1970 Through 1979

(These accounts of Unity's past come from the parish archives and have been assembled by Carolyn Altepeter.)

Beginning the 1970s, Unity's communicants numbered 700 with 922 baptized souls. In comparison, on January 1960 Unity had 611 communicants and 935 baptized souls. The population was beginning to shift westward with Unity losing children but retaining its adults.

The Dorcas Society continued to sew cancer bandages, but only through 1970.

By 1970 so many of us had known only one pastor, Alvin Mack, since 1948. The congregation was devastated when he suffered a heart attack on May 15, 1970. Our prayers for his health were answered when he returned to the pulpit September 6, preaching on both services.

In April 1970 a constitution committee was organized to form a new structure. In December a revised constitution and bylaws were adopted. The biggest change allowed all communicant members of the congregation, men and women, 18 years of age and older, to vote and to hold office. Under this new constitution Vic Mennicke was elected the first president, Ralph Lilienkamp president-elect, Joyce Hollrah secretary, Charles Klingsick treasurer, members-at-large Bob Breckenkamp, Barbara Diebold, Karl Johnson, Adeline Kettner and Charles Rudolph.

A new organ was dedicated in the January 31, 1971, 10:00 a.m. worship service. Our immediate past organist James Pierce played the prelude and postlude; our then current organist Henry Gerike played the worship service; and Dr. Paul Manz played an afternoon organ recital.

Unity celebrated its 40th anniversary on October 22, 1972. Rev. Richard Delventhal (then living in Dunedin, Florida) preached in both morning services. A special choral vespers was performed at 4:30 p.m. and an anniversary dinner was served by the ladies of the congregation after the vespers, followed by a program highlighting the 40 years of Unity's history.

Senior Fellowship met for the first time in November 1972, with 23 members of the Normandy community at its first meeting. This was one of the most active organizations at Unity and lasted at least 20 years, meeting twice a month. Unity's archives has the songbooks they used on bus trips.

The board of directors approved girls in the confirmation class as acolytes in November 1972.

In October 1973 Pastor Mack accepted a call to Concordia College in St. Paul, MN. He would become the administrator of College Relations and Development, a newly created position. Pastor and Mrs. Mack planned to leave St. Louis the first week in December. Pastor Mack preached his last sermon December 2, 1973. His last official act at Unity was to officiate at Paul E. Kummer's funeral before leaving for St. Paul. Pastor Mack retired to Irvine, California in January 1979. He enjoyed many years of retirement and traveling until his passing December 26, 2001.

With Pastor Mack's departure to St. Paul, a call committee was organized and presented with 38 pastoral candidates; this was reduced to 5, with Rev. Herbert E. Hohenstein receiving the call. Pastor Herb was installed as Unity's third pastor September 15, 1973.

One of the most noteworthy events of the mid-1970s took place when, after many prayers and much discussion, Unity decided to join the recently founded Association of Evangelical Lutheran Churches while at the same time continuing its membership in the Missouri Synod. However, when the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America came into existence, Unity severed its ties with the Missouri Synod and became exclusively a member of the ELCA effective January 1, 1978. Fortunately, only a few families left our congregation as a result of this change of affiliation. God be praised! (this paragraph written by Pastor Herb).

At the May 20, 1975 General Assembly meeting, the congregation voted to sponsor a Vietnamese refugee family. Our first refugee family. There were eight in the family and they assimilated very well into the community.

In September 1976 the board of directors authorized the Worship Ministry to encourage lay members to compose prayers, read lessons, etc. in worship services.

January 27, 1977, the new Lutheran Book of Worship (the green book) was introduced in worship.

During a December 1978 worship service, Unity continued a long-standing tradition of hosting seminary field workers when Jane Buckley-Farlee, a fourth year Seminex student, was introduced at Unity. She was the first of Unity's several woman field workers.

At the close of this decade, Unity's communicant membership was 435, with 517 baptized souls.

This series continues next month.