Church History

 

In 1945 a call was extended by the Mission Committee of the California District of the American Lutheran Church to Mr. L.A. Kampfe to found a new Lutheran congregation in the community between San Jose and Santa Clara. The first service was conducted August 12, 1945, with 42 persons in attendance. On December 2 of that same year the new mission was organized into a congregation with 19 members.

Click here for a summary of milestones since 1945 including: new buildings, pastors over the years, ordination of women, evolution to a new organizational structure, becoming a Reconciling in Christ Congregation and entering into a Sister Parish relationship with a congregation in Rwanda.

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History of the ELCA

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America was formed over 20 years ago. This new church was formed from three separate and well-established North American church bodies:

• The American Lutheran Church
• The Association of Evangelical Lutheran Churches, and
• The Lutheran Church in America.

Beginning January 1, 1988, these churches, with shared beliefs and missions, officially formed the ELCA. Two decades later, this energized church is composed of 4.8 million members and nearly 10,500 congregations across the U.S. and Caribbean. Today, the ELCA reflects the rich and diverse heritage of the people it serves.

 

But to understand our heritage fully, one must trace our roots back through the mid-17th century, when early Lutherans came to America from Europe, settling in the Virgin Islands and the area that is now known as New York. Even before that, Martin Luther sought reform for the church in the 16th century, laying the framework for our beliefs.

Read about Lutheran Roots in America on the ELCA website >>

 

 

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