Pastor Richard A. Mathisen serves as the Interim Pastor of Zion Lutheran Church.  He began on November 5, 2007, following the retirement of Zion's pastor for 22 years, Rev. Dr. Kenneth Nelson.  Pastor Mathisen is expected to serve for about 12 to 18 months, or until a new permanent pastor is called.

Pastor Mathisen is a trained Interim Pastor, i.e., a full-time pastor who is specially trained in dealing with congregations during the "interim period" between two regularly-called pastors.  Pastor Mathisen performs all the duties of a regular pastor.  In addition, he will guide Zion through a process of coming to terms with its history and developing a "vision" for its future.  That vision represents its God-given mission as Zion understands it, which will guide Zion's search for a new permanent pastor.

Pastor Mathisen is a graduate of Phillips Exeter Academy, Rutgers University, Rutgers Law School, and the Philadelphia Lutheran Seminary.  He has served as a regular pastor for six years in New Jersey and then served as Interim Pastor in four other congregations in the Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod.  He is a member of the national Board of Directors of the Interim Ministry Association of the ELCA, serving as its Secretary (see the IMA website at http:elca.org/interimministry).  He is married and lives in Ambler, PA.