Ordained to the Gospel Ministry in March of 2015, Pastor Joe began serving as Senior Pastor of First Congregational Church in November of that same year. Pastor Joe is a past member of the Evangelical Association of Reformed & Congregational Christian Churches and is currently serving as a credentialed Senior Chaplain with the International Fellowship of Chaplains. Joe holds a Bachelor of Theology in Ministry, is a registered grief and loss counselor with the American Association of Christian Counselors and in June of 2021 completed a Master of Divinity in Christian Apologetics. Pastor Kler is currently enrolled in a series of continuing education courses in Old and New Testament Studies through Belhaven University.

 

He and his wife Vickie are both from Washington Pennsylvania and moved to Zephyrhills in 1996. They came to First Congregational Church in 2006 and both served in various roles prior to his election as pastor. The Kler’s have two teenage children. Besides spending time with his wife & kids, Pastor Joe enjoys reading American and European history as well as the theological works of the Reformers. He is also an avid gardener and lover of the outdoors.