The History of Faith Denominations in the Shenandoah Valley
This course represents six dominations - Catholic Church, Jewish Congregation, Lutheran Church, Mennonite Church, Methodist Church and Presbyterian Church. Various leaders of these denominations will present and discuss the history of their group in Harrisonburg and the Shenandoah Valley.ELDER CHARLES BLAIR, a member of Mossy Creek Presbyterian Church for over 70 years, is a retired JMU professor. He has served as an elder many years in that church and has written several books about Presbyterians in the Shenandoah Valley. DAN BLY, retired Professor of European History at Bridgewater College, has been a member of the Beth El Jewish Congregation since 1970. His most recent publication is on the establishment of the Jewish community in the Shenandoah Valley. PATTY HUFFMAN is a life-long Irish Catholic, whose family settled in Harrisonburg before there was a Catholic Church in the city. She holds degrees from Loyola University and is a Spiritual Director. PASTOR PHIL KNISS has been part of the Mennonite community in Harrisonburg for 38 years, most of the time in church leadership. He has pastored two local Mennonite congregations, including the last 26 years as senior pastor at Park View Mennonite Church. DEACON FRED LA SPINA has been a member of Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church since 1980. He has served in the capacities of Minister of Religious Education, Permanent Deacon and now retired as Deacon Emeritus. PASTOR TOM MURPHY, former lead Pastor of Asbury United Methodist Church, 1992-1997, has organized parishioner groups to Russia in the 1990’s, was involved with Industrial and Commercial Ministries and served as Chaplain to the Police in Harrisonburg. PASTOR ALEX ZUBER serves as Associate Pastor at Muhlenberg Lutheran Church in Harrisonburg. Ordained in 2017, he has served Lutheran congregations in Harrisonburg and from Luray to Lexington.
There are no scheduled sessions at this time. Sign up to be notified when this course is available.