95TH ANNIVERSARY HISTORY LESSON

Some History

St. Peter’s Evangelical Lutheran Church evolved out of perceived potential and expressed interest in a Lutheran ministry in the then new and rapidly growing community of West Oak Lane. Worship and planning started in September 1929, and on February 9, 1930, thirty-five persons officially organized themselves as St. Peter’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in a storeroom at 7609 Ogontz Avenue.

The congregation faced several early obstacles and “birthing pains”. Some persons didn’t want a Lutheran congregation in the community, and neighbors near the storeroom location complained that the congregation’s singing disturbed their sleep on Sunday mornings. The Lutheran minister who was elected to be the first pastor of the congregation in 1930 declined the call. And, in the midst of the economic crisis that affected the entire nation, the Northwestern Trust Company collapsed, taking with it all of the financial resources of the congregation.

But St. Peter’s continued. The Rev. Clarence W. Rhoda, who helped as a seminary student to organize St. Peter’s, was called as its first pastor in June, 1931 and served until November, 1945. Under his leadership, St. Peter’s moved from its storeroom location on Ogontz Avenue to a larger storeroom next door, and then to its present site at 74th Avenue and Briar Road. A smaller, temporary chapel was erected in 1933 (the congregation had outbid a chicken farmer for the old frame school building), and the present church sanctuary was built in 1940. By that time the congregation had grown from a few dozen members to about nine hundred.

The Rev. G. Edward Knapp, a son of the congregation, was called as St. Peter’s second pastor in September, 1946 and served until June, 1979. During his ministry St. Peter’s added the three-story Parish Building in 1956 and grew to almost twelve hundred members by 1959. In the 1960s, as more African-Americans moved into West Oak Lane, Pastor Knapp was a strong proponent to the congregation of inclusive hospitality and was an active evangelist to new residents. In 1964 the Church Council passed a resolution stating that it would welcome as neighbors and as potential church members any and all persons “regardless of race, religion, or national origin.” The strong and faithful leadership of the pastor and a core of members provided the foundation for a successful transition by St. Peter’s in its membership and ministry as other white Protestant congregations resisted change, faltered, and even collapsed. St. Peter’s was known and respected as a place of warmth and true hospitality.

The Rev. Mark S. Livermore was called as the third pastor of St. Peter’s in July, 1979 and served until September, 1988. When he started his ministry, St. Peter’s was 70% white and the neighborhood was 80% African-American. Under his leadership, the congregation continued a transition in its membership and ministry until it more closely reflected the West Oak Lane community. This transition included the organization of a Gospel Choir, the use of hymns and songs from African-American tradition, new celebrations such as Annual Women’s Day and Men’s Day, increasingly representative lay leadership, and continued strong evangelism.

Each of the three pastors who served and led at St. Peter’s in the past brought unique gifts for ministry and a strong dedication to the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Revs. Gwendolyn Johnson-Bond and Neil A. Bond, with ten years of experience in urban ministry, were called as co-pastors of St. Peter’s in June, 1989 and are still serving and leading here 36 years later. Throughout their ministry, Pastor Gwen and Pastor Neil have served both the members of the congregation and the larger West Oak Lane community. They have performed numerous community weddings and funerals. Hundreds of children and youth participated at St. Peter’s and were taught and encouraged in programs and activities such as Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Kids Club, Youth Group, Summer Day Camp, Vacation Bible School, Confirmation Class, and Afterschool Program. As parents of children who attended Philadelphia public schools, the Pastors were highly involved in Pennypacker Elementary School and Masterman Middle and High School during those years.

Pastors Neil and Gwen worked alongside church members in launching and growing a number of food ministries that served the West Oak Lane community. These included Senior Food Boxes, Food Share, Whole Foods fresh produce distribution, and Summer Meals for Children.

Pastors Gwen and Neil have always advocated opening the doors of St. Peter’s Lutheran Church to the larger community. They believed that in this way the congregation and property not only became a blessing to others, but it also received blessing from its neighbors. Over the years the congregation welcomed and hosted several independant day cares, Alcoholics Anonymous, Al-Anon, Joy Unlimited Youth Mass Choir, Agape Dance Group, Ogontz Avenue Revitalization Corporation, Philadelphia School District Parent Co-op Nursery, YouthBuild Charter School, Brenda Lee Dance Group, Philadanco Dance Group, Oak Lane Wildcat Cheerleaders, Lutheran Children and Family Services, Concerned Black Men, community dance aerobics, community bingo, girls S.T.E.M. program, African drumming, several martial arts training programs, various community events and programs, area Girl Scout leaders, several neighborhood block committees and a high school home and school association, the West Oak Lane Branch Library annual “Spelling Bee”, countless Eastern Star events, and numerous neighbor rentals for baby showers, weddings, funerals, and birthday parties. For decades St. Peter’s was a busy voting site for two precincts, stopped right after Barack Obama’s overwhelming first Presidential election victory in our building (over 1,000 votes for Obama at our two poll sites, less than 20 votes for his opponent). For decades, then City Councilwoman Cherelle Parker sponsored an annual community “Town Hall” meeting here.

Many people in the neighborhood know and remember the passion for justice, kind spirit, warm hugs, listening ears, and beautiful singing voice of Pastor Gwen. Many people in the neighborhood know and remember the early morning runs that have become walks, calm and steady presence, snow shoveling, helping hands, and sense of humor of Pastor Neil. After all these years, they are meeting grandchildren of the once little grandchildren that they ministered to in various ways. After all these years, they and this congregation continue to be a familiar presence and a beacon of stability.

A few ordained clergy served at St. Peter’s for brief periods in the past as assistant pastors or in urban training programs before the arrival of Pastors Gwen and Neil: the Rev. Charles Sigel, the Rev. Oliver Brown, the Rev. John Gunnam, and the Rev. Karen Ward. A few “children” of the congregation, who were raised here or joined in their adult years, were ordained as pastors to serve elsewhere: the Rev. Walter Reimet, the Rev. Robert Bohm, the Rev. Violet Little, the Rev. David Maddox II, and the Rev. Clesha Staten.

COVID came as a dark shadow a few years ago, affecting health and membership and participation, but also sparking online worship, online meetings and new relationships beyond this Philadelphia region. Politics have become so toxic, values are still transitioning, many persons are struggling or anxious, and a byproduct of so much social media seems to be a lot of hurt and a lot of hate all mixed together. What’s the future of the message of Jesus Christ?

So many members, friends, and neighbors are a treasured part of the past and the present! In the year 2025, at ninety-five years of life and service, St. Peter’s Evangelical Lutheran Church continues to be a vibrant and committed people of God… displaying a genuine warmth and a Christian spirit of love and concern… providing a place for worship, growth, service, and fellowship… and involved in so many ways in showing and telling “the old, old story of Jesus and his love.”

God has blessed us and brought us this far by faith… has never failed us… and never will. Get life. Love and serve Christ. Live, love and serve others like Christ did.