The Port Orange United Church of Christ is under the
leadership of Dr. William J. Wassner. Pastor Bill and his wife Lisa come to us from South Bend,
Indiana. He had a calling to the ministry when he was 14 years old. He
preached his first sermon on Easter Sunday at the age of 15 in his home
church – the First Christian Church of Savannah, Georgia. He was licensed at
the age of 16 in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and began
serving on the Youth Commission in the State of Georgia. His personal
self-concept of ministry and theology of pastoral ministry were both
challenged and honed through the years with his continued pursuit of higher
education. He understands and accepts the role as a “caring educator”, where
he both preaches and teaches the Christian Faith to the best of his
abilities to others with love.
Bill’s humble beginnings while growing up around Savannah are still a foundation for his ministry where he feels called upon specifically for those people who consider themselves to be children of God and claim Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. His ministry is one of direction and nurture to the people of God in a particular setting, where as he states, he is called upon to “comfort the afflicted and to afflict the comfortable”. His experiences as a pastor throughout the years has led him to say that “I have discovered the power of presence in ministry and also the wonderful reality that God is always with us – that God’s love never forsakes us no matter what may come.”
Bill’s formal education includes:
(1) Bachelor’s of Arts (BA)in Religion/Psychology from Texas Christian University
(2) Masters of Arts (MA) in Religion Studies from the University of Chicago Divinity School
(3) Doctorate of Ministry (emphasis in Religion & Psychology) from University of Chicago
(4) Masters of Sacred Theology (S.T.M.) degree from Christian Theological Seminary
(5) Master of Science (MS) in Human Services (emphasis in Counseling) from Capella University.
(6) Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit leadership from Mendoza College of Business at Notre Dame
He also has certifications in Critical Incident Stress Management, Addiction Counselling and the International Conference of Police Chaplains.
For hobbies, Bill loves, golf, fishing and writing poetry. He also is a motorcycle enthusiast and enjoys being a member of the “Blue Knights”, a non-profit fraternal organization consisting of active and retired law enforcement men and women who enjoy riding motorcycles.
Pastor Bill invites all people to attend Port Orange United Church of Christ We are a church comprised of people from many walks of life and religious backgrounds. Besides loving to be a guide and teacher to children, Pastor Bill is also a firm believer in Contemporary Worship for those seeking an alternative to more traditional worship. His education and experiences as a minister have led him to understand that the church is under great pressure to change its presentation in order to draw in younger generations. He recognizes the need for both traditional and contemporary outlooks, while at the same time the continued presentation of teachings and education for a Christ centered life.
See UCC Video - "ALL THE PEOPLE"