Pastor Jerome Cloninger is a native North Carolinian and grew up in eastern Catawba County. Prior to attending seminary, Pastor Jerome worked in furniture manufacturing for sixteen years. He is a graduate of Lenoir Rhyne College (University) where he received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Religious and Theological Studies. Pastor Jerome attended seminary at the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg in Gettysburg, PA. He was ordained in 2003. He has served as pastor at Salem Lutheran Church in Wakefield, NE (six years) and Grace Lutheran Church in Salisbury, NC (twelve years). Pastor Jerome has a passion for preaching and teaching, so that others may grow deeper in the faith. He is an avid movie fan, especially loving anything from the Star Wars franchise. Pastor Jerome has been married to his high school sweetheart, Kim, since 1988. They have five children and two granddaughters.