A History of the Etna Congregational Church 

Two principles of freedom have provided a foundation for The First Congregational Church of Etna since its founding:

1) tolerance for the freedom of individual religious thought; and

2) organizational freedom through congregational self-government.

These principles were articulated as early as 1860-1861 when the congregation passed the following Resolutions:

I. Resolved that in matters of faith and doctrine this church grants to every member the right of his own conviction.

II. Resolved, that this church cannot unite with any synodical or ecclesiastical organization as long as eight members are opposed to such union.

First Congregational Church of Etna

1517 October 31.  Martin Luther tacks 95 thesis on doors of Wittenberg Cathedral and then goes into hiding at Ludwig von Springer's Wartburg Castle in Eisenach ( A Mighty Fortress) to translate the bible into German. This eventually led to what is known as the Protestant Reformation. 

1592  Formation of the first Congregational Church in England.

1620 A group of Separatist Puritans lands at Plymouth in the Mayflower

1849 Etna Church founded as the Independent German United Evangelical Church.  Intended to allow the German Lutherans and the German Reformed to worship together in one congregation founded on toleration.

1880 Present Brick Church constructed at a cost of $8,032.58

1910 Church wired for electricity.  Cost: $2,378.00

1911 Christmas Eve and Christmas Day: Rev. Martin Leiseder conducts his first services at the Church.

1912 Reverend Martin Leiseder elected as Minister by a unanimous vote and begins his 55 years of service.

1916 Women given the right to serve as regular members of the Board of Elders, something never heard of before in any church government anywhere up to that time.  The first women elected were Catherine Beck and Cecelie Buehler Watson.

1923 May 20: The Church votes to associate with the Congregational Churches since they were nearly identical in organization and polity.

1924 The 75th Anniversary saw the installation of a new organ and the stained glass windows.  Additional property was acquired next to the Church.  

1925 Our church and others joined to establish the Evangelical Protestant Conference of Congregational Churches and associated with the  National Council of Congregational Churches.

1929 Church name changed to The First Congregational Church of Etna.
Mr. Charles Heusey paints and donates the two large pictures on either side of the organ pipes.

1930-31 Church denotes itself to relief from the Great Depression and helps to establish the Etna Relief organization as one of the first community based organizations of its kind.

1936 The Great Flood requires the Church to transform itself into a shelter.  The following fire causes the Church to become a hospice for the seriously injured as no ambulance can reach the site.

1941-45 World War II saw Rev. Leiseder assume the post of local Civilian Defense Coordinator.

1967 March:  Rev. Martin Leiseder dies following giving his last Sunday sermon ending nearly 56 years of service as the Minister.

1969 Old parsonage at Walnut and School Streets is sold and site is turned into a parking lot.

1971 Steeple Installed and dedicated to Reverend Martin Leiseder.

1972 Board of Deacons (authorized in 1969) begins work.

1982 Church co-hosts Annual Meeting of NACCC (National Association of Christian Congregational Churches).

1996 Raymond Luber, the present pastor, is installed after serving as Interim Minister for one year

I. Resolved, that this church cannot unite with any synodical or ecclesiastical organization as long as eight members are opposed to such union.

II. Resolved, that in matters of faith and doctrine this church grants to every member the right of his own conviction.

Name; Dates of Service
Rev. Conrad Kuehn; 1849 - 1851
Rev. Meggers; 1852 - 1858
Rev. C.E. Zobel; 1858 -1859
Rev. W.F. Dethlefs; 1859 - 1863
Rev. Meggers; 1863 - 1871
Rev. Huldreich Weber; 1871 - 1878
Rev. Carl fleinrici; 1878 - 1882
Rev. Wilhelm Ulfert; 1882 - 1884
Rev. f I.K. Mueller; 1884 - 1887
Rev. T. Korm; 1889 - 1890
Rev. George Dietz; 1890 - 1893
Rev. Alfred Schramm; 1894- 1897
Rev. Emil Baum; 1897 - 1900
Rev. Eugene Ernst; 1900 - 1902
Rev. C. G. Wagner; 1902 - 1911
Rev. Martin Leiseder; 1912 - 1967
Rev. Donald Mullen (Interim Pastor); 1967
Rev. David Wyatt; 1968 - 1969
Rev. Mark Jensen; 1969 - 1973
Rev. Richard Freeman; 1973 - 1979
Rev. Mark Stauffer; 1979 - 1982
Rev. William Pfeifer; 1983 - 1986
Rev. Robert Koch; 1986 - 1990
Rev. John Rickloff (Interim Pastor); 1991
Rev. Ashley Cook; 1991 - 1995
Rev. Raymond Luber (Interim Pastor); 1995 - 1996