Lauren Wolfe Blatt

         A graduate of the class of 2008, Lauren had known since she was 15 that she wanted to be a pastor, to the surprise of her peers and teachers alike. A self-described “wild soul,” she had her fair share of experiences at Reading Senior High School. She looks back fondly on her time here, from days spent in the senior cafe with friends to being part of the German-American Exchange Program. “I remember walking around Europe thinking, “Man, my parents have never left the United States and here I am, galavanting around Europe!” Perhaps the most memorable part of being a student at the Castle on the Hill, Lauren recalls what it was like finding not just friends, but ways to participate in the environment when she was alongside 5,000 other students: “It’s bitter sweet though. Along the way we lost some people and grew in different directions from each other, but some of my best friends in high school are still my best friends today—we raised each other and people looking in from the outside might not understand that, but these are my day 1’s and now we’re raising kids together.” 

Born and raised in Berks County, Lauren is firmly attached to the city. “I always tell people that Reading is the only place I want to live. I’ve tried living in other places (Albany, NY; Washington, DC; Philadelphia; Allentown; Western Schuylkill County; Carbon County) and I never felt home.” With the city having been named the poorest city in the nation shortly after her graduation, Lauren has seen firsthand the struggles of Reading. From its reputation as a dangerous place, to its struggle with poverty, she sees the issues in Reading as part of an uphill battle against a broken system. She’s also seen the best parts of the city, the persistence and resilience of those who reside here. “Being ‘just a kid from Reading’ gives me a sense of pride and connection to all the other Reading kids out there. I think the community that being a Reading kid created is such a blessing. We know what people say about us. We know they think we’re all useless thugs, but we know they’re wrong, and we know we are worthwhile, and we know we are going places. Being a city kid has always motivated me to be better, to work harder, and to accomplish great things. I always knew we were held to a different standard than suburban kids, and that’s fine because time and time again we’ve shown them that we’re built different, [we’re] more resilient, and so much more…. The RSD provided me with these unique opportunities and I took them up on it because, again, I just wanted to be better and do better, so I could be successful…. The people, cultures, and languages that I was exposed to made me who I am.” 

When it comes to everyday life, Lauren finds her daughter to be a source of motivation on her rougher days. With time, she’s learned that to make things easier; being kind to yourself works wonders. “I try to give myself grace and say, ‘I’ll do what I can.’ I’m okay with letting some things go undone. I prioritize my mental health. That’s something that wasn’t really talked about when I was in high school. I’ve got anxiety and ADHD. I know these things about myself. I’m hyper self-aware, so when I’m struggling, I do things that make me happy or relaxed, like reading, playing video games, drawing, or just spending time with family and friends.” While things can get difficult, she’s found value in both the ups and downs of life, and when asked about if she would take the same path again, she stated, “I think about this a lot. There are some people I’d like to have never met, people who broke my heart and hurt me. But then again, in one way or another, those experiences got me to where I am today. So I guess, long story short, I’d leave the mistakes and detours in there; it made the journey interesting, at least.”

In 2011, Lauren had received her Bachelor’s degree from Alvernia University, further going on to receive a Master’s degree in Divinity from The Lutheran Theological Seminary in 2016. There’s more to life than just education, though. “I didn’t know I was queer until I was out of high school. I only dated males in high school. It wasn’t as common to find a super accepting community amongst adolescents. I’m glad that’s changing. Maybe if I was growing up today, I would have known sooner and could have lived my truth, but eventually, I got there. The summer before my freshman year of college, I started to question my sexuality. The way I grew into the person I am is kind of a long story. It took a lot of time to experience my sexuality and come into my own. Basically all of college was spent figuring things out. When I got to my first year of grad school, I was welcomed with open arms, exactly as I am. It was brilliant!” Becoming officially ordained as a Lutheran minister in 2017, she then went on to receive her Doctorate degree in Divinity, also from The Lutheran Theological Seminary. Currently she serves two congregations: the Calvary Lutheran Church, and the Good Shepherd Evangelical Lutheran Church, both in Muhlenberg.

When asked about her experiences with being a queer woman in a role of leadership to a religion that has struggled at times to be accepting of people like her, Lauren stated, “I don’t fit the mold of what you think a pastor ought to be, and I’m so glad I don’t. I don’t want to fit into a mold and just do what’s expected. I want to be different.... Most of the hate comes from cowards because it is a lot easier to make the queer community into their enemy if everyone is faceless, soulless. It used to bother me. It doesn’t anymore. I’ve gone beyond battling them with exegesis of scripture that considers historical and cultural realities, not to mention the fact that I can read scripture in the original language and context it was written–that makes a difference with how it’s read and what it means. In my work I don’t spend time showing people why it’s okay to be LGBT with stories from scripture; I work from a place of knowing that God loves everyone, especially the gays and theys! I’ve already done the work. I have nothing to prove.” Her voice is undoubtedly a welcoming one, and she has many valuable insights into the current state of Christianity in America, alongside the cultural shifts accompanying it. “I know it’s scary for them to change because change is always difficult, and there’s always grief involved with big changes. But I’ve got to tell you, I’m so excited to see where we are headed because I know it’s going to be even more involved in our community and showing people how much God loves them. That’s what I’m here for.” She maintains that Christianity “is too big and diverse (not to mention, global) to have hard and fast statements like that without nuance. No one can say they fully understand what it means to be a Christian. The queer experience, as well as all experiences, is essential and necessary for the depth of what Christianity has to offer the world.”

Lauren has been involved with the community in several ways. Within the two congregations she serves in Muhlenberg, she’s worked with kids as part of both before- and after-school programs, one of which runs a food pantry for the community, but that’s just scratching the surface. “I’ve spent some time helping with the Common Ground Recovery Community, which is a Lutheran community of people in recovery. They use the 12-steps and Lutheran theology and liturgy within their gatherings. I’ve spent time on the Executive Board of Cafe Esperanza, which is a pay-what-you-can cafe in Northwest Reading (at Front and Greenwich Sts.). They provide incredible food and community to their neighborhood.” She finds such things to be fulfilling, and she is undeniably a valuable member of the community.

A creative and bold woman, the Reverend Doctor Lauren Wolfe Blatt is a proud Red Knight alum, and has worked hard to get where she is. A welcoming pastor whose efforts within the community are undoubtedly appreciated by those within it, she offers strong advice to current students of Reading High. “Life is full of people who will disrespect you, disregard you, and treat you as disposable—ignore them. Their hate is about them, not you. Do what you love. Be yourself. I’m not kidding, it sounds cliche, but you do you. And hey, I know that’s easy for me to say, on this side of it all, but I promise, it gets better if you let it.”