Rev. Jerohn Rader

The Rev. Glenn Jerohn Rader, 83, of Lancaster, Pastor Emeritus of Church of the Apostles, died on Monday morning, June 16th, 2014 in the Apostles Center for Care of Homestead Village, Lancaster. Born at home on March 20, 1931 in Allentown, PA to Earl and Edna Reitz Rader, his early education was in the public schools there. In 1953 he graduated with a B.A. degree, cum laude from Franklin and Marshall College, and in 1956 with a B.D. degree from Lancaster Theological Seminary. Work in the family grocery store and other places like dairy, highway construction, steel mill, and camp caretaking supplemented his academic preparation for ministry. In 1956 Glenn was ordained to the Christian ministry in his home church, Emmanuel United Church of Christ, Allentown. Glenn used the gifts that enabled him to be an effective and beloved pastor with generosity and enthusiasm. His first call was to be Assistant Minister in Salem UCC in Allentown. While there he also was the adviser to the entire denominational youth work in the Lehigh county area. In 1958 he was called to serve as a mission pastor to organize the Church of the Redeemer UCC in Hershey PA. In that same year he married Janet SantaMaria of Allentown. Soon after accepting the pastorate of St. John’s UCC in Lancaster in 1964, Glenn and Janet worked together to found St. John’s Community Preschool, later to become Apostles Community Preschool. In 1969 the whole family went to Hawaii for a year as part of a pastoral exchange with Lihue Christian Church, UCC in Kauai, Hawaii, an experience that widened horizons for both pastors, as well as both congregations. In 1973 Glenn received the Master of Divinity degree from Lancaster Theological Seminary. In 1975 Glenn became, with the Rev. Nevin Shellenberger, co-founding pastor of the Church of the Apostles, a venture with St. Paul’s UCC Church, Lancaster, that further testified to vision and commitment to serve the wider community. The far-ranging plan included the founding of Homestead Village. Under Glenn’s leadership, Church of the Apostles became a Just Peace Church. A deep sense of the world-wide nature of the church led to a summer pastoral exchange with Eden Street United Reformed Church in Kingston-upon- Thames, England in 1980, and a month’s sabbatical at St. Andrews Presbyterian Church, Gose, New Zealand in 1988. While in Gose, Glenn assisted in developing a partnership with a congregation there of the United Evangelical Church of Germany, with whom the United Church of Christ has a special relation of church fellowship. In 1990 Glenn’s wife Janet died. Glenn received the Meck Award for Excellence in Parish Ministry from Lancaster Theological Seminary in 1991. A faithful alumnus, Glenn supported the seminary in many ways, including serving in various capacities on the Alumni/ae Council. After his retirement in 1996, he continued using his gifts by carrying out interim pastorates in a number of congregations. In 1992, Glenn married Kay Shenk Carter, who later graduated from Lancaster Theological Seminary. Glenn and Kay served as co-pastors of Maytown Reformed UCC Church, Maytown, PA for four years. Glenn’s service in the wider church over the years included being a member of the Board of Directors of Penn Central Conference, in which he was chair of the search committee for a new Conference Minister. He also was a member of the Lancaster Association Church and Ministry Committee and the Outdoor Ministries Committee. His ecumenical spirit and many years of service in the community led to his being asked to serve in 1991-92 as Interim Executive Director of the Lancaster County Council of Churches. Lifelong involvement in church camping included, as well as being Camp Mensch Mill caretaker for a summer, counseling in and leading camps and conferences, leading recreation and singing, and starting the Music and Arts Camp at Hartman Center. Service in the community included the Homestead Village Board, the Lancaster YMCA Board, the Chaplaincy Committee for Barnes Hall for Youth, the Hempfield Township Recreation Committee, the Lancaster Interfaith Housing Coalition, and Resettlement of Refugee Families. Music was always important. Along with two of his brothers, Glenn was a member of the Rader Brothers Trumpet Trio for 72 years. In junior high, high school and college he played in the band. As a student at F&M he sang in the Glee Club, and as an alumnus, sang in the Blue and White singers. In retirement he played in the Rohrerstown Band, the Lancaster Senior Orchestra, and sang in the Lancaster Symphony Orchestra Chorus. He was an avid member of the Hymn Society of the US and Canada. Glenn was always involved in games and sports. In college and seminary he played on intramural teams. In the churches he pastored, he started teams on which he also played. And later he cheered his grandchildren from the sidelines whenever possible. Many of his post-retirement activities Glenn carried on at full tilt even though dealing with the chronic leukemia that eventually took its toll. Glenn is survived by his wife of 22 years, Kay Shenk Rader, four children, a step-son, and 16 grandchildren: son Daniel J. Rader of Philadelphia, PA and his wife Carolyn Cannuscio, their children Caleb, Gabriel, Jessye and Asha; daughter Miriam J. Rader of Sewickley, PA and her husband Richard Bowers, their children Leah, Eve and Levi; son Philip J. Rader of Mount Gretna, PA, his wife Robin Rader and their children Galen, Nathaniel and Ethan; and daughter (Lois) Maria Rader of Lincoln, MA and her husband, Greg Gale, their children Jonah and Phoebe; step-son Dylan Jenkins of Williamsport, PA and his wife Margaret Jenkins, their children Boone, Molly, Samuel and Chloe. He is also survived by brothers William Rader of Dauphin, PA, Arlo Rader and his wife Betty of Harrisburg, PA, Mark Rader and his wife Alice of Upper Darby, PA, and sister Linda Rader Slocum and her husband Harold Elwyn Slocum of Oberlin, OH. A visitation will take place on Friday, June 27th, from 7 to 9 PM at The Groffs Family Funeral Services, 528 West Orange Street, Lancaster, 17603. A private service of committal will be held in Allentown on Saturday, June 28, the Rev. Dr. M. Bruce Irwin, pastor of Emmanuel UCC, Allentown, officiating. A memorial service will be held on Sunday, June 29th at 3:00 PM at Church of the Apostles, 1850 Marietta Ave. Lancaster, 17603, the Rev. Kathryn Kuhn officiating. Gathering music will begin at 2:30, and there will be refreshments and fellowship time afterward. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Glenn’s name to Church of the Apostles, 1850 Marietta Avenue, Lancaster, PA 17603 and Hospice and Community Care, 685 Good Drive, P.O. Box 4125, Lancaster, PA 17604.

Rev. Jerohn Rader

June 20, 2014