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Our
Newest Members
Congregational
Profile
For over three years, Grace Evangelical
Lutheran Church
in Houston had Pastor Larry
Keene as an interim pastor. He
resigned in March, 2008. On
April 27, 2008, the congregation voted to call Pastor Laura Groen, who will
begin her call with the congregation on July 1, 2008. As the congregation was in the
process of calling a pastor, it created this congregational profile for
that purpose. This document
gives an in-depth look at Grace.
For a briefer overview, continue reading on this page.
Organization
Following successful
efforts begun in 1921 by field missionary Rev. John T. Gillison, a
congregation was formally organized on April 16, 1922, as
Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church of Houston. This was the first
mission congregation in Houston of the United Lutheran Church in America,
which body provided financial support until Grace became self-supporting.
As a corporation, the congregation's life and activities have been overseen
by elected members of the Church Council, with the Pastor ex-officio
as president.
Members of Grace
first worshipped in a one-room chapel at 2715 Waugh Dr. In 1921, the
ULCA Board of Home Missions purchased the one-story, one-room Hyde Park
Chapel from Second Presbyterian Church. When the present church site at
Waugh Drive and Missouri was purchased in 1944, Waugh Drive was a major
two-way thoroughfare, with a busy trolley stop at Westheimer and Waugh.
Expansions; and additions in 1960, 1970 and 1985 resulted in the facility
we know today. Enviably, the congregation is debt-free.
During its membership
in the original ULCA, its successor the Lutheran Church in America,
and more recently the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America,
Grace has also had membership in the Texas Synod, Texas-Louisiana
Synod, and the Southeast Texas/Southern Louisiana Synod, now renamed
the Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod.
Neighborhood
Transition Affects Congregation
Although the majority
of members in 1922 were of the church neighborhood, by 1930 numerous
members resided well beyond Grace's community limits. That characteristic
has held true ever since. A membership decline began in the 1970's.
Children of the post-WWII period matured, married, and established homes
far beyond the Grace area, and they usually joined suburban congregations.
The Montrose community became commercialized and the Westheimer strip
became identified by its "night spots." Grace families
transferred out and the neighborhood became more transient. In his
1987 report, Pastor Akerman noted, "The figures indicate an
ever-changing congregation." That characteristic, too, is still
present.
For nearly two years
in 1991-1993, Grace had the uncommon opportunity to share worship space and
fellowship with the congregation of Augustana Lutheran Church while their
sanctuary was razed and a new one built. Many new friendships were
formed and greater understanding took hold as the two congregations
merged their services, choirs, education, and social opportunities. It
was with a mixture of sadness and joy that Grace members joined
Augustana in dedicating their beautiful new building, marking the end
of our time together.
Grace's 75 years have
seen many changes. There has always seemed to be an awareness of the
need for outreach and witness to the Montrose community but
few positive results were seen until the 1980's. In recent years,
Grace has provided space for meetings of substance abuse programs, voters
of Precinct 13, the Spanish Seventh Day Adventist Congregation, The Upper
Room Folk Community, HATCH, Lutherans Concerned, Hyde Park Civic
Association, La Leche League, and many others.
Our outreach ministry
has changed as the community has changed. With the designation as a Mission
Redevelopment Congregation in September 2001, ministry to the community
has become the prevailing focus of Grace's congregation. Many pews
remain to be filled and we invite you to join us!
Serving Grace
Pastors
- Caryl K. Naffziger - 1923
through 1924
- William J. Hoebel - 1925
through 1939
- Nathaniel H. Kern - 1939
through 1954
- David F. Conrad - 1955
through 1973
- Leland Caulder - 1974
through 1977
- Harold Deal - 1978
through 1982
- H. Eldon Akerman - 1983
through 1991
- Kristine Franke Hill -
1991 through 2000
- Willard T. Pierce - 2001
through 2003
Supplementing the
staff was Deaconness Sister Bernice Pantel from 1952-1957. With Pastor
Conrad, Sister Bernice conducted youth programs and was active
with Vacation Bible School, the Sunday School, Bible Study,
visitation, and the auxiliaries.
Also serving Grace
were interns Andrew Krey, Mike Sigler, Cynthia Forde, and Pamela Schroeder.
Krey and Sigler came to Grace from the Lutheran School of Theology at
Chicago; they provided visitation assistance and occasionally preached.
Forde and Schroeder came via Wartburg Seminary; both were highly involved
in community outreach and volunteer coordination.
Karen O'Malia served
as Minister of Music and Outreach from 1993-1995 and is currently pastor of
First Lutheran Church of Berwyn near Chicago IL.
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