Pastor John Heller, right, receives the Muhlenberg Medal for exemplary ministry from Bishop Stephen Bouman, center, of the Metropolitan New York Synod. Looking on is Dr. Robert G. Hughes, president of the Seminary.

NEW YORK -- The Rev. John R. Heller, pastor of St. John's Lutheran Church, Poughkeepsie, NY, has been awarded the Henry Melchior Muhlenberg Medal for exemplary congregational ministry over a 40-year professional career. The Medal is an honor conferred by the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia, and presentation was made during the recent Metropolitan New York Synod Assembly.

Pastor Heller has been known for a visionary approach to ministry during his career and encouraged many ordained and lay leaders to step out into wider worlds of mission, mentoring them in the process. He has supervised 27 seminary interns over the years and nine members of congregations he's served are now in the ordained ministry with two others in preparation.

The congregation he serves has 1,250 baptized members and is continually growing in membership, ministry and stewardship. The congregation's style of worship is pace-setting with both classical and contemporary approaches to the service. A new 17-rank pipe organ is about to be added. He's active on the synodical Long Range Planning Committee, takes part in outreach in both the Lutheran and ecumenical communities, contributing substantially to older adult ministries through Wartburg Lutheran Services and the founding of Concord Village, a total care facility for older persons in Poughkeepsie. He's led St. John's in partnering associations with two other local congregations. St. John's has also provided funding for the purchase of a parsonage for a mission congregation in New Paltz, NY.

Ordained in 1958, Pastor Heller is a graduate of Augustana Theological Seminary, a predecessor school of the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago. He first served Bernadotte Lutheran Church, Bronx, NY (1958-63) during which time he also served as chaplain to Our Lady of Mercy Hospital in the Bronx. Bernadotte constructed a new building under his leadership. From 1964 to 1975, he served Messiah Lutheran Church, Staten Island, NY, a congregation which installed a new pipe organ and was active in community health organizations during his tenure.

"I feel a great fulfillment in knowing that what I have been called to do has borne fruit," said Pastor Heller, reflecting on the Muhlenberg Award honor. "But the congregations I have served all share this honor with me. None of the things mentioned in connection with the award could have happened without the participation of leaders and sharing in hard work by others. Pastors seldom can do anything by themselves, except for counseling!" He also credited his family for great encouragement and support. Family members include his wife, Mary, daughters, Kristen and Kathryn, and son, Jonathan.

The Muhlenberg Award is named for Pastor Henry Melchior Muhlenberg, considered to be the patriarch of Lutheranism in North America. Muhlenberg's concern for an organized church in North America led to the founding of the Pennsylvania Ministerium 250 years ago.