Senior Pastor Rev. Dr. Susan C. Bertolette may be hanging up her vestments after 42 years of ministry and leadership with St. John’s United Church of Christ in Lansdale, but her faith and community service endures.
According to The Reporter, Rev. Dr. Bertolette is retiring 42 years to the day she was installed at St. John’s UCC, on Wednesday, June 15. In May, state Rep. Steven R. Malagari (D-Montgomery)
presented a citation to Bertolette honoring her 42 years of service.
An 18-year religion columnist with The Reporter, Bertolette was named associate pastor in April 1980, and then ordained the next month at Glenside UCC. By May 1980, she received a Master of Divinity degree from Eastern Baptist Seminary in St. Davids.
Within four years of pastoral leadership at St. John’s UCC, Bertolette was bestowed Outstanding Young Religious Leader by the Lansdale Jaycees. Bertolette received her Doctor of Ministry degree at Lancaster Theological Seminary in 1993 and was elected Senior Pastor upon retirement of Rev. John W. Touchberry in 1999, per the report.
Bertolette has always been, and remains, committed to her community. She has worked to help
secure emergency aid for those in need in conjunction with Manna on Main Street — which
had its beginnings shortly after she joined St. John's, serving meals in the basement 40 years ago. And she has served as
Chaplain for North Penn Visiting Nurse Association Hospice, which she
co-founded more than 25 years ago.
St. John’s UCC’s Senior Pastor Search Committee announced an interim pastor will serve alongside Associate Pastor Rev. Adelaide Stong, until a new permanent pastor is chosen and installed. St. John’s UCC will also welcome guest pastors, according to its website.
"When a minister has served the same church for over 4 decades, finding someone to replace that person is hard work and takes time. Based on guidance and procedures provided by the Pennsylvania Southeast Conference (PSEC), the search and hiring of an intentional Interim Pastor is a necessary first step in this important process,” stated the Committee on its website.
Hiring a settled pastor, it said, can take up to two years to find the right candidate, and thus, an interim pastor bridges the new senior pastor with the congregation and its faith.
"It goes without saying that it is an impossible task to replace someone as talented and beloved as Rev. Sue. As we move into this next chapter in the life of St. John’s, we will keep the members and friends of St. John’s informed about our plans and progress on our journey to call our next Pastor,” said St. John’s UCC Council President Bill Leslie at the April 3 service.
"A separate, larger, Search Committee will be established later, responsible for identifying candidates for the Settled Pastor. This committee will be led by the Board of Elders with additional members selected from across the congregation. Membership will be selected to ensure it represents the full breadth of diversity that is the St. John’s ‘Motley Crew.’ We will also be engaging with the congregation to solicit your thoughts, suggestions, and concerns.”
Read more on Rev. Dr. Bertolette’s life and service with the Lansdale community here.
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