Arnold W. Meckstroth, retired UCC pastor, was awarded the Citizens Ring by the city of Ladbergen, Germany, recognizing his contributions to the community and to Ladbergen’s Evangelical Church over the past 44 years. The Rev. Meckstroth was honored in a September ceremony that was part of the 1050^th anniversary celebration for the church, founded in 950 AD, and community which grew from it.

"This truly was a big surprise to me and one of the high points in my life," Rev. Meckstroth said of the award.

Rev. Meckstroth and his wife were representing First Church UCC, New Knoxville on a three-week trip to Ladbergen. This was the latest of more than 20 visits the couple has made to the community since 1956.

During their visits, the Rev. Meckstroth has preached and lectured in Ladbergen and in many surrounding churches and communities. The Meckstroths have helped improve the relationship between the Ladbergen Evangelical Church and First Church UCC. They also helped establish sister-city relationships between Wapakoneta, Ohio and Lengerich, Germany and St. Marys, Ohio and Lienen, Germany.

First Church is the "daughter church" of the Evangelical Church in Ladbergen. The New Knoxville church was established in 1838 by a group of people who migrated to Ohio from Ladbergen and formed a community and church. The New Knoxville church has maintained a strong relationship with its "mother" church in Germany since that time.

The Ladbergen Evangelical Church is part of the regional Evangelical Church of Westphalia. The Westphalia Church and the Ohio Conference recently celebrated the anniversary of their ‘full communion’ partnership, established in 1990.

The Rev. Meckstroth retired in 1975 after serving as pastor in UCC churches in Apple Creek, Cleveland, Akron and Chillicothe, Ohio and in Indianapolis, Indiana.

He and his wife Martha recently celebrated their 70^th wedding anniversary. They are residents of Otterbein Retirement Community, 11706 Kingfisher Lane, St. Marys, Ohio 45885.