Pastors Through History
Rev David E.McLeish 1872-1874
Rev. Mr. Jamison 1875-1877
Rev. B. W. Baker 1878
Rev. A. M. Connard 1889-1890
Rev. Mr. Francis 1891-1892
Rev. Mr. Hutchinson 1892-1893
Rev. W. A. Bass 1893-1895
Rev. William Bower 1895-1897
Rev. A. J. Boelter 1897-1899
Rev. M. Gonewald 1897-1899
Rev. Parsons 1899-1900
Rev. Edward A. Palmer 1900-1901
Professor Silas Jones 1901-1902
Rev. J. A. Musser 1902-1907
Rev. D. D. Madden 1907-1908
Rev. Leslie Bohnert 1909-1910
Rev. J. B. Speaker 1910-1911
Professor Boyer 1911
Professor Silas Jones 1912-1917
Rev. Eldred Cleave 1917-1921
Rev. J. D. Calhoun 1921-1924
Rev. Charles Fitzhenry 1924-1927
Rev. W. A. Stauffer 1927-1929
Rev. Melvin W. Lang 1929-1936
Rev. Melvin E. Soltau 1936-1941
Rev. Irvin D. Stehr 1941-1947
Rev. E. E. Schaefer 1948-1950
Dr. Fred Riley 1950-1953
Stephen Diller 1953-1957
Rev. John Story 1957-1962
Rev. Clifford Janssen 1962-1969
Rev. Kenneth Roedder 1969-1981
Rev. Alfred Jeffries 1981-1982
Rev. Robert Rezash 1982-1987
Will Hostetler* 1984-1987
Rev. Pamela June Webb 1987-1989
Rev. Dennis Frische-Mouri* 1987-1989
Rev. Dr. John Szilvasy 1990-1997
Rev. Dennis Frische-Mouri* 1990
Rev. Glenn E. Riddell 1997-1998
Rev. Roger A. Ruhman 1998-2000
Rev. Dr. Rick Mortimer 2000-2007
Dr. George E. Hines 2007
Rev. Gary Salm 2007-Present
Christian Union History
Christian Union Church was formed in 1872, by the union of the Methodist and Congregational Churches. In 1878, they were joined by Episcopal, Christian (Disciples), and American Baptist Churches.
On March 29, 1981 the last worship service was held at the old church building on South Hanover, which subsequently became the home for the First Baptist Church of Metamora. The first worship service in the present sanctuary was held on Easter Sunday, April 18, 1981. Dedication of the church building was on September 20, 1981. We now have a beautiful facility filled with love for God for the gift of our salvation through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.
We are grateful to the leading of the Holy Spirit of the past saints of our church who maintained the church and passed on their faith in God through generations for the past 140 years. We continue to yield to the leading of the Holy Spirit as we fulfill our holy responsibility of maintaining the church and passing on the Faith to the next generation.
Christian Union Church is a free and autonomous church. The Church Council conducts monthly meetings to guide the church operations and programs within constitutional guidelines. Christian Education, Finance, New Members, Fellowship, Shepherding, Worship, Missions, and Trustee Committees meet monthly to plan, coordinate, and implement programs in areas of their responsibilities.
Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, is the heart and center of our church. We accept the authority of the Bible as our only true and perfect guide for our faith, doctrine and conduct. Our historical confessional faith is accurately stated in the Apostles' Creed. We honor the sacraments of Baptism (infant and adult) and Holy Communion (Lord's Supper, Last Supper, Eucharist) which we offer the first Sunday of each month. We offer a confirmation program for 8th grade students.