Photo: Larry Metzger, 2021
1985 - Metzger
Most of 1985 was spent seeking a new pastor for Woodland Christian Church, following Ray Cameron’s precipitous departure the prior November. The pastor they found would go on to serve for eleven years - while the neighborhood changed, and a joyful noise arose.
The long search for a new Woodland pastor was led by Charles Bowman, Steve Coon, Paul Hammock, Bruce Simpson, Gladys Scheer, Ann Smith, Mel Boyd, and Frank Adams. At some point, Rev. Nancy Jo Kemper called Larry Metzger to ask if he ever wanted to return to Kentucky and informed him that her home church in Lexington was seeking a new pastor. Metzger was interested. He had previously been serving a Christian church near St Louis. After meeting Metzger for lunch, Rev. Mac Warford wrote a letter to the search committee. Metzger was invited for an interview, and subsequently called.
Rev. Larry Bruce Metzger was a Louisville native who attended a small Baptist college there named Kentucky Southern, as a music major. The school only existed from 1962-1969. As Metzger explained the school’s brief existence,
“Kentucky Southern College told the Southern Baptist Convention that they did not want them to have 90% of the say, for 10% of the money. But they forgot that 100% of the money came from southern Baptists.”
What survived is now the University of Louisville’s Shelby Campus.
Metzger grew up in the Independent Christian Church but became a Disciple after visiting the Douglas Boulevard Christian Church where he also served as Baritone Soloist. Larry enlisted in the Air Force, was based in Japan, and he spent two years of his tour maintaining radar throughout Southeast Asia. After his service, he returned to Kentucky, completed his undergraduate degree at UofL, and while attending the Louisville Presbyterian Seminary, began working with the youth at Douglas Boulevard as a student and then associate pastor under Rev. John Payne.
After Payne was called to the Park Avenue Christian Church in New York City, Metzger decided to accept a call to pastor the Florissant Valley Christian Church, near St. Louis. At the time, Florissant Valley was experiencing difficulties. But as Metzger put it, “I love problem churches” because they are so ready for a new minister to provide direction. Perhaps owing to his master’s studies in Psychiatric Social Work Pastoral Care and Worship, one of his strengths is healing division.
He had been pastor for 5 years when the opportunity at Woodland presented itself. “I just couldn’t pass that up,” he said. His wife at the time, Rev. Julie Metzger, was ordained in 1986, and soon accepted the interim pastorate at the Carlisle Christian Church - under the care of Woodland.
The long search for a new Woodland pastor was led by Charles Bowman, Steve Coon, Paul Hammock, Bruce Simpson, Gladys Scheer, Ann Smith, Mel Boyd, and Frank Adams. At some point, Rev. Nancy Jo Kemper called Larry Metzger to ask if he ever wanted to return to Kentucky and informed him that her home church in Lexington was seeking a new pastor. Metzger was interested. He had previously been serving a Christian church near St Louis. After meeting Metzger for lunch, Rev. Mac Warford wrote a letter to the search committee. Metzger was invited for an interview, and subsequently called.
Rev. Larry Bruce Metzger was a Louisville native who attended a small Baptist college there named Kentucky Southern, as a music major. The school only existed from 1962-1969. As Metzger explained the school’s brief existence,
“Kentucky Southern College told the Southern Baptist Convention that they did not want them to have 90% of the say, for 10% of the money. But they forgot that 100% of the money came from southern Baptists.”
What survived is now the University of Louisville’s Shelby Campus.
Metzger grew up in the Independent Christian Church but became a Disciple after visiting the Douglas Boulevard Christian Church where he also served as Baritone Soloist. Larry enlisted in the Air Force, was based in Japan, and he spent two years of his tour maintaining radar throughout Southeast Asia. After his service, he returned to Kentucky, completed his undergraduate degree at UofL, and while attending the Louisville Presbyterian Seminary, began working with the youth at Douglas Boulevard as a student and then associate pastor under Rev. John Payne.
After Payne was called to the Park Avenue Christian Church in New York City, Metzger decided to accept a call to pastor the Florissant Valley Christian Church, near St. Louis. At the time, Florissant Valley was experiencing difficulties. But as Metzger put it, “I love problem churches” because they are so ready for a new minister to provide direction. Perhaps owing to his master’s studies in Psychiatric Social Work Pastoral Care and Worship, one of his strengths is healing division.
He had been pastor for 5 years when the opportunity at Woodland presented itself. “I just couldn’t pass that up,” he said. His wife at the time, Rev. Julie Metzger, was ordained in 1986, and soon accepted the interim pastorate at the Carlisle Christian Church - under the care of Woodland.
- Unpublished interview with Rev. Larry Metzger, May 2021.
- Trader, 174-175