Our church was introduced to Rev. Christian James “Jim” Christensen and his wife, Marian, in August 1964. Brooklyn was his 2nd appointment. Before entering their clergy life in 1961, Jim worked in the harvest fields in North Dakota with the Civilian Conservation Corps and then served in the Army Air Force (1943-45). Before leaving, he married Marian Reid during a 5-day travel time from one assignment to another. Marian returned to her teaching job and then joined Jim in Utah until he was shipped overseas. Following his discharge, Jim worked in an appliance store in Chetek, eventually opening his own store with Marian.
They loved traveling and spending time outdoors. On one their trips to Europe, they spent three months in Switzerland in 1977, where Jim attended the C.H. Jung Institute in Zurich, Switzerland. They took time to camp around Europe for 42 days. At the institute, he found his “calling,” to teach UW Extension Classes for older adults (began in 2002 until his death, 2015). Sharing their love for travel, Jim and Marian camped with their family, confirmation classes (canoeing the MN/Canadian Boundary waters) and taking church groups to Israel and Cuba.
During their residence here, the church newsletter was called the “Bridge.” The topic of conversation within the church was centered on the parsonage. During 1966, there was discussion of purchasing a house (202 Church St.) to be used as a parsonage, while condemning the current parsonage, determining, “extensive needed repairs.” In March, 1967, the change occurred, locating the following minister across the street and destinating our first parsonage to be used for the pastor’s office and Sunday School classes.
Luther and Erlinda Jose came to our church in 1967 to 1972. Born in the Philippines and graduated from his university as their valedictorian, then followed with the universities in Boston and Madison. Luther served here for four years and two years and also at the former Peace Church. Becoming an U.S. citizen in 1971, he requested a transfer to the Pacific-Southwest Conference in 1980. He continued with the California-Arizona Conference and then retired in 2018. Their two daughters are Melinda and Emilie. During Jose’s assignment here, the trustees decided to do some repairs on the old parsonage to be used for the pastor’s study and Sunday School classes. The church received $10,000 from the will of Edwin Waite. A former Brooklynite, he was one of twelve children, born to George/Marie Waite. Before leaving Brooklyn, he attended UW Law School and worked as a rural mail carrier, driving a team of horses. Then, attending the University of Washington, D.C., he became a chief justice in the Patent Office there. Money received from the Edith Morgan memorial went towards landscaping around the church and doors and Brooklyn’s former principal. Archie Lyon willed his entire estate to the church (his wife had passed, no children).