Hummelstown United Church of Christ


		Claude awaits first piece of 30th Anniversary of Ordination cake.
Pastors and churches come together in the United Church of Christ like friends come together in life. Each tells the other where they have traveled on the journey of life. Each listens as the other expresses hopes and dreams for the future. Then, if they sense a common bond, a unifying spirit, they agree to walk together with God for a while. There is the sense that God has “called” them together, that in their union, God will bless them and the world. Claude was called to be the pastor of the United Church of Christ of Hummelstown in December 2005. Reflecting back on what first attracted him to the church, Claude says, “The leaders of the congregation recognized a diversity of thought and theology among the church membership. I saw that as the grist for meaningful dialogue and the seed of rich community.” One church leader said of Claude, “He accepts people where they are in their faith, then helps them grow.” Prior to coming to Hummelstown, Dr. Dencler served as Vice President at the United Church of Christ theological seminary in Lancaster. After ten years in theological education, Claude heard God calling him back to his first love, local church ministry. “This is an exciting time for the church, says Claude; there’s so much that’s changing. Long time church members will benefit from the new insights about the Bible, Jesus, God and the Christian life. Strangers to the church will experience the spirit of openness and hospitality, inviting them to explore their faith questions. I want to be in the middle of God’s work of transforming the church to address the challenges of today.” Reverend Dencler has been an ordained pastor and teacher in the United Church of Christ for thirty years. He earned both his Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry degrees from the Lancaster Theological Seminary. He is married to Donna Dencler, who works in the field of adult education. Claude and Donna rejoice at who their adult children have become in life, and take great delight in their grandchildren. The Denclers reside in Hummelstown.