Biographical Sketches of St. Matthew's Pastors
RAYMOND JACHOWSKI, August 2008 -
MERLIN BATT, September 2006 - August 2008
Rev. Merlin Batt was our current interim pastor. He is a native of
Rev. Batt has received training from the Interim Ministry Network and the Center for Congregational Health in order to specialize in providing Intentional Interim Ministry to churches in transition. In this capacity he has come to serve St. Matthew’s beginning on
Rev. Batt is married to Adele, also a
In his spare time, Rev. Batt reads widely in the fields of Biblical studies, Near Eastern archeology, and American history. He enjoys hiking and skiing, and keeps fit through daily jogging and weight training.
RONNIE PARKER, 2005 - May 2006
Rev. Parker became our full-time minister in May of 2005, serving as our interim Pastor since January of the same year. He is a 1970 graduate of Maiden High School. Following high school, he attended and graduated from Brevard College (Brevard, NC) and Gardner-Webb University (Boiling Springs, NC). In 1984, he received an MA Degree in Christian Education from the Southern Theological Seminary (Louisville, KY). He has served as Senior Minister in several United Methodist churches in North Carolina. Until joining St. Matthew's, Rev. Parker served as a supply pastor, and he was employed at Central Peidmont Community College (Charlotte, NC) as a GED examiner.
H. LINN FINGER, 2003 - 2004 (Assistant Pastor)
The Reverend H. Linn Finger was born in Catawba County, North Carolina on August 10, 1938. A son of the Salem United Church of Christ (Reformed) congregation, he is a great-grandson of Michael Finger who was a charter member of St. Matthew's. An alumnus of both Catawba College and Lancaster Theological Seminary, he did graduate work at Appalachian State University. He was ordained on June 21, 1964. From 1968 through 1971, he served as a chaplain in the United States Army. Part of this time was spent in Vietnam. Currently he serves as a chaplain to the North Carolina National Guard in the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Since 1979, he has been the pastor of Emmanuel United Church of Christ in Lincolnton, North Carolina.
MELISSA H. WIKE, 2002 - 2004
Pastor Melissa grew up in Newton, NC and is the daughter of Carl Thomas (C.T- deceased 1997) and Jacquelyn (Jackie) Hendricks. Pastor Melissa attended ASU and graduated Lenior-Rhyne College Magna Cum Laude in 1988 with a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education and a minor in Christian Education. In 1991, she graduated Cum Laude from Duke University Divinity School with a Master’s in Divinity.
Pastor Melissa grew up at Grace Reformed United Church of Christ in Newton. As a child, she played the piano for the church choirs and directed the youth group. At age 14, she was confirmed into full membership at Grace. In 1988 Melissa and Rodney Wike were married at Grace Church. Rodney Wike and Pastor Melissa have two children, Sarah and Anna. On November 10, 1991, Pastor Melissa was ordained by the Western NC Association of the United Church of Christ at Grace Church.
Pastor Melissa has served in various community and denominational offices including: ECCCM Board; Family Care Center Board; Southern Conference UCC Board of Directors; Secretary and President for the Catawba District Ministerium; Director of Special Days for Special People at Blowing Rock Assembly Grounds; and Camp Director at JRVC. Pastor Melissa is currently the District Representative for the Catawba District UCC Women.
H. LINN FINGER, 2002 - 2004
The Reverend H. Linn Finger was born in Catawba County, North Carolina on August 10, 1938. A son of the Salem United Church of Christ (Reformed) congregation, he is a great-grandson of Michael Finger who was a charter member of St. Matthew's. An alumnus of both Catawba College and Lancaster Theological Seminary, he did graduate work at Appalachian State University. He was ordained on June 21, 1964. From 1968 through 1971, he served as a chaplain in the United States Army. Part of this time was spent in Vietnam. Currently he serves as a chaplain to the North Carolina National Guard in the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Since 1979, he has been the pastor of Emmanuel United Church of Christ in Lincolnton, North Carolina.
H. LINN FINGER, 2001-2002 (Interim Pastor)
The Reverend H. Linn Finger was born in Catawba County, North Carolina on August 10, 1938. A son of the Salem United Church of Christ (Reformed) congregation, he is a great-grandson of Michael Finger who was a charter member of St. Matthew's. An alumnus of both Catawba College and Lancaster Theological Seminary, he did graduate work at Appalachian State University. He was ordained on June 21, 1964. From 1968 through 1971, he served as a chaplain in the United States Army. Part of this time was spent in Vietnam. Currently he serves as a chaplain to the North Carolina National Guard in the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Since 1979, he has been the pastor of Emmanuel United Church of Christ in Lincolnton, North Carolina.
HERBERT J. YOUNG, 1994-2001
Pastor Young, along with his wife Carol, served the congregation of St. Matthews for seven years. Pastor Young received his BS in Secondary Education from the University of Akron in 1972, and he received his Master of Divinity degree in Parental Counseling from the Ashland Theological Seminary located in Ashland, Ohio in 1984. Pastor Young began his ministerial career as a Student Pastor at Church of the Saviour in Wooster, Ohio between the years of 1979 to 1984. He went on to become an Associate Pastor at St. John's UCC in Cullman, Alabama from 1984 to 1987. Before joining the congregation of St. Matthew's UCC, Pastor Young was Pastor at the Langdale Congregational Christian Church, UCC in Valley Alabama.
H. DAVID SHRUM, 1994 (Interim Pastor)
Rev. Shrum grew up in St. Matthew’s Reformed Church. He attended classes of Catechism under the old arbor when Rev. John Koons was pastor and teacher. He was converted at the age of 14 and received the call to the ministry that year. He received local minister’s license in the Wesleyan Methodist Church in 1954. He attended the Ministerial Institute at Southern Wesleyan University, South Carolina and was ordained July 1959 in the Wesleyan Church as an Elder. He served as pastor for 39 years and was also a General Evangelist for two years. He served the First Wesleyan Church, Winston-Salem; the First Wesleyan Church, Rock Hill, SC; and the Ragan Wesleyan Church, Gastonia, NC.
KENNETH POLLOCK, 1993-1994 (Interim Pastor)
H. LINN FINGER, 1991-1993
The Reverend H. Linn Finger was born in Catawba County, North Carolina on August 10, 1938. A son of the Salem United Church of Christ (Reformed) congregation, he is a great-grandson of Michael Finger who was a charter member of St. Matthew's. An alumnus of both Catawba College and Lancaster Theological Seminary, he did graduate work at Appalachian State University. He was ordained on June 21, 1964. From 1968 through 1971, he served as a chaplain in the United States Army. Part of this time was spent in Vietnam. Currently he serves as a chaplain to the North Carolina National Guard in the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Since 1979, he has been the pastor of Emmanuel United Church of Christ in Lincolnton, North Carolina.
H. LINN FINGER, 1990-1991 (Interim Pastor)
The Reverend H. Linn Finger was born in Catawba County, North Carolina on August 10, 1938. A son of the Salem United Church of Christ (Reformed) congregation, he is a great-grandson of Michael Finger who was a charter member of St. Matthew's. An alumnus of both Catawba College and Lancaster Theological Seminary, he did graduate work at Appalachian State University. He was ordained on June 21, 1964. From 1968 through 1971, he served as a chaplain in the United States Army. Part of this time was spent in Vietnam. Currently he serves as a chaplain to the North Carolina National Guard in the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Since 1979, he has been the pastor of Emmanuel United Church of Christ in Lincolnton, North Carolina.
LYNWOOD L. HUBBARD, 1976-1989
Reverend Lynwood L. Hubbard began his tenure at St. Matthews on July 18, 1976. He was born in Langdale, Alabama on November 28, 1926. An alumnus of Southern Union College and Elon College, he was licensed by the East Alabama Association of Congregational Christian Churches on February 4, 1951, and was ordained by the same Association on March 28, 1954. Prior to coming to St. Matthew's, had served churches in Alabama and North Carolina. Zion United Church of Christ in Thomasville, North Carolina was the most recent he served.
H. LINN FINGER, 1971-1975
The Reverend H. Linn Finger was born in Catawba County, North Carolina on August 10, 1938. A son of the Salem United Church of Christ (Reformed) congregation, he is a great-grandson of Michael Finger who was a charter member of St. Matthew's. An alumnus of both Catawba College and Lancaster Theological Seminary, he did graduate work at Appalachian State University. He was ordained on June 21, 1964. From 1968 through 1971, he served as a chaplain in the United States Army. Part of this time was spent in Vietnam. Currently he serves as a chaplain to the North Carolina National Guard in the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Since 1979, he has been the pastor of Emmanuel United Church of Christ in Lincolnton, North Carolina.
MARTIN L. PARKER, JR., 1965-1971
Born in Louisiana on August 3, 1916, the Reverend Martin L. Parker, Jr. attended Utica College in New York, Lakeland College in Plymouth, Wisconsin, and Mission House Seminary. He was ordained by the North Wisconsin Synod. From 1965 through 1971, he was the pastor of St. Matthew's. He has now retired and resides in Rockwell, North Carolina.
JAMES D. RUMLEY, JR., 1958-1965
Burlington, North Carolina was the birthplace of James D. Rumley, Jr. on December 1, 1920. He graduated from Elon College in 1941, Lancaster Seminary in 1958, and did graduate work at Eden Theological Seminary. In June 1958, he was ordained into the ministry at St. Mark's in Burlington. St. Matthew's or the Lincoln Charge was his first pastorate. During his ministry, he served on many committees and was on many occasions a delegate to the General Synod. He was involved in developing churches from mission status to a self-sustaining status. The Reverend James Rumley died in Salisbury, North Carolina on January 25, 1986.
FRANK W. SNIDER, 1954-1956
The first pastorate of the Reverend Frank W. Snider was the Lincoln Charge from 1954 through 1956. He was born in Forsyth County, North Carolina on July 5, 1929. He graduated from Catawba College in 1951, and Lancaster Theological Seminary in 1954. In 1958, he was an organizing co-pastor of St..Andrew's in Lexington, North Carolina. He has served as historian of the Southern Synod and chairman of the Board of Editors of A Story of the Southern Synod of the Evangelical and Reformed Church. Presently he is the pastor of Hebron United Church of Christ in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
WILLIAM A. JONES, 1946-1947
On July 8, 1921, William A. Jones was born in Norristown, Pennsylvania. He graduated from Catawba College in 1943, and from Eden Theological Seminary in 1945. Licensed by the Philadelphia Synod on December 28, 1945, he was ordained by the identical Synod on December 30, 1945. The Reverend Jones was the pastor of St. Matthew's during 1946 and 1947. Because of declining health, he now resides in the Lutheran Home in Salisbury, North Carolina.
JOHN A. KOONS, 1919-1944 & 1948-1953
The Reverend John A. Koons was the pastor of St. Matthew's for many years serving the first time from 1919 until 1944. After teaching school from 1944 until 1948, he returned and served as pastor from 1948 until his death on May 31, 1953. He was born in State Line, Pennsylvania on January 30, 1886. An alumnus of Ursinus College and Central Seminary, he was ordained into the ministry in 1912. During 1923, he was the President of the North Carolina Classis.
C. COLUMBUS WAGONER, 1910-1912
C. Columbus Wagoner was born in Stanley County, North Carolina on April 30, 1884. An alumnus of Catawba College and Central Theological Seminary, he was licensed by the North Carolina Classis in 1910, and was ordained on July 17, 1910. The Lincoln Charge was his first pastorate which he served from 1910 through 1912. During 1920, he was President of the North Carolina Classis. The Reverend Columbus Wagoner retired in Rockwell, North Carolina where he died on June 16, 1951.
J. LEIDY YEARICK, 1907-1908
Born in Hilltown, Bucks County, Pennsylvania on July 21, 1870, J. Leidy Yearick attended Lancaster Seminary. He was licensed by the Tohic Classics and was ordained by the North Carolina Classis in 1907. His first pastorate was the Lincoln Charge which he served during 1907 and 1908. He died in Saegertown, Pennsylvania on November 3, 1936.
CALVIN B. HELLER, 1902-1906
On December 12, 1853, Calvin B. Heller was born in Madison Township, Columbia Count Pennsylvania. After attending Franklin and Marshall College and Lancaster Seminary, was licensed by the Maryland Classis in 1884. He was ordained on June 30, 1884. From 1902 through 1906, he was the pastor of the Lincoln Charge which included St. Matthew's. He died on May 19, 1935.
JOSEPH L. MURPHY, D.D., 1885-1890
Dr. Joseph L. Murphy was born in Davidson County, North Carolina on July 10, 1858. After graduating from Catawba College and Ursinus College, he was licensed and ordained on October 23, 1885. He served as a trustee of Catawba College for many years and was frequently a delegate to the Synod. During his ministry in the Hickory area, he served as a trustee, teacher, and President of Claremont College. Dr. Murphy was instrumental in beginning the "Reformed Church Standard.” He was the editor of the paper at the time of his death in Hickory on October 11, 1917.
JOHN LANTZ, 1859-1868
On May 11, 1811, John Lantz was born in Lincoln County, North Carolina. He was licensed by the Synod in September 1837, and was ordained on August 5, 1838. Before serving St. Matthew's from 1859 through 1868, he was pastor in Rowan County. After serving St. Matthew's, he moved to Virginia and then to Taneytown, Maryland. He lied in Taneytown on January 26, 1873.
DAVID CROOKS, 1845-1859
David Crooks was born in Pennsylvania on March 12, 1820. After attending Lancaster Seminary in 1837, he was ordained in the North Carolina Classis in 1838. Before coming to St. Matthew's where he was the pastor from 1845 until his death in 1859, he served as pastor in Lexington, North Carolina. Fourteen years out of the twenty-one he spent in the ministry, the Reverend Crooks was in declining health. However, his health did not hinder him for he continued to administer to the needs of his people until only a few weeks prior to his death. He died January 24, 1859, and is buried in St. Matthew's cemetery.
SOLOMON S. MIDDLEKAUFF, 1842-1845
Born during 1818 in Hagerstown, Maryland, Solomon S. Middlekauff attended Marshall College in 1839, and graduated from Lancaster Theological Seminary in 1841. He was ordained on August 1, 1842, and served as the pastor of St. Matthew's from 1842 until May 1845. After his death in Mineral Springs, North Carolina on May 21, 1845, he was buried in the cemetery of the old "White Church" in Lincolnton.
THEODORE C. HESSON, 1897-1902
A native of Littlestown, Pennsylvania, Theodore C. Hesson was born on April 23, 1870. He graduated from Franklin and Marshall College and Lancaster Seminary. During 1893 and 1894, he was an instructor at Schuylkill Seminary in Fredricksburg, Pennsylvania. He was licensed by the Gettys College in 1897, and was ordained by the North Carolina Classis on July 18, 1897. After serving as pastor for the Lincoln Charge during 1897 through 1902, he returned to Pennsylvania. On April 30, 1952, he died in St. John's, Pennsylvania.
JOHN G. FRITCHEY, 1837-1840
John G. Fritchey was born on February 7, 1802, near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. He was the first student at the opening of the Theological Seminary of the Reformed Church at Carlisle which he attended from 1825 through 1828. After his ordination into the ministry in 1828, he took charge of all the Reformed churches west of the Catawba River. He served these churches for twelve years during which he renewed life and activity to old congregations and organized several new ones. One of those churches he organized was St. Matthew's which he pastored from 1837 through 1840. In 1840, he resigned because of his unwillingness to bring up his family in the midst of slavery and returned to Pennsylvania. There he had several long and rewarding pastorates. Even after his retirement at age sixty-five, he continued to use his skills to help churches reach the self-supporting status. The Reverend John Fritchey died at the age of eighty-three years in Lancaster, Pennsylvania on March 12, 1885.
JACOB C. CLAPP, D.D., 1868-1873 & 1894-1897
While serving as a professor and President of Catawba College from 1885 through 1900, Dr. Jacob C. Clapp pastored and supplied most of the pulpits in both Catawba and Lincoln counties. He served as a supply pastor for St. Matthew's both before and after the periods of time, 1868 through 1873 and 1894 through 1897, that he was the pastor. He was born in Guilford County, North Carolina on September 5, 1832. An alumnus of both Catawba College and Amherst College, he was licensed on April 27, 1867, and was ordained on May 2, 1869. Dr. Clapp began his ministry at Smyrna Church of Catawba County in 1867. His ministry ended there when he preached his last sermon on June 12, 1910, just two days prior to his death.
