Butler native now leads church in Philly
The path to Butler native Joseph Hertzog Klinger’s ordination Jan. 20 started at Trinity Lutheran Church, 120 Sunset Drive.
Hertzog Klinger was ordained at the Church of the Holy Communion in Philadelphia by Bishop Claire Burkat of the Southeast Pennsylvania Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America.
He has accepted a pastorship at Redemption Lutheran Church in the northeast section of Philadelphia, a church with 50 active members.
“It was a wonderful, emotional service,” said his mother, Leigh Ann Hertzog, who attended the ordination with her husband, John, and their other son, Jerald.
“The laying on of the hands was very emotional,” she said.
Hertzog Klinger credits former Trinity pastor the Rev. Peter Nordby with helping him find his calling.
“It was in high school, Pastor Nordby saw a lot of gifts in me and suggested I join the youth committee,” he said. “He started to get me involved without being too pushy.”
His involvement included serving on the Youth Ministry, attending youth group, video recording services and serving on the church council. He attended two national youth gatherings — one in San Antonio and the other in New Orleans.
“The support he received from Trinity Lutheran in Butler was always outstanding. Leigh Ann and I are very thankful for that,” said his father, John Hertzog.
After graduating from Butler High School with honors in 2009, he enrolled at Thiel College in Greenville where he graduated summa cum laude in 2013 with a bachelor’s degree in history and minors in theater and preseminary studies.
He was active in the theater department, appearing in many plays and musicals and was also in the Thiel Choir.
Hertzog Klinger went on to the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Philadelphia and earned a master’s degree in divinity.
During his senior year, he was named senior sacristan and put in charge of preparing and organizing all the services in the seminary chapel.
“So it happened, the chaplain and the faculty picked one of the seniors in the senior class to get the honor. They pick a student they know who is capable of doing it,” said Hetzog Klinger.
