Clergy & Staff

The Reverend Dennis Whalen

The Reverend Dennis Whalen serves as Interim Pastor of Greenford Lutheran Church. A lifelong Lutheran, Pastor Whalen is committed to faithful, Christ-centered, and Confessional Lutheran preaching and teaching that proclaims the Gospel and administers Christ's gifts through His Word and Sacraments.

Pastor Whalen earned his Master of Divinity degree from Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Following seminary, he completed the colloquy process with the Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ (LCMC) under the guidance of Pastor Michael McCarthy of Greenford Lutheran Church. He also completed the colloquy process with the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) alongside Pastor John Weldon before discerning God's call to serve within the LCMC.

His first pastoral call came on Palm Sunday in 2011 to Lighthouse Lutheran Church, where he faithfully served as called and ordained pastor for thirteen years until the congregation concluded its ministry. Throughout his ministry, Pastor Whalen has devoted himself to preaching, teaching, pastoral care, and helping congregations grow in their understanding of the Scriptures and the Lutheran Confessions.

To continue growing as both pastor and theologian, he regularly attends the annual symposium at Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Indiana, where he studies Scripture, Lutheran theology, and the Confessions alongside pastors and scholars from across the Lutheran tradition.

Before entering full-time pastoral ministry, Pastor Whalen spent many years in the technology industry, serving in leadership and software architecture roles. He continues to enjoy writing, theological study, music, and technology.

Dennis and his wife, Julie, have been married for more than thirty-three years. Together they are blessed with six children—Julian, Katarina, Alexandria, Jocelyn, Dennis Jr., and D'Artagnan—and six grandchildren: Lexi, Ephraim, Dawson, Wilhelm, Lorraine, and Julianna.

Pastor Whalen's desire is that all who gather at Greenford Lutheran Church would hear the saving Gospel of Jesus Christ, receive His gifts with joy, and grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior.