Rev. Alvin Horst became the next pastor on January 29, 1967.

The April 1967 voter's meeting saw the end of the monthly German worship service. From that time on, the only German service would be the Good Friday morning service.

Eldon Gleichman resigned as the teacher after the 1967 school term. Edward Nass came from Blue Hill, Nebraska as the teacher until the school consolidation with Immanuel, Waterloo, ended. The school at Immanuel closed in 1972.

Rev. Horst accepted a call to be the campus pastor for Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Illinois. His farewell sermon was on July 13, 1969.

Rev. Armin Schroeder of St. Louis was the vacancy pastor. He and his wife were members at Holy Cross until April 1979. Because of the school closing at Immanuel, a Saturday School was started at Wartburg to teach religion to the children. Several members of the congregation taught these students.

Rev. Schroeder was very active as the vacancy pastor. A service of praise and thanksgiving for Rev. Schroeder's 50th anniversary of his ordination was held on June 7, 1970.

In July 1969, it was decided that Holy Cross should share a pastor with Camp Wartburg. Rev. Leonard Laetsch, a psychology teacher at Concordia Teachers College, Seward, Nebraska, accepted the call and was installed July 12, 1970. By 1972 Rev. Laetsch was no longer associated with Camp Wartburg.

Rev. Laetsch received and accepted a call from Zion, Carlinville, Illinois. He preached his last sermon at Holy Cross July 29, 1973. Rev. Hugo E. Hartmann of Holy Cross, Renault, was asked to be the vacancy pastor.

A public address system was installed in 1974. A study was formed from two former cloakrooms in the school building to be used by the next pastor. The next call document omitted the charge for director at Camp Wartburg.

Rev. Alan Nathan from Immanuel, Oakley, Kansas, accepted the call and was installed March 31, 1974. Upon his arrival, Camp Wartburg requested his service to be their executive director. The congregation gave their permission for a one-year period.

At this time, district re-alignment transferred Holy Cross from the Red Bud Circuit to the Metro South circuit.

On March 21, 1975, Jean Buettner was honored for her service as church organist for 25 years. The president of the Synod, Dr. J.A.O. Preuss, was the guest preacher. Jean had served Dr. Preuss as secretary.

Vacation Bible School was started in 1975. The first two years saw a joint venture with Immanuel, Waterloo. Since then, VBS has been held at Wartburg.

In August 1975, Rev. Nathan accepted a call to St. Paul, Fairview Heights. Rev. Jack Muhlenbruch of St. Louis was the vacancy pastor. On June 20, 1976, Sem. Mark R. Scheve, an ordination candidate from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, was installed.

A problem had arisen in the Synod, with some congregations leaving to form another synod or professing their independence. On February 1, 1976, a special voter's meeting was called concerning this issue. The voters adopted this resolution which was sent to the Southern Illinois District:

"Resolved that Holy Cross Lutheran Church of Wartburg, Illinois herewith reaffirms its pledge to abide by the regulations of the Synod and be it also
"Resolved that Holy Cross Lutheran Church of Wartburg, Illinois earnestly request, for the sake of Christian peace and harmony in the church, all congregations and officers of the Southern Illinois District to reaffirm their pledge to abide by the regulations of the Synod."

July 1976 saw the start of the women's suffrage issue in the church. A year later, amendments to the constitution were presented to the voters. These amendments failed to receive the two-thirds majority vote required. However, it was adopted in August 1978 and women were invited to join the voter's assembly. Eleven women signed the constitution at the next voter's meeting, making them official voters.

In 1978 a layman began assisting the pastor with serving Holy Communion. Also, male and female acolytes also began serving to light the candles for worship services. The congregational newsletter started to be published in April 1980. It was called the Holy Cross Herald.

Mrs. Ilo Thorburg was honored at the Sunday School Rally Day in 1977 for her dedicated service in the Sunday School since 1950.

Holy Cross celebrated 140 years of founding with a special afternoon service on July 12, 1981. Rev. Paul E. Krause, former pastor, was the guest speaker. In September 1981, Rev. Schieve rendered his resignation from Holy Cross. Rev. Robert C. Preece became the vacancy pastor.

Several children started attending school at St. John's, Red Bud, in 1981. A small school bus was purchased by the Parent's for Lutheran Education Society. Transportation was also available to children from Immanuel, Waterloo, who also attended school there.

The Saturday School religion class was moved to Wednesday evening. About 13 children attended. The pastor's confirmation class was also conducted at the same time. Religious classes had been offered on Saturdays from 1969 to 1981.

Rev. Russell D. Nelson, a colloquy graduate from Concordia Seminary, was installed in March 1982. He was married to Patricia Ann Mehne in December 1983 at Zion, Belleville. While at Wartburg, they adopted two children, Shawn and Shawnda. Mrs. Nelson played the organ and directed the Sunday School children's choir.

The congreagation, along with the Ladies Aid, sponsored a chicken dinner in 1984. This was the first such fund raising event since the early 1960s. The event proved profitable and has been held annually on the first Sunday in May.

A library of Christian reading materials was started in October 1982.