conference, in consultation with the Eastern District Executive Board, is thrilled to announce the approval and acceptance of The Gate – A Faith Community of Bethlehem, Pa., as a new member congregation of the Moravian Church, Northern Province. These conversations began following an expressed interest by The Gate leadership to join the Moravian Church as a ministry partner and as a participating member of an inclusive and vibrant Moravian mission community.
The Gate began their ministry with us by residing in our church facility in South Bethlehem and are working in collaboration with the Eastern District Executive Board to complete their charter and constitution in accordance with the Book of Order. Additional information can be found about The Gate Community Church at: https://www.thegatecc.com
Photos of activities at The Gate, along with a message of thanks from pastor Eric Schwartz, is available at www.moravian.org/northern.
Retirement
Rev. Lloyd Gooden has been granted permission to retire from the active ministry of the Moravian Church, effective October 31, 2025. Brother Gooden was ordained on July 22, 2012, at John Hus Moravian Church, Brooklyn, N.Y. and consecrated a Presbyter on November 2, 2017, at Sharon Moravian Church, New Philadelphia, Ohio. Brother Gooden has served at Calvary Moravian in Allentown, Pa., Lebanon Moravian in Lebanon, Pa., and at Sharon Moravian in New Philadelphia, Ohio. Please hold Brother Gooden and his family in your prayers through this transition.
Southern Province
Leave of Absence
The Provincial Elders’ Conference has granted the Rev. Margaret Norris, pastor of Hope Moravian Church, Winston-Salem, N.C., a leave of absence from active call. Please keep Margaret and the Hope Congregation in your prayers during this time of discernment and transition.
Obituary: The Rev. Floyd Peterson
The Rev. Floyd Peterson, father of the Revs. Robert and Jon Peterson, entered the immediate presence of the Lord on September 15, 2025. Brother Floyd served congregations in both the Northern and Southern provinces including Palmer Township in Easton, Pa. and Downey Moravian in Calif. Floyd was also the founding pastor of St. Paul’s Moravian in Upper Marlboro, Md. and Redeemer Moravian in Winter Park, Fla. After service in the Moravian Church, Floyd served the Presbyterian Church USA. A funeral service for Brother Peterson was held at Macedonia Moravian Church, Advance, N.C. on Saturday, September 20 at 2:00 pm. Interment followed at Bixby Presbyterian Church in Advance.
Obituary: Mrs. Donna Hooker (Ensley) Yarbrough
Sister Donna Hooker (Ensley) Yarbrough, wife of The Rev. Wally Yarbrough, entered into the more immediate presence of her Savior on Friday, September 12, 2025, at her home in Shallotte, N.C. She was born on June 28, 1948, in Forsyth County to the late Charles Dewey Hooker and Agnes Mozelle Helsabeck Hooker. Donna retired as a nurse after 41 years of service. She enjoyed photography, birdwatching, and scrapbooking. She also enjoyed crafting and cooking and had a witty sense of humor. Donna is survived by her husband of 15 years, Walter “Wally” Yarbrough, three sons, eleven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. A funeral service was held at 2:00 p.m. Friday, September 19, 2025, at Trinity United Methodist Church, King, N.C. Burial followed at Antioch United Methodist Church Cemetery.
Obituary Correction: The Rev. Dr. Frank Barker
The obituary of the Rev. Dr. Frank Barker in Issue 2 of the Moravian mistakenly listed Frank’s place of birth as St. Thomas, Antigua. It was St. Thomas, Barbados. We apologize for this error.
