Meet Pastor Rittner

Filling our vacancy is Pastor Philip Rittner. We thank him for stepping in while we wait for our future full-time pastor in God’s timing.

Pastor Philip R. Rittner II served at Zion Lutheran Church in Columbia City, Indiana from September 2010 until September 2023. He attended Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne. He drove a liquid chlorine tanker truck and performed as a professional handyman for a few years in Toledo, Ohio and was the Maintenance Superintendent for a large, gated community and country club in Ponte Verda, Florida. He was disabled-retired from the US Navy, serving 21 years; to include two tours of duty in Vietnam and one year in the Persian Gulf just prior to Desert Shield. He graduated high school and grew up living in Toledo, Ohio. He is married 24 years to Deaconess Katherine (Katie) Rittner. Between them they have seven children and 15 grandchildren. They enjoy traveling, especially abroad (a couple trips to Ireland and a couple to Israel). He personally enjoys watching big trains and playing with toy trains and shooting sports. He felt called to the ministry while in high school, but his patriotism led him to join the Armed Forces. It was after retiring from the Navy that the Lord called him, having lived life his way all those years, to become His servant in His Church doing His will.

Pastor Rittner says, “I am honored to be able to minister here at Redeemer and serve you wonderful folks with the Good News of Christ crucified; sharing with you that our sins are forgiven by Christ’s atoning sacrifice, and that you and I would be with Him forever and ever.”

Meet Pastor Becker

The Reverend Robert Becker was installed as Redeemer's Associate Pastor Emeritus on September 18th, 2016.  He has become a welcome addition to the ministries of the Church - preaching, teaching, visiting and encouraging members. 

Bob was born on April 7, 1941 in Tarentum, Pennsylvania.  He was baptized into the Christian faith on November 11, 1945 at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in New Kensington, Pennsylvania.  He was confirmed into the Lutheran faith in 1961 at Trinity Lutheran Church of Rockville, Connecticut.

Upon graduation from Arnold High School, in Arnold, Pennsylvania in 1959, Robert attended and graduated from Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics.  After working in the field of aviation for 20 years, Robert completed the academic requirements for admission to Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Indiana.  Robert received his Bachelor of Divinity degree from Concordia in 1984 and was ordained into the Office of Holy Ministry that same year.

Pastor Becker has served three congregations:  Lord of Life Lutheran Church, North Vernon, Indiana; Grace Lutheran Church, Weston, Ohio; and Zion Lutheran Church, Schumm, Ohio.  Since his retirement in 2008, Pastor Becker has served Zion Lutheran Church, Decatur, Indiana by preaching, teaching and visiting Zion’s shut-in members.  He has also served the congregation of Mount Calvary Lutheran Church in Antwerp, Ohio.  In addition to those ministry roles, since his retirement, Pastor Becker has had the pleasure of serving as pulpit supply at various congregations in Indiana and Ohio.

Robert married his wife Ruth Ann, on January 13, 1962.  They have been blessed with two sons: Robert A. Becker and Randall A. Becker.

Robert A. and his wife Wendy have five children: Jessica, James, Sarah, Jacob and Nathan.  They reside in Goshen, Indiana.

Randall A. and his wife Julie have three daughters:  Alyssa, Anna, and Elizabeth.  They reside near Bowling Green, Ohio.