G. Edward Whetstone

Pastor Ed grew up in Harrisburg, then moved to Hagerstown where his father had accepted a new pastoral call. Upon graduation from Gettysburg College, he attended Northwestern Lutheran Seminary in St. Paul. He and Marsha were married in 1967. Having accepted a call from the three congregations of the Sharpsburg, Maryland Parish, he was ordained June 6, 1971.

Pr. Ed was called to serve as Salem’s pastor in 1977. Micah was two years old. During his years at Salem, he served the wider church in a number of capacities including chair of the synod’s Campus Ministries Committee, chair of the Bishop-Synod Relations Committee and a member of the local Suburban Pastoral Counseling Board for several terms. Ed and Marsha separated in 1985, but have continued to be close friends. He and Vicky were married in 1988; her daughter Linsey was six years old. Linsey and her husband now live in Belair; their granddaughter Makayla is four years old. Micah and his wife live in St. Paul; grandsons Benjamin and Abram are 19 and 17 years old.

During the early ‘90s, Salem gradually increased its staff with part-time lay associates. A major
renovation project was launched with building plans and capital campaigns. The $1.3M renovation was dedicated in 1997. A second financial campaign was undertaken to discharge the debt, fund several new major building projects and provide a reserve to call a full-time associate pastor. Salem’s 2004-2005 intern Pastor Dave Asendorf was called as associate in 2006 and in 2008 he was called to serve as copastor.

Pastor Ed retired in 2010. He and Vicky left the congregation so that Salem, and he, could accept and adjust to this reality. In 2012 Pr. Dave invited them to return and they’ve welcomed worship, service and fellowship again with this congregation. Vicky volunteers in multiple areas in congregational life. Pr. Ed’s primary involvement has been with the congregation’s refugee resettlement ministry, for a decade taking a turn with its leadership.

He’s pleased for the opportunity to again provided pastoral service here, and for the opportunity to serve with Pr. Jimmie, a cherished colleague and friend since the early ‘80s when he first came to Ellicott City.