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Central Moravian Church in Bethlehem names Carol Reifinger senior pastor

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central moravian churchView full sizeExpress-Times File Photo | SUE BEYERAbove is a view of the bell tower at Central Moravian Church in Bethlehem.

The Rev.Carol A. Reifinger is the new senior pastor of Central Moravian Church in Bethlehem, which houses the largest congregation in the Moravians' Northern Province.

Reifinger is the first woman to lead the church since Moravians began ordaining women 34 years ago.

She replaces the Rev. Douglas Caldwell, who retired Oct. 25. Reifinger, a

Liberty High School

graduate and Hanover Township resident, assumed the role of senior pastor Sunday.

Central Moravian

, 73. W. Church St.,  is 200 years old and has 10,000 members, according to a church news release.

The Rev. Janel Rice, a

Nazareth Area High School

graduate, is taking on Reifinger's former pastoral duties.

Reifinger and Rice have spent a combined 29 years at Central Moravian.

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