Church sustains $180K in damage

When it rained, it poured for a Wayne County church that’s facing $180,000 of water damage to its sanctuary and historic organ.

The damage occurred at Zion’s Lutheran Church in the town known as Pershing and East Germantown. Although the church had insurance, its claim was denied.

Lifelong member Donna Wright said the claim was denied the first time because the insurance company said the damage wasn’t caused by a storm, and the second time, an inspector was assigned but they never heard back.

Wright said church leaders first thought the damage originated from the chimney that also serves as a vent to the furnace. The chimney was repaired and capped, the organ was repaired, and that portion of the sanctuary was repainted.

A couple weeks later, after damage appeared to be bleeding through the paint, the painters repainted, and it seemed to be resolved.

However, the wall started showing signs of moisture after the church’s Dec. 6 organ recital, and around Christmas Eve, the organ wasn’t working. The instrument’s repair technician found more water damage than before. Several pipes were removed and the others were covered with plastic.

Roofers investigated and determined the roof valleys were built up with snow and ice, which increased the water flow where the leak was. Old box gutters added to the problem.

“It just makes you want to cry,” Wright said.

In the meantime, they’ve replaced the back section of the roof above the organ, but more funds are needed to replace the rest of the roof.

So far, $150 has been donated through a GoFundMe campaign seeking to raise $9,000.

Wright said church leaders have sent donation requests to their email list and mailed letters to additional people who have ties to the church, seeking support.

They’re submitting a grant request to help with the rest of the roof costs, but there’s no guarantee they’ll receive that money, which Wright said would be “a true blessing.”

The water woes add to the challenges the small town’s residents have faced recently in keeping longstanding institutions running.

The church is adjacent to the cemetery that began rebuilding its maintenance funds and records in 2022 while awaiting the results of charges being filed against two former board members accused of theft.

Through a plea agreement and a pretrial diversion earlier this year, the two suspects repaid about $12,000 total to the reorganized Lutheran Cemetery Foundation of Pershing.

In a probable cause affidavit filed, Indiana State Police accused the couple of writing checks worth more than $150,000 to themselves from cemetery funds.

The new board’s recent fundraising campaigns made it possible to pave two driveways and fix a dilapidated building.

The cemetery board’s annual meeting starts at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, April 25, at the church, 1151 S. Germantown Road. The gathering is open to lot owners and others who are interested in the cemetery’s operations.

The cemetery was originally open just to church members. Some current cemetery lot owners are also members or supporters of Zion’s Lutheran, and they now face another major fundraising campaign to restore the church.