About us
Greendale Community Church is a church with an open mind and stands for freedom of thought and speech. We extend wholehearted fellowship to all people without regard to sect, class, nationality, or race. The object of this church shall be to help in creating a social order more in harmony with the manifest purpose of a just God and with the conscience and intelligence of sincere people. We believe that religion should bring all men and women into a common unity under God.
Our "Herstory"
Greendale Community Church was founded in 1940 by a group of women in Greendale who had the vision of starting a church community where "you are not told what to believe, but to discover God for yourself." These women and their spirit will always be with us. According to an article which appeared in The Greendale Times, our congregation was named "unique and different" because it was home to ten different denominations which gathered in unity to worship under one roof. Prompted by the urging of a local resident, in 1938 the Milwaukee County Council of Churches conducted a religious survey of the community. The survey revealed that a number of community members were searching for a congregation that could be compatible with a variety of Protestant traditions. Four established denominations, including Baptist, Congregational, Methodist, and Presbyterian promised financial aid in establishing what would be called the Greendale Community Church. The original charter created in 1940 included 36 founding members.
"No matter who you are or where you are on life's journey, you are welcome here."
Church Staff
boards and committees
Official Board: Anne Frelka
Asst. Chair: Kate Civiletta Kalich
Member at Large: Jim Berger
Member at Large: Cathy Wood
Treasurer: Vicki Wenke
Financial Secretary: Jerry Doran
Head Usher: Dick Frey
Community Life: Tibor Burany
Decorating: Liz Analla
Missions: John Bill
Music: Dawn Szczepkowski
Religious Education: Jackie Schultz
Staff Relations: Anne Frelka
Trustees: Jeff Dederich
Trustees: Jason Rush
Senior Pastor: The Rev. David J. Gaeth 414.687.8755 revdavidgaeth@att.net
Organist: Tom Reifenberg
Chancel Choir Director: Mike Jones
Bel Campana Director: Amy Meyer
Director of Religious Education: Nancy Krase nancykrase@sbcglobal.net
Youth Ministry Coordinator (SEARCH): Matt Wood
Church Secretary: Jan Cook gccucc@sbcglobal.net
From the
Pastor's Desk
I have been the Pastor of this wonderful church for 25 years now! That is a long time.
You may wonder what brought me to this community and what keeps me here. The answer is really quite simple: FAMILY.
Greendale Community Church is one big family. You see it in the way people greet one another. You hear it in the warm
conversation before and after worship. You can feel it in the warm spirit that pervades this place. Like every family we have
many members, but each member of this family is valued beyond measure. Why? Because each member of this family
is loved by God.
We try to show this love by how we treat each other, and we try to love this love so that we bring out the best in each other. We try to do this in our worship life, in our educational programs, in our music offerings, in our fellowship together, and in our outreach and mission programs. We love because we are loved. This is who we are. So, know that YOU are loved, and that YOU matter, and that YOU have a home.
Peace,
Pastor Dave