Our Pastor

Rev. Ben Eder was born on January 5, 1957, in Burlington, Wisconsin. Pastor Ben (as he prefers to be called) grew up in two small towns in northern Wisconsin - Mattoon and Birnamwood. He is the son of Ben and Dorothy Eder, and the brother of Brad and Paula. An older sister, Pamela, died shortly after childbirth. Pastor Ben graduated from Wittenberg-Birnamwood High School in 1975.

After high school, Pastor Ben attended the University of Wisconsin at Green Bay, graduating in 1979. That same year, he enrolled in the graduate program of Library Science at UW-Milwaukee, only to withdraw in 1980 after realizing that this was not his calling. In June, 1981, Pastor Ben began studies at Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He served his vicarage at St. John Lutheran Church in La Porte, Indiana, and graduated from the seminary in 1985. As of this writing, Pastor Ben has served two parishes: the Lutheran Church of the Incarnate Word in Florence, SC (1985-1993); and Pilgrim Lutheran Church in Kenmore, NY (1993 - ).

In 1984, Pastor Ben married Linda Reynolds, a registered nurse. They have been blessed with two sons: Mark, who was born in 1987, and Michael (1989). Both Mark and Mike are attending college and working part-time.

In addition to his pastoral duties, Pastor Ben served as Circuit Counselor for the Buffalo Circuit (English District) of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod; has written frequently for the "Lutheran Witness," the denominational magazine of the Synod; serves on numerous community boards and committees; believes strongly in personal and professional development; is a past president of the Lions Club of Kenmore; and feels privileged to serve the Lord as an ordained servant in His Church. Pastor Ben received the 2000 Ecumenical Award from the Holy Name Societies of Western New York for "Outstanding work for church and community;" and in 2003 received the Community Service Award from the WNY Developmental Disabilities Services Office (DDSO) for ministry to the developmentally disabled.

As a transplanted Wisconsinite, Pastor Ben avidly follows the Green Bay Packers; and, as a resident of Western New York since 1993, has become a big fan of the Bills and Sabres. While Pastor Ben hopes and prays that both the Bills and Packers may win a Super Bowl, he dreads the prospect of them playing each other in the Big Game.

- Rev. Ben Eder, Pastor