Hale Schroer

Thanks to the Internet, I was successful in tracking down the whereabouts of Hale Schroer, South Reformed's youth group's favorite student minister in the mid-fifties. I'm certain Hale won't mind sharing his response on this blog.

From: Hale Schroer [mailto:haleschroer@kirkwooducc.org]Sent: Wednesday, November 26, 2008 11:27 AMTo: 'Gene Nelson'Subject: RE: Former South Reformed member

Dear Gene,

What a wonderful surprise to hear from you. I remember you well. I was at South Reformed for two years while I was a student at Union Seminary, 1954-55, 55-56. I have often wondered whether South Reformed was still in existence. I treasure the two years I spent in Brooklyn.

Here comes a little history. I graduated from Union in 1957, got married two months later, and started as the organizing pastor for a new church start in Warren,Ohio for the United Church of Christ. We started out in a school. I was there for five years, long enough to get the first building unit erected – Good Shepherd United Church of Christ. From there we moved to St. Louis where I became pastor of Samuel United Church of Christ for ten years. During that time I earned by Doctor of Ministry at Eden Seminary. Kept moving west and spent two years in the Kansas City area before moving back to St. Louis to join the Eden faculty in 1974. I taught at Eden for 25 years. My areas of teaching were preaching and worship. I became Dean for Common Life, which means I was Dean of Students and Dean of the Chapel. Loved both my parish ministry experience and teaching at the seminary. I retired from Eden in 1999 and since then have been doing almost non-stop interim ministries at UCC churches in the area as they prepare to call a new resident pastor. Currently, I am interim minister at Kirkwood UCC, as you know. Been here for 16 months.

Along the way Ann & I had three children, two boys and a girl. One son & family lives in Minnesota where we will be for Thanksgiving. Our daughter & family live in Connecticut. Our other son lives only 15 minutes away in a neighboring suburb.

That is probably more history than you want to know.

Do you know whether South Reformed still exists? Do you ever hear from other members of the youth group. What about the Peterson boy who became a Presbyterian minister. I still remember the youth group putting on “Oklahoma” and I sang the role of Will Parker. Lots of good memories.

I wish for you a joyful Thanksgiving with family and friends.
Hale Schroer

http://www.kirkwooducc.org/Pages/Pastor.htm