Rev. Robert H. Logan served as minister of Simeon United Lutheran Church, Gratz, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, 1965-1978.
Robert H. Logan was ordained into the ministry of the Lutheran Church in June 1958 at Bloomsburg and assumed the pastorate of the New Berlin Lutheran Parish, New Berlin, Union County, Pennsylvania, that same month. He was called to serve Simeon Lutheran Church in late April 1965.
In 1964-1965, Simeon Church became a single-church parish when the Elizabethville Lutheran Charge dissolved its multiple church charge. The churches that left the multiple church charge included Elizabethville, Rife, Killinger, and Gratz.
Also during Rev. Logan’s time as pastor, a successful merger was made between the two congregations occupying Simeon’s Church, the United Church of Christ and Simeon Lutheran Church. In 1968, Simeon United Lutheran Church was formed, and Pastor Logan was called to be the pastor of the newly-formed, combined congregation.
Pastor Logan arrived in Gratz in 1965 with his wife, Miriam [Shealy] Logan and two children, Paul Robert Logan and Carole Anne Logan. Three other children were born to the couple during their thirteen years in Gratz: Charles William Logan; Timothy John Logan; and Kathryn Rush Logan.
Both Rev. and Mrs. Logan were active in community activities including boy scouts and released-time Christian Education for elementary school children (accomplished with public school support and approval). The Bethel Bible Study Program was instituted by the Logans, for the strengthening of the church and community. Pastor Logan was one of the founders of the Gratz Area Ambulance Association, and was the first training officer for the ambulance company. He also coordinated the Sunday worship services at the Gratz Fair.
It was during his pastorate that the tradition of providing a parsonage was eliminated, and the privilege of home ownership was granted to the serving ministers. The renovation of the Simeon Parish Hall was also carried out making more use of the facility. Several changes were also made to the church sanctuary, including better lighting for the choir loft and the carillon in the bell tower.
Rev. Logan resigned in July 1978 to accept a call as senior pastor at Bethany Evangelical Lutheran Church in Montoursville, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania. The family left Gratz in August of that year.
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A brief biography of Rev. Logan appeared in a Gratz history published in 1997.
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