Dr. Arthur Luther Whitaker, the 16^th pastor of Pilgrim, is a native of Molden, Massachusetts.  He graduated from Gordon College in 1949, received the S.T.B. degree from Harvard University Divinity School in 1952, and the S.T.M. in 1954.  The scholarly Dr. Whitaker is the author of numerous articles and a book, and served as Professor of Sociology at the University of Rochester.  He assumed the pastorate of Pilgrim on January 22, 1966, and left January 5, 1970, for a position as Minister-elect of Public Ministries of the American Baptist Churches of Massachusetts.

During his pastorate, Dr. Whitaker initiated a five year program for spiritual and physical renewal called "Operation, Transition, and Scope."  This program consisted of three stages: (1) a church-wide registration to determine the strength, participation, and potential of the membership; (2) an every-member canvas and percentage giving campaign to determine the actual active membership, and (3) to engage all members in underwriting the annual budget.  Dr. Whitaker was also successful in establishing a unified current treasury – a practice consistent with American Baptist policy and practice.

Pilgrim also acquired more property under Dr. Whitaker’s leadership.  A significant innovation for Pilgrim was the launching of Community Plaza.  This is a 47 unit cluster of homes developed through the city’s Redevelopment Authority’s Urban Renewal program.  Secondly, the church purchased a new parsonage at 1635 Virginia Street soon after Dr. Whitaker assumed the pastorate.  He and his family, the former Virginia Aileen Carter, also a native of Boston, MA, and their four sons, Ronald, Mark, Paul, and Keith, moved into the new parsonage at 1635 Virginia Street on March 6, 1967.

Like his predecessors, Dr. Whitaker also participated in religious and civic affairs.  While pastoring at Pilgrim, he lectured at Bethel College and Seminary and received the distinguished service award for services rendered as a member of the St. Paul Human and Civil Rights Commission.  He was also elected president of the American Baptist Foreign Missionary Society.

Mrs. Whitaker, a graduate of the Wilson School in Boston, is a certified Laboratory Technologist.  While here, she served as Vice-President of Christian Training for the American Baptist Women of Minnesota.  She also directed a highly successful play, "After the Church Supper," at Pilgrim.

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