Millersburg First Presbyterian Marks 200 Years, Set to Vote Pulpit Leader

Millersburg First Presbyterian celebrated its bicentennial and took a decisive step to secure local leadership when the congregation approved elder Joe Edinger as permanent pulpit leader on Sunday, Jan. 24. The vote follows a year in which the church operated without a full-time minister after Reverend Rami Almaqdisy left for Michigan last year.

The church’s 200-year history places it at the heart of Holmes County almost as long as the county has existed. That longevity was on display in the sanctuary where multiple generations of families gathered, including longtime members Joe and Carol Norman and front-pew regulars such as Carol Norman, 92, who has attended since 1954. Nancy Irving, 102, remains the congregation’s oldest active member. Church leaders pointed to the steady work of Eldon and Bonnie Truby in sustaining day-to-day ministry during the transition.

Edinger, a Bluffton graduate who pursued a career in education before answering what he called a renewed vocational call, will lead Sunday services and provide the congregation with a familiar presence. He is enrolled in seminary classes and the Presbyterian Church Certified Ruling Elder training course; those credentials will allow him to perform the ritualistic duties that accompany Sunday sermons once completed. Edinger said seeing the church’s leadership “shine brightly during the past year has been inspiring.” He added, “I love the concept of a leadership team in the church. There’s value in building all the ministries in the church from within. After all, we are all the church, and as we mature in our gifts and the ministries grow, we need to be constantly open to the new call.”

Members noted the congregation itself stepped up while searching for a pastor, filling important roles and keeping ministries active. “We are the church, and we’ve continued the ministry in the absence of a minister,” a longtime member said, reflecting a sentiment that helped push the vote through and underscored local ownership of church life.

The church’s motto, “Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,” was cited by Edinger and members as a guiding principle for the new chapter. For Millersburg residents, the vote signals continuity in weekly worship, pastoral care, and community outreach centered in a congregation that has weathered two centuries of change.

Looking ahead, Edinger’s formal installation and completion of seminary requirements will be milestones to watch. For now, the decision restores an on-site pulpit presence and positions First Presbyterian to continue serving Holmes County with familiar local leadership.