St. Peter’s was founded in 1883 as a daughter congregation of Zion Lutheran Church which is still in existence and located at East 30th Street and Prospect Avenue. Zion itself was founded in 1834 by German immigrants.

The first location of St. Peter’s was on the corner of East 69th Street and Quincy Avenue. In 1902, the church moved to a new building, primarily a schoolhouse on the corner of East 79th Street and Sherman Avenue, and in 1913 erected a separate house of worship.

Between 1913 and 1938, St. Peter’s was instrumental in establishing a black mission which ultimately became St. Philip Evangelical Lutheran Church now located on Regalia Avenue off Kinsman Road. Before building its present sanctuary, St. Philip took over the 79th Street buildings from St. Peter’s.

In 1938, the church moved to its present location in Shaker Heights and the narthex walls contain the cornerstones and markers of the congregation’s three former churches of 1883, 1902 and 1913. The educational building and parish hall was dedicated in 1963.

A period of decline in membership set in during the 1960’s & 1970’s and for four years, 1978-1981, the church was without a permanent pastor. In 1982, however, with the help of the Mission Board of the Ohio District of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod, a permanent pastor was assigned full time to help rebuild and revitalize the mission and ministry of St. Peter’s. The church had shown steady growth. The congregation changed status from a mission congregation and became self-supporting.

In 1993, St. Peter’s mission statement, “Embracing the world around us with the love of Jesus Christ” was developed. With the blessings of Jesus Christ, membership increased during the next thirteen years.

The end of 2006 into 2007 brought a fourteen-month vacancy of a permanent pastor to St. Peter’s. Prayers were answered with a new pastor in December 2007. Programs are being implemented to increase membership and serve the community. With the help of God, we continue to prosper and become an increasingly effective witness to His love and forgiveness in the community.

Summary of St. Peter’s Pastors
& Years of Service

Pastor Max Treff	1883	1887
Pastor John H. Wefel	1888	1893
Pastor Ernst G. Juengel	1894	1897
Pastor Frederick Weterkamp	1898	1910
Pastor George Gotsch	1910	1921
Pastor Julius Nickel	1921	1925
Pastor Arthur F. Katt	1925	1958
Pastor Elmer W. Braun	1958	1962
Pastor Kurt Voss	1963	1978
Vacancy	1978	1981
Pastor Daniel Deutsch	1982	1992
Pastor Jeffrey B. Stephens	1993	2006
Pastor James D. Weist	2007	present

Special thanks to Ms. Marie E. Chess, our church admistrative assisstant, for gathering all this information and putting it all together into a history booklet.

The first pastor of St. Peter’s was the Reverend Max Treff, who came here directly from the theological seminary in St. Louis, Missouri, July 23, 1883. A two-story frame building was erected on the congregation’s lot, with a church-room below and a school-room above. This building was dedicated September 2, 1883. Pastor Treff served the congregation for over four years, teaching the children in school, besides attending to his ministerial work. He died many years later in California. After his departure in November 1887, Student August Sallmann, older brother of Lydia, served as supply pastor for four months.

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St. Peter’s second pastor was the Reverend John H. Wefel, who came from Pomeroy, Ohio, in March 1888. Progress and harmony characterized the years of his ministry. He worked zealously for the school, himself teaching, and within a year’s time the enrollment rose to nearly ninety. The pastor, unable to handle all these pupils alone, was given an assistant in the person of Miss Johanna Sallman, older sister of Lydia, who taught the little ones for one year. The following year the first male teacher, G. Reineck, was called and he taught for three years, from 1890 to 1893. In 1890, the building was enlarged to gain a second school-room above and to provide greater seating capacity in the church below. After teaching school for nearly four years, Pastor Wefel was relieved of his work, his ministerial duties demanding his full attention. Miss Lydia Sallman was now engaged to teach the lower grades, a work which she performed successfully, faithfully and unselfishly for a period of twenty-five years, from 1892 to 1917, at times teaching as many as eighty-four pupils (grades one to four) in one school-room. In 1892 a lot was purchased and a parsonage built north of the church. In November 1893, Pastor Wefel accepted a call to Zanesville, Ohio, later returning to Cleveland, where he served for many years as pastor of St. John’s, Cable Avenue.

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St. Peter’s third pastor was Reverend Ernst G. Juengel, who served three and one-half years, from January 1894 to October 1897. In the meanwhile, Teacher Reineck had been succeded by Teacher J. H. Meyer, who was in charge of the school for six years, from November 1893 to August 1899. During Pastor Juengel’s ministry the congregation experienced hard times, a general depression throughout the land making work scarce and earnings meager. From October 1897 to January 1898, the Reverend Kolbe served as supply pastor. In 1899, Pastor Juengel followed a call to Avilla, Indiana.

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The fourth pastor of St. Peter’s was the Reverend Westerkamp, the first pastor to serve the congregation for a longer period of time, viz., thirteen years, from January 1898 to November 1910. In September 1899, Teacher Meyer was succeeded by Teacher William Weidner. Again the building had to be enlarged and it became evident that with continued growth the congregation would be in need of a larger plan. Due to ill health, Teacher Weidner had to give up his work in 1900, and two years later he was called to his reward. His place was taken by Teacher William Rudow, who served from 1900 to 1905 and eventually retired in Elmhurst, Illinois. In 1900, the congregation had cleared away its debts. In 1901, with relocation in view, the congregation purchased property on the corner of Madison Avenue (East 79th Street) and Sherman Avenue. The cost of the new lot, including a house used as parsonage (now about 85 years old), was $5500. In 1901, a third teacher was called, Paul Cutkowski, who served only one year. In 1902, Teacher J. H. Brase was called, who served until 1911.
In 1902, a commodious schoolhouse was built as a combination church and school, church services being held on the first floor. The building, erected at a cost of $7000, was dedicated November 16, 1902. Years of rapid growth now followed. As early as 1907, a resolution was passed to build a separate church building but the resolution could not be carried out at once.
In November 1905, Teacher Rudolf Peters took the place of Teacher Rudow, serving faithfully for a period of thirteen years until in 1918 Jesus called this well-loved teacher home. On August 30, 1908, the twenty-fifth anniversary of the congregation was celebrated. In 1910, when the church had reached its highest peak in membership (650 communicants and 1000 souls) Pastor Westerkamp accepted a call to Springfield, Minnesota. He later was stationed in Sherwood, Oregon.

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The fifth pastor of St. Peter’s was the Reverend George Gotsch, who ably served amid peculiar difficulties for nearly eleven years, from December 1910 to September 1921. In March 1911, Teacher Brase left for Lincoln, Nebraska, and was replaced by Teacher Fred Hellman, who served for six years. In 1912, the congregation decided to carry out its resolution of long standing to build a church. Pastor Gotsch, himself collected the moneys. The large red brick building at 79th Street and Sherman Avenue (which in 1938 became St. Philip Lutheran Church and in 1957 Second Metropolitan Baptist Church) was erected at a cost of some $30,000. With great rejoicing the house of worship was dedicated to the service of God on December 21, 1913. Soon after, however, World War I broke out and the unforeseen changing conditions also greatly affected St. Peter’s parish, many families selling their properties and moving to other parts of the city, which caused the membership to dwindle appreciably.
The English work was now more vigorously prosecuted, as the need for it had greatly increased. In March 1917, Teacher Hellman was constrained to give up teaching due to hard hearing. His place was taken by Teacher Emil Krohn, who served from September 1917 to June 1924. In 1917 Miss Sallman likewise was compelled to resign her post due to ill health, shortly after her 25th Jubilee had been fittingly celebrated. Miss Sallman, at eighty-five years old, remained a member of St. Peter’s when she entered the Lutheran Home for the Aged in Westlake, Ohio. Miss Olga Zetzer was engaged to teach the lower classes, serving almost uninterruptedly for ten years, 1917-1927. At the death of Teacher Peters in 1918, Teacher Gustav Scheiderer was called, who taught for eight years until 1925. In September 1921, Pastor Gotsch followed a call to Jonesville, Indiana, some years later going into retirement, both he and his wife becoming residents of the Lutheran Home for the Aged in Kendallville, Indiana, where both died.

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The sixth pastor of St. Peter’s was the Reverend Julius Nickel, Cleveland’s City Missionary, who had supplied the congregation for several months after Pastor Gotsch’s departure. Pastor Nickel served the congregation for more than three years, from December 1921 to April 1925. He was later stationed in Perham, Minnesota, and is now no longer among the living. In 1924, Teacher Krohn was succeeded by Teacher Gerhardt Schmiel, who served as teacher and organist until 1927, when he accepted a call to Cedarburg, Wisconsin. He became principal of St. John’s Lutheran School in Watertown, Wisconsin where he headed a staff of eight teachers.

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The seventh pastor of St. Peter’s was Pastor Arthur F. Katt, who came to Cleveland in May 1925. Born in Terre Haute, Indiana, August 29, 1893, the tenth child of Reverend and Mrs. Henry Katt, he had, after his graduation from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Missouri, 1916, been pastor of Immanuel Church, Terre Haute, Indiana for nine years, first as his father’s assistant, 1916-1918, then as his successor, 1918-1925. The sainted and much beloved Pastor Katt became the driving force behind St. Peter’s for the next quarter of a century.
St. Philip Organized       In 1926, one hundred members of St. Peter’s canvassed the northern half of the parish in quest of unchurched African Americans, locating some 350 prospects. The congregation then opened a Lutheran Negro Mission in its school-building, conducting the same as a branch of its work for two years with the aid of the District Mission Board and with the help of Students Ernst G. Mueller, 1926-1927, and Gustav Karkau, 1927-1928 (who eventually held pastorates in Sawyer, Michigan and Buffalo, New York respectively). By 1928, the Mission had prospered to such an extent that it could be turned over to the Board of Negro Missions, which called as St. Philip’s first pastor the Reverend Ernst G. Mueller, who had been the first student to serve the mission. Under his able ministry the mission in five short years became the most flourishing African American mission in the Synodical Conference’s northern mission field, numbering 165 souls, 68 communicants, 12 voters, 94 Sunday school pupils, and having an average Sunday morning church attendance of more than 100.
Mission School Developed       On Teacher Schmiel’s departure in the spring of 1927, Miss Frances Booster (later Mrs. Richard Damerow, teacher at Zion’s Lutheran School, Akron, Ohio) supplied until the end of the term. In the summer of 1927, Teacher Gustav J. Schmidt was called and the teaching force reduced from two to one, the enrollment of the school having gradually decreased to 38 pupils, due to the removal of many members from the immediate vicinity of the church. In 1929, the members canvassed the community in behalf of the school. The gratifying result was that the enrollment rose to nearly one hundred, mostly children of unchurched, underprivileged, the school thus taking District Mission Board, Seminarian Richard Delventhal (later pastor in Sweet Springs, Missouri) was engaged to assist in the school (1929-1930). In 1930-1931, Seminarian Walter Luttman (later pastor in Boise, Idaho) did supply work in the school. In 1931, a regular second teacher was engaged, Miss Alice Bentzin, from Northwestern College, Watertown, Wisconsin.
Fiftieth Anniversary Observed       On May 7, 1933, in the very depth of the depression, St. Peter’s 50th Anniversary was celebrated, vast preparations having been put forth to make the Golden Jubilee a fitting celebration. A half hundred men of the church, mostly unemployed, contributed more than 3000 hours of labor, painting outside and inside of school and parsonage, church basement and outside trim, renovating and remodeling, putting the entire church property in good repair, saving the church thousands of dollars. Among them were Otto Brandt, August Beidash, and Ralph E. Werba. The congregation then numbered 550 souls, 350 communicants, the loss of 274 communicant members in eight years through removal, transfer and death having been fully offset by as many missionary gains. Anniversary guest speakers were the now sainted Dr. W. G. Polack, Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Missouri, who had attended St. Peter’s School at the turn of the century, and former Pastor George Gotsch (then sainted), then pastor in Jonesville, Indiana. Former Teachers William Rudow and Gerhardt Schmiel were guest organists. Festivities continued for an entire week.
Martin H. Franzmann Joins Staff       That very year, 1933, this third school room was reopened, a summer canvass having increased the school’s enrollment by 50 new pupils to a total of 125. In July 1933, Miss Alice Bentzin married Martin H. Franzmann, a Northwestern College graduate who had done graduate work in Chicago University and the Wisconsin Synod Theological Seminary at Thiensville, Wisconsin. He now joined the teaching staff, husband and wife both teaching in St. Peter’s Mission School for two years (1933-1935) for a combined salary of $1000. In 1935, the Franzmanns moved to the campus of their Alma Mater, Northwestern College, Watertown, Wisconsin, where Prof. Franzmann soon headed the department of Greek and Latin for the next decade, 1936 to 1946. When nominated by St. Peter’s, Cleveland, he was called to Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Missouri, where, as Dr. Franzmann, he headed the department of Exegetical Theology.
Mission Activity Increased       That same fall, 1935, Teacher G. J. Schmidt resigned, and Teachers Edward J. Singer (owner of a religious bookshop in Santa Ana, California), and Edwin A. Jiede (principal of a large consolidated school of nine grades in Mineola, Long Island, New York) took charge of St. Peter’s Mission School, and mission activity was increased still more. Miss Lydia Sallmann, veteran teacher, was once more drafted into service as teacher of home economics, sewing and cooking. Mrs. Fred Buescher served as voluntary parish-school deaconess, giving freely of her time, visiting the homes of needy pupils of our mission-school.
Mass Baptisms and Large Confirmation Classes       The nineteen thirties, when our Mission School was flourishing, were the years of many baptisms and confirmations, often multiple. Thus, in 1929, twenty-nine children were baptized in one church service, and in 1935, seventeen children on one Sunday. In 1936, nineteen children were baptized. In 1929, twenty-one catechumens were confirmed; in 1930, twenty-nine, of whom seventeen were adults; in 1931, twenty-seven, twenty-two of them being children; in 1933, eighteen; in 1934, twenty, etc.
Relocation Undertaken       In 1937, the congregation was advised by the Central District of Synod to relocate to a field with a more assured future, loans and subsidies being promised. It was then that the old church property (church, parsonage, and later school) was sold to thriving St. Philip Church for $23,000 ($18,000 to the church plus $5,000 to the parsonage), and the church site of 2 1/2 acres on Van Aken Boulevard (then called South Moreland Boulevard) in Shaker Heights was purchased.
St. Philip Takes Over Old Church       St. Philip continued to be served by Pastor Ernst G. Mueller (17 years altogether) until 1945-1946, when Pastor Luther H. Robinson became pastor, who capably served twelve years. In 1957, St. Philip sold St. Peter’s old property and built a new church on a spacious lot at 11315 Regalia Avenue, S.E., one block south of Kinsman Road, at the cost of $125,000, the African American congregation now numbering 518 souls, 303 communicants, 109 Sunday School pupils, and raising an annual budget of $10,000.
Shaker Dedication       St. Peter’s began services in Moreland School, Shaker Heights, at the beginning of Lent 1938. On Thanksgiving Day 1938, our present house of worship (J. Adam Fichter, Akron, Architect) was solemnly dedicated with seven festive services all in one day. The sainted Dr. Walter A. Maier, of Lutheran Hour fame, delivered four of the messages besides the coast-to-coast Lutheran Hour broadcast from our church. The other three speakers were District President Walter Lichtsinn (vice-president of Missouri Synod), the sainted Circuit Visitor Theodore Dannenfeldt, and District Mission Director Walter C. Birkner, who in his official capacity gave outstanding counsel and aid in bringing about the relocation. Among our layment, Ralph E. Werba was the guiding spirit, serving as chairman of the relocation committee and also of the building committee, handling all contracts in lieu of a general contractor.
Historic Stones       Otto F. Brandt not only supervised the masonry work but with great pride himself laid a great share of the stone and brick. Charter member William Freese laid the cornerstone. The walls of the church proper are eighteen inches thick, really consisting of three walls, the solid layers of Ohio sandstone being backed by walls of brick and Haydite block. The altar is Indiana limestone. The roof beams are of solid California redwood. The narthex walls contain the cornerstones and markers of the congregation’s three former churches, 1883, 1902 and 1913. In this corridor wall are found also stones of historic churches reminiscent of the beginning of Lutheranism and the beginning of the Christian church, viz., St. Mary’s, Wittenberg, the 800-year old Volkskirche where Luther preached, and four Holy Land shrines, reminders of events in our Savior’s earthly life. These stones were the gift of Dr. Arthur C. Piepkorn, Concordia Seminary, St. Louis.
Educational Plans       The jump of five miles into St. Peter’s new field cost the congregation fully one-half of its former members for whom the new location was not convenient, most of these transferring to nearer churches. The relocation was made possible by means of synodical loans and district subsidy for the next ten years, 1938-1948. Edwin A. Jiede continued in the service of the church as Educational Director for three years (1938-1941), conducting Saturday School, Vacation Bible School, Sunday School, also functioning as organist, choir director and general church secretary. In 1941, the subsidizing District Mission Board counseled the discontinuance of the office of Educational Director. Our dream of a parish school, written into our new Shaker Heights constitution as our goal, toward the achievement of which also our educational director was pledged to work, was never realized.
Serving Our Country       In World War II, 1941-1945, 27 of our boys served their country, our one casualty being Pfc. George Paul Starke, killed in London, England, on July 4, 1944. The twenty-seven stars on our service flag represented: David Baldwin, Larry Baldwin, Frank Balogh, Raymond Balogh, William Birr, Richard Blagdon, Donald Galer, Paul Glosh, Wilbert Karnowski, Elmer Kuskin, Robert Lehmann, John Lendzian, Jr., Rudolph Lendzian, Robert E. Oberman, Arthur Pekrul, Andrew Rusnacko, Earle Schoenbeck, Richard Schoenbeck, Robert Schoenbeck, Jay Schroeder, George Paul Starke, Edward Stevens, Emil Stevens, Norman Thresher, Gilbert Unger, Raymond Van Dame, Raymond Wittrup.
Shaker Parsonage       In 1944, the spacious parsonage at 3011 Chadbourne Road, Shaker Heights, was purchased. That same year Mrs. Hilda Petrie Katt, the pastor’s wife (mother of John, Clarice, and Alice) died. Prof. Martin H. Franzmann, Watertown, Wisconsin, delivered the funeral address. In 1946, Pastor Katt married Miss Helen Franzmann, sister of Prof. Franzmann.
Our Debt to Synod       In 1948, St Peter’s again became an independent, self-sustaining congregation, no longer needing district subsidy, which in the course of twenty-one years (1927-1948) had totaled fully $21,800, a sizable sum for which we must always be grateful to our synodical district and mission board and which should make it impossible for us ever to relinquish our efforts to give full support to district and synod, so that other congregations in need as we were might in turn be given help. After giving due congregational support, our very next concern must always be to give support to district and synod for the general work of missions. In 1953, the remaining debt on the church property was retired.
Membership Turnover       During its twenty years in Shaker Heights, St. Peter’s had been able to maintain about the same level of membership (150 to 170 communicants), nearly 400 gains in the new field having been offset by as many losses through removal or transfer, the annual turnover in membership being rather high at all times and especially ever since the postwar population migration began. Nearly all Greater Cleveland churches now have members formerly in membership with St. Peter’s Church, Cleveland and Shaker Heights.
Music Leadership       A final word about organists and choir directors which have blessed St. Peter’s congregation. After Mr. Jiede’s departure in 1941, Mrs. Lauretta Miller (a Valparaiso music graduate and organ student of Henry Markworth and Edwin Arthur Kraft) served as organist from 1942 to 1945 and again from 1947 to 1950. Edward Bewie was organist from 1945 to 1947. Henry L. Felton was organist from 1950 to 1955, also directing an outstanding unison choir. From 1955 to 1957 Miss Eleanore Krenz (who earned her Music Master’s degree under Arthur Poister, Syracuse University) served with great distinction as organist, director of a four-voice mixed choir and a children’s choir, also giving outstanding seasonal concerts, setting a high standard of good church music. This standard has been maintained since 1957 by her successor, Mrs. Marie Bruey, the organist and choir director of both Senior and Junior Choirs. Mrs. Bruey was voice teacher in the Shaker Heights school system and taught singing in Mercer and Sussex schools. She is a graduate of Mt. Union College, Alliance, Ohio, where she studied organ for seven years under F. Broadus Staley and played organ for six years in two Alliance churches, one of them the college church.
New Liturgical Practices       The following new liturgical practices were introduced during this time period: clergy chanting and singing of introits, 1926; seasonal paraments, improved chancel and chancel equipment, 1929; choir robes, 1933; clergy cassock, surplice and stole, 1935; use of kneelers, 1938; use of Revised Standard Version of the Bible, 1954.
Retirement and Replacement       After severe winter virus illnesses in 1956-1957 and 1957-1958, Pastor Katt was advised by his physician on February 1, 1958, to seek a warmer winter climate, early retirement and removal to Florida being suggested. On February 24th, Pastor Katt announced his retirement, effective September 1, 1958, and urged his congregation to take immediate steps to replace him lest there be a long and undesirable winter vacancy ahead. After six weeks of painstaking work and prayer, St. Peter’s Voters’ Assembly on the very first ballot elected by an overwhelming majority of two to one the Reverend Elmer W. Braun, of Mt. Calvary Church, Dayton, Ohio, who had been warmly recommended by District President Ottomar Krueger. On May 5th, Pastor Braun accepted our call and received from his Dayton congregation his release as of September 1st.

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On September 7, 1958, Pastor Braun became the eighth pastor of St. Peter’s. Pastor Braun was a native Clevelander, born in 1923 within a mile or two of St. Peter’s present location, schooled and confirmed in Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church and School, West 128th Street and Lorain Avenue. After graduating from West Tech High School and studying for a year at the University of Wisconsin, he was drawn into the armed services, fought as a gunner throughout three years of World War II, taking part in the invasion of France, the Battle of the Bulge and the conquest of Germany. At war’s end in 1945 he attended Cleveland College and privately prepared for entry in Concordia Theological Seminary, Springfield, Illinois, where he graduated in 1951 with highest honors, leading his class. As seminarian he vicared one year in Schenectady, New York. His one and only charge as pastor has been the mission congregation in Dayton, Ohio, founded at the time he became its pastor in 1951 and served by him ever since. His work record in Dayton speaks for itself, he proved himself an energetic, aggressive missionary, known and respected as a good leader, preacher, teacher and pastor.

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On April 21, 1963, Pastor Kurt Voss was installed as the ninth pastor of St. Peter’s. Pastor Voss had served as a missionary in China from 1939-1949 and in Korea from 1957-1961. From 1949-1957, he had served churches in Michigan and Pennsylvania. Pastor Voss presided over a very difficult time in St. Peter’s history. Our experiences here at St. Peter’s of a neighborhood in transition, of rapid turnover of people and of generally declining interest in the church was certainly reflected in our national church body. The late sixties and seventies were difficult days for the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod at large and also for St. Peter’s. In September 1978, Pastor Voss had to resign due to ill health.

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St. Peter’s faced difficult days and new hope from 1978-1981. With a worshipping community that continued to decline in numbers and the inability to support a full-time pastor, a remnant of St. Peter’s faithful faced some difficult and soul-searching years. The congregation tried several approaches to ministry during this period, including part-time and retired spiritual leadership, but the decline continued.
In the spring of 1981, the persistent and hopeful remnant who continued to hold St. Peter’s together turned once again to the Mission Board of the Ohio District for help. After many months of discussion and study, the Mission Board agreed to call a pastor full-time to St. Peter’s and provide whatever financial and other resources would be needed to rebuild and revitalize the mission and ministry of St. Peter’s. Margaret Leist served St. Peter’s as Music Director during that time and until 1983.

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Pastor Daniel Deutsch was installed on January 17, 1982 as the tenth pastor by the District Mission Board. He came to St. Peter’s with ten years of experience in parish ministry in Texas and St. Louis, Missouri. 1982 was a year that had been marked by new signs of hope and resurrection as the Lord once again exercised Building on the Rock of Our Past. For 100 years our gracious Lord had called us, comforted us, fed us and ministered to countless thousands of people through the lives of the saints of St. Peter’s. On May 22, 1983, we celebrated 100 years of God’s grace to St. Peter’s with a special worship service. Under Pastor Deutsch’s leadership in 1990, the congregation changed status from a mission congregation and became self-supporting. He faithfully served St. Peter’s congregation until August 1992.

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In May 1993, Pastor Jeffrey B. Stephens was installed as the eleventh pastor at St. Peter’s. Raised in the Cleveland area, he married Susan (nee Bell) and together raised two sons, Patrick and John. Before entering the pastoral field, Pastor Stephens spent ten years in sales and marketing in the Cleveland and Toledo areas. Though baptized and raised Roman Catholic, he and Susan came to faith as adults through the invitation of a neighbor. They joined St. John’s Lutheran, Mayfield Road, South Euclid, Ohio, as adult confirmands. After joining Trinity Lutheran Church in Toledo, he served as Youth Leader, Stewardship Chairman and Evangelism caller.
Pastor Stephens attended Cleveland State University; Toledo University; received his Master of Divinity in 1983 from Concordia Theological Seminary in Ft. Wayne, Indiana; vicared at Christ Lutheran Church in Lincoln, Nebraska and received his Doctor of Ministry in 1995 at Fuller Seminary in Pasadena, California. Prior to coming to St. Peter’s, he served at the Christ the King Lutheran Church in Memphis, Tennessee from 1983-1993.
Under Pastor Stephen’s leadership, the congregation saw growth in its membership. The church’s mission statement, “Embracing the world around us with the love of Jesus Christ” was developed at the first Leadership Retreat in the fall after Pastor Stephens arrived. He led the church by delegating responsibility and encouraging people to try new things with confidence. Among these changes was to introduce a variety of worship styles that brought the Gospel message to the diverse Shaker Heights community. Our Lord blessed this outreach oriented effort with steady growth.
Responding spiritually to the needs of our growing church family, the people of St. Peter’s conducted two capital fund drives. The first 3-year drive (1997-1999), called Moving Forward in Faith, provided key renovations for our family through 2001. The generous gifts enabled us to meet many of our “Miracle” goals. The congregation celebrated completion of this drive in 2001. The second drive (2003-2005) was called Building the Kingdom of God Together. Although projects utilizing these funds are ongoing, they have already renovated our sanctuary, replaced the organ, roof, windows, carpet and parking lot. A new “Wow!” entryway, upgrades in kitchen and bathroom facilities are anticipated. We are very grateful to the people of God for these capital improvements and look forward to His certain future guidance.
In August 2006, Pastor Stephens was called to service as the Director of Ministry Resources in the Ohio District Office, leading and resourcing congregations in the areas of Evangelism, Stewardship, Human care, Strategic Planning and Transforming Congregations.
Christian Education       Under the leadership of Pastor Stephens and as part of our new growth, the congregation added to our staff. In September 2001, Ingrid Lewis was installed as Director of Christian Education. She developed education and youth ministry programs to reach children, youth and adults in the church and in the community with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. She connected the people through relationships with others and helped them grow in their faith. In August 2006, Mrs. Lewis was called to Bethany Lutheran Church, Parma, Ohio as their Director of Youth Ministry.
Pipe Organ       In 1984, under Pastor Deutsch, an unfortunate situation occurred at St. Peter’s when a leak in the roof allowed water to seep into the organ. To avoid the costly repairs by a professional organ company to this small congregation of 70 to 80 worshippers, James Mittelstadt, Minister of Music, Pam Robinson and a group of volunteers were instrumental in completing the Organ Enhancement Project. Because of the voluntary nature of the workforce, the enhancements took several years and were not completed until early 1991. The Re-Built Organ Dedication Service took place on May 5, 1991. In 2003, under Pastor Stephens, misfortune once again was encountered when a hot water pipe inconspicuously leaked steam into the organ chamber, accumulating mold. As a result, a new organ project was approved. Work on the new Holtkamp organ (a Moeller instrument originally) began in September of 2003 and lasted seven months. A team of fifteen craftsman collaborated for an estimated 5000 hours to an organ designed specially to match the existing architectural and structural nuances of the sanctuary. Intricate wood scrollwork duplicates original work found in the 68 year old sanctuary in order to create a striking visual effect as well as a musical one. This was part of the project Building The Kingdom of God Together.
More Revovations       Still under the direction of Pastor Stephens, along with the new pipe organ, other renovations took place which included the installation of a new heating and cooling system, new furniture in the Great Room, a newly designed altar area and a new altar, and new flooring for the altar area. Portions of the 1938 Indiana limestone altar were preserved and incorporated into the design of the new altar. On February 27, 2005, the congregation celebrated the completion of all the renovations with a re-dedication worship service. Nicole Keller, an active recitalist in the United States at the time, performed for the Organ Dedication and Recital.
Music and Choir Directors       Since 1974, there have been several organists and choir directors, which have blessed St. Peter’s congregation.

• James A. Mittelstadt, a native of Ft. Wayne, Indiana, served as Minister of Music from 1974 to 1978. St. Peter’s was his first job when he relocated to the Cleveland area. He earned a Bachelor in Physics and Music from Oberlin College and a Masters in Organ and Music History from Cleveland State University. In 1983, Mittelstadt returned to St. Peter’s, once again as Minister of Music, until 1994. It was during this time period when he and Pam Robinson worked effortlessly on the Organ Enhancement Project. A close relationship developed and they married in 1994. She was called to glory in 2003. Jim resides in Berea and stays in occasional contact with the congregation members.
• During the period 1994-2001, music ministry was served at St. Peter’s by Shin Hung, Fen Fang, Derek Nishimura, Dr. J. Lan Ye, Lane Kanost, and Judy Gilmore.
• Jason Maynard served St. Peter’s as Music Director from December 2001 to July 2003. Mr. Maynard, a native of Erie, Pennsylvania grew up active as a piano performer, church musician and symphonic trumpet player. He made his conducting debut at age 18 as a guest conductor with the Erie Philharmonic Orchestra. He earned a Bachelor of Music degree in Piano Performance from Baldwin-Wallace College Conservatory of Music and a Master of Music degree in Organ Performance from Cleveland State University. He worked for Berea United Methodist Church, North Presbyterian Church, First Congregational United Church of Christ in Berea and is currently Director of Music at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Augusta, Georgia.
• Kim Lauritsen became Choir Director at St. Peter’s in the fall 2003 and remains in this capacity to the present. Ms. Lauritsen, a music instructor at the Cleveland Music School Settlement, earned a Bachelor of Vocal and Instrumental Music degree from The University of Nebraska, Lincoln in 1998. In 2004, she received her Master of Music degree from the Cleveland Institute of Music, and since then has been an active vocal performer in the Cleveland area, performing with local organizations such as the Cleveland Orchestra, Opera per tutti, and Opera Cleveland.
• Brent Erstad started as Music Director in October 2004, while he was in his sophomore year of college at Baldwin-Wallace. Halfway through his tenure, he transferred to the Cleveland Institute of Music where he completed his Bachelor of Music degree in Piano Performance. In September 2006, Mr. Erstad left St. Peter’s to pursue other opportunities at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian in Olmsted Falls, Ohio.
• Chad Lauritsen became Music Director in the fall 2006 and remains in this position to the present. Mr. Lauritsen, singer/keyboardist, started playing the piano at age fourteen. With the encouragement of his high school music teacher, he developed a love for music which led him to his major at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln. His major instrument was voice, but he also studied pipe organ. Chad graduated from University of Nebraska, Lincoln in 1996 with a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts.

Interim       The end of 2006 into 2007, brought a fourteen-month vacancy of a permanent pastor to St. Peter’s. During this time period, a Call Committee was formed, assisted by Reverend Gary Lawson, and guided by the Holy Spirit. Worship services were led by Reverend Herbert Borchelt, our Pastor “Emeritus”. In November 2007, there was the dedication of 80 new hymnals, the Lutheran Service Book (LSB), replacing The Lutheran Hymnal (TLH). The LSB contains 636 hymns that span the centuries of Christendom.

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In December 2007, Pastor James D. Weist was installed as the twelfth pastor of St. Peter’s. He came to the church after serving as Associate Pastor of Faith Lutheran Church, in Grand Blanc, Michigan. Pastor Weist, born in Livonia, Michigan and raised in Canton, Ohio, is currently involved in Building Hope in the City in partnership with Cleveland Lutheran congregations. His mission is to connect Christians in mission by planning new urban congregations and helping revitalize existing inner-city ministries.
Pastor Weist received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Education in 1991 from Michigan State University and his Master of Divinity in 1997 from Concordia Theological Seminary in Ft. Wayne, Indiana. He is currently completing his Doctorate of Ministry at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School.
Pastor Weist served two years as a missionary to St. Andrew, Jamaica where he started a new Lutheran mission, now a thriving congregation. He believes that we are called to care for God’s people through the church in worship, prayer, bible study and the fellowship of believers. He continues his mission focus with a vigorous outreach program in Shaker Heights. He intends to spend time planning small group ministry, mission and fellowship events and participating in community activities. He also will develop mission work, similar to the work he performed in Jamaica. He, his wife, Carter and their three children, Tianna, Camden and Riley, reside in Shaker Heights.
First Recorded Vicar       Vicar Marc S. Cohen joined St. Peter’s on August 17, 2008. He was installed as St. Peter’s vicar (seminary intern), serving for 2008-2009. This is the first recorded vicar in the history of St. Peter’s. He comes to us from Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri. He is working with St. Peter’s and Building Hope in the City to start a new cross-cultural worship service at St. Peter’s and start a refugee ministry in the greater Cleveland area. He and his wife, Cheryl, have a newborn son, Jacob.
St. Peter’s has seen a variety of important changes take place. Here are a few of the ministries that are seeing a revival and have been added:

1. New vision and strategy for our congregation
2. Partnership with Building Hope in the City
3. Jewish Missions
4. Added a second Contemporary worship Service
5. Building Project updates to the church
6. New small group ministries
7. Recovery Ministry (Celebrate Recovery a Christian Based support group and Alcoholics Anonymous which Studies the AA Big Book)
8. One year vicar (intern) the first ever for St. Peter’s
9. Food and Clothing Bank
10. Church Planting Task Force that is looking for ways to plant new churches in the Cleveland area.
11. Weekly prayer ministry
12. Stronger commitment and outreach to the community that Jesus is the only way to salvation and that the scriptures are inspired and true.

Pastor Jim’s greatest passion is having God’s people come to know Jesus as their Lord and Savior and then growing as one of his disciples.

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