The people who attend this Pinecrest church now have not one, but two new pastors who happen to be a married couple. Phyllis and Alan Wolkenhauer were officially introduced into Christ the King Lutheran Church on Jan. 3 of this year.

"Towards the end of our eight years working at our Parish, we felt that God was calling us elsewhere," Mrs. Wolkenhauer said.

At about the same time they had decided to search for other parishes in which they could serve, Christ the King Lutheran Church was also entering their quest for a change.

"Although we had our wonderful assistant pastor, Katy Carol, filling in the vacant spot, we knew it was too much work for her to be running the church and giving sermons," said John Aldamire, who was among the 10 people who made up the Call Committee that decided to choose the Wolkenhauers above several other applicants.

Mrs. Wolkenhauer is the first woman to serve Christ the King Lutheran Church as a senior pastor. Although she had felt her gender was an issue in the small Midwestern churches she had served in the past, Mrs. Wolkenhauer feels that the fact that her new service is in a larger city where the congregation is already used to seeing a women in the pulpit has made "the transition easier and refreshing."

"We thought having a senior woman pastor in the pulpit would open up new channels in the church," said Aldamire. "Let's face it, some people would rather talk to a woman than a man."

Aldamire, along with the other nine members of the Call Committee, decided the Wolkenhauers would be perfect for their congregation after having various personal interviews with them. Even though they were looking for only one senior pastor, after visiting their church in Iowa, the committee was so impressed with the vitality and energy the Wolkenhauers both put into their sermons that they decided on the spot to recommend them as co-pastors.

"Once we met them in person it seemed like a simple decision," said Karen Torcise, a Call Committee member. "They are such loving, real people, not only with each other and their children, but with everyone."

After the Call Committee recommended the duo to the church council, the council quickly approved them and then the congregation, the final decision-makers, unanimously agreed to hire them.

The Wolkenhauers are currently getting acclimated to their new position.

"At this point we are trying to get to know the community and parish which we serve in order to figure out how we can best administer to them," Mr. Wolkenhauer explained.

The two are working in conjunction with the church administration to continue the church's March music series, which Mr. Wolkenhauer says is a venue in which to celebrate "the gift of music and the beauty of community." Several local choirs and musicians will be participating in this series.

Although Mrs. Wolkenhauer admits this church likes "to party," she also stresses both her and her husband's commitment to furthering the church's work with the poor.

Last year the church worked with Habitat for Humanity, a non-profit organization that builds new housing for poor families, to build a house. The Wolkenhauers are planning on working again with the organization this year. This year they will also be focusing on their program "Love and Action," which aids foster families.