Pastor Emeritus Rev. Charles L. Sorg Passes Away

Rev. Charles L. Sorg, pastor emeritus of FPCN, passed away today, several days after suffering a stroke.

Rev. Sorg was born in 1928 in Newark, New Jersey. He attended elementary schools in Hanover, New Jersey, and graduated from Madison High School in 1945. He received a B.A. in history and political science from Drew University in 1949 and a B.D. from Princeton Theological Seminary three years later.

In 1965, Sorg became the pastor at FPCN. During Sorg's pastorate, a large influx of immigrants from Asia, Africa, and Latin America moved into Elmhurst. Despite some opposition, Sorg successfully opened up the church to these people. He believed that keeping the church's services in English would help immigrants assimilate quickly in American society.

By the time he retired at FPCN in 1992, the congregation had become more ethnically diverse, a legacy that continues to this day. After retiring, he moved to New Jersey.

In 2015, Pastor Anette led a dedication service for the Rev. Charles L. Sorg Prayer and Meditation Room. The newly renovated room, located in the front of our historic sanctuary, is named after Rev. Charles Sorg, who served as pastor from 1965 to 1992. FPCN longtime members Joyce and Stanley Norgalis and Winnie Matson contributed to the renovation, which included electrical upgrades and restoration of the room's stained-glass window. Rev. Sorg returned to FPCN to participate in the dedication.

A more complete biography appears here: http://fpcn.org/history/pastors/51-sorg .