Rev. Barry M. Ridge served as minister of Simeon United Lutheran Church, Gratz, Dauphin County, from 1987 to 2011.
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Barry M. Ridge was born in Norristown, Pennsylvania, a son of Elwood M. Ridge and Bertha [Hallman] Ridge. He was baptized and confirmed at Grace Lutheran Church, Norristown. After graduating from Norristown High School, enrolled at Muhlenberg College, Allentown, where he earned a B.S. degree in biology. While working as a research pharmacologist, he received a call to the Christian ministry, and began his studies at the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia. In 1970, he married Hope Seltzer, a daughter of Irvin Seltzer and Esther [Schmidt] Seltzer of Ringtown, Pennsylvania. In 1972, he graduated from the Lutheran Seminary with a Master of Divinity degree, and was ordained as a minister of the Lutheran church.
Pastor Ridge received his first call as Associate Pastor of Christ’s Lutheran Church, Oreland, Pennsylvania, and served from 1972 to 1976. from 1977 to 1987, he was pastor of Messiah Lutheran Church, Downingtown, Pennsylvania. During his pastorate there, the congregation built a new building and demolished the old one. In 1987 he accepted a call to Simeon United Lutheran Church in Gratz, where he served until his retirement in 2011. While at Simeon, Pastor Ridge was active in youth ministry and the Susquehanna Lutheran Village in Millersburg. He introduced new worship and music resourced and served as Dean of the Upper Dauphin Conference of the Lower Susquehanna Synod from 1991 to 1995.
Pastor and Hope Ridge are the parents of twin sons.
His memoirs of his time at Simeon’s in Gratz were published in the book Church and World: The Life and Times of Simeon United Lutheran Church, Gratz, Pennsylvania, 1987-2011.
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A brief biography of Rev. Ridge appeared in a Gratz history published in 1997.
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