Christ Lutheran Church, 396 Buhl Blvd., has called the newly ordained Pastor Ronald Hartman as the fifth pastor in the church’s history.

He will arrive during the week starting Monday to begin duties as pastor.

The recent graduate of The Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg and his wife, Pat, grew up in Baltimore and were educated in Baltimore City Public School before attending Towson (Md.) University.

The Hartmans were longtime residents of Baltimore County where they raised two children, Nathan, 30, a resident of Timonium, Md.; and Rachel, 27, a resident of Denver.

Pastor and Mrs. Hartman met in confirmation class and are lifelong members of the Lutheran Church.

During his 33-year career as a teacher, counselor and administrator in Baltimore County Public Schools, Pastor Hartman earned a master’s degree in school counseling from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. After retiring, he earned a master of divinity degree in preparation for ordained ministry, which has been a lifelong dream.

His wife at the end of September will complete her career as a senior systems analyst in Baltimore County Public Schools.

Christ Lutheran’s food pantry and its long ministry with Meals on Wheels were among the things that excited the Hartmans about the church. Commitment to social justice and feeding the hungry are among their concerns.

Pastor Hartman is an avid outdoors person who keeps honey bees, hunts and fishes. He and his wife love to garden and downhill ski. Pastor Hartman as a hobby for many years taught skiing in the Children’s Learning Center at Liberty Mountain in Fairfield, Pa.