History

Zion began as a mission church of the Synod of New York with the Rev. Carl F. Knoll conducting the first service in the old fire hall located on Brad Avenue on Easter Sunday in 1926. Formal organization followed on September 12th the same year. The next place of worship was School No. 2. The services were in German; the first English service was in February 1927. Average attendance in those days was about 12 to 16 people.

During the Summer of 1927, a student from Wagner College, Charles Menge, conducted services and organized the first Luther League. It was also in this year that Rev. Knoll left Zion to organize other churches.

In October of 1927, the Rev. Charles Boehner came to Zion as a part time minister. In January of 1929, he became Zion's full time minister.

In 1928, the infant congregation purchased its first building for $2,700. It was a portable "simple looking" chapel erected on the corner of Slocum and Prospect Avenues with much of the assembling being done by the members of the church.

The Rev. William Kraft repalced Paster Boehner in 1930 and after 3 years returned to his native Germany. Next, Herbert Hagenau, a Hartwick Seminary student, served the congregation. The next ordained pastor was the Rev. William Niebanck who came from the Philadelphia Lutheran Seminary in 1934.

After eight years, the congregation had had five pastors, 84 confirmed members, a heavy debt, and an income of $428 for the last three months of 1934.

The next pastor was the Rev. Heinrich Suhr who stayed until 1940 when he accepted a call from the German League Church in New York City.

The Rev. Godfrey E. Alberti replaced Pastor Suhr. Rev. Alberti stayed until 1949. During his ministry, the church became self supporting. This meant that the Synod no longer needed to provide salary aid. During his minsitry, the first church addition, a school room, was built.

In September 1949, the Rev. Frederick Frommhagen succeeded Pastor Alberti. He was the first to occupy the church's new parsonage at 690 Slocum Avenue. The planning, money raising and erection of the new church took place during Pastor Frommhagen's ministry, although his retirement came before the construction was finished. A church member Fred Albers was the main archetect/builder for the new church.

On March 1, 1960, the Rev. Henry W. Kircher arrived and began a "vigorous" ministry. On March 30th, the new church was dedicated and a new chapter in Zion's life began. During this period, many upgrades were made to the building. A carillon and chimes were installed and the sactuary received 13 stained glass windows from the famed stained glass window manufacturer George Petersen of London.

On December 31, 1967, Rev. Kircher left to become Pastor of Gethsemane Lutheran Church in Keyport, New Jersey.

The Rev. Stanley E. DeCamp, a former high school history teacher, came to serve Zion on July 1, 1968. He was the first to introduce a contemporary service at Zion. In February 1974, Pastor DeCamp moved on to Holy Communion Lutheran Church in Berlin, New Jersey with his wife and long time Zion member Genevieve Kolb.

Zion would be without a pastor for 15 months. During this time frame howevere, Zion would be well cared for due to the support of vice pastor Rev. Herman J. Meiberg and Rev. Carl J. Futchs.

On Palm Sunday, April 8, 1975, the long term ministry of Rev. John C. Melin began. During his tenure, his growing family was in need for more room. So funds were raised to build an addition to the parsonage. More than enough was raised. and by the end of 1975, Zion's mortgage could be paid off. At Zion's 50th anniversary celebration held on May 2, 1976, the current U.S. and Christian flags and the Hymnal Boards were dedicated and the church mortgage was burned.

After Pastor Melin's retirement, Rev. David Grafton was called as Pastor. Pastor Dave came to Ridgefield with his expectant wife Karla. This was Pastor's first call to serve a congregation and he did much to bring vitality to Zion. While serviing Zion, he also pursued advanced degrees in the study of Islam. He wanted to learn so he could understand the similarities and differences of the two religions hoping perhaps to someday make his mark to bring the two closer in at least understanding. New Jersey Synod Bishop Roy Riley asked the congregation to release Pastor Dave from his call at Zion allowing him to persue his PHD in Islamic Studies at Oxford University, England. The congregation graciously agreed and Pastor Dave left for England to persue his dream.

Soon after Pastor Dave's departure, the Rev. Valerie Horlacher was called as Pastor. This also was her first call to serve a congregation. Pastor Horlacher served Zion until her departure in 2004.

Durnig this vacancy, the Rev. Charles Austin served as Zion's interim (contract) pastor. His interm contract was to serve from Dec. 2004 - Dec. 2005. During that interim period, Pastor Austin provided pastoral stability for the congregation..

On January 1, 2006, Zion once again embarked on a search for a pastor to lead the congregation. In March of, 2007, the Rev. Janet Blair was asked to serve as Zion's Pastor. On April 8, 2007 - Easter Sunday - Pastor Blair started her call.