The History of St. Luke Lutheran Church

We began on October 24, 1943 when a small group of people met at the American Legion Hall in Multnomah for the first worship service of St. Luke Lutheran Church. Pastor Orval Schmidt of Bethlehem Lutheran led the service, and continued to lead this new mission until Pastor Norman Dversdall was installed on July 9, 1944. A lot was purchased at SW 45th and Garden Home Road, and our first chapel was erected by volunteer labor. The first service in the chapel was held January 17, 1945. Seventy-six charter members were then accepted, one of whom is still with us: Irma Montgomery.

In 1946, the first parsonage was purchased, and an annex was added to the church to accommodate our growing Sunday School. By 1948, our young congregation had become self-supporting and no longer needed subsidy from the Home Mission program of the Evangelical Lutheran Church.

Pastor Milford Langehough became our Pastor in 1948, and served until April of 1952. In August of 1952, Pastor Allan Skindlov arrived to take his place. In November 1955 Pastor Luther Watness was installed.

In 1956, a major fund raising program was launched toward the construction of a new church! In 1952, 2.9 acres were purchased at the current location, at a cost of $6,000. Construction began with groundbreaking in February 1960. A sponsorship loan of $30,000 from Bethlehem Lutheran Church, together with a commercial loan, provided the $150,000 needed to construct the new facility. Three thousand volunteer hours helped keep costs within the meager budget. On November 6, 1960, our new church was dedicated.

In 1963, St. Luke Play School was established and the land, on which a new parsonage was to be built and dedicated in August, 1964 was also purchased.

Dorothy Erickson, the first paid office secretary, was hired in 1965. Other persons filling that position has been Evelyn Jewell, Marilyn Maslen, Pat Patterson, Penny Greb, Carrol Klett, Sharon Donegan and, currently, Vickie Newton.

1968 launched the Bethel Bible Study program, resulting in a cadre of lay teachers who then gave instruction to a major portion of the congregation. St Luke also celebrated it’s the 25th Anniversary. Evaluating mission awareness with an emphasis placed on local social concerns, the anniversary offering was divided equally between property improvements and local social issues.

Pastor Watness concluded his 14-year ministry on August 17, 1969. Pastor Myrin Bentz was called from Anchorage, Alaska, and began his ministry on October 5, 1969.

The 1970's supported a great deal of change and growth for local social concern ministries. Beginning in a partnership with NE Portland's black community, we broadened our efforts into a large variety of programs, including the needs of elderly, work in the Hispanic community, support of many care agencies, and the sponsorship of over 100 Southeast Asian refugees. The decision to provide mission money "off the top" of our offerings on a percentage basis took hold, resulting in our giving over $1,000,000 for mission from 1969-1993.

Our worship life took on some variety when the folk setting and Children's Liturgy were added. Over the years, we have continued to grow in worship by adding the Anniversary Liturgy and the Marty Haugen Setting to our basic liturgy, the Lutheran Book of Worship. A constant to our worship has been our excellent choirs.

In 1973 it became evident, through our growth that our pastoral needs were greater than what a pastor and intern could supply. On September 9, 1973, our first associate pastor, former intern Ken Carlson was installed. In 1976, he accepted a call to Walla Walla, Washington, and concluded his work with us.

Our congregation has seen two members enter full time ministry. On June 26, 1977, Dave Gedrose was ordained. Ted Hamann was also ordained on October 27, 1985.

Darrel Lundby, our Associate Pastor, was called from Seattle and installed on September 11, 1977. During that same time, our parsonage was modified into the multi-purpose Shalom Center, providing extra room for Sunday School and other classes. On Rally Day in 1987, ground was broken for the Parish Education and Administrative Wing to the north, along with the enlargement of the Narthex and library was begun. We dedicated the new unit, and all the re-modeling, on June 5, 1988. In January, 1988, Darrel Lundby was called to be the Assistant to the Bishop of the Oregon Synod. Susan Kintner was then called and began her ministry as Associate Pastor on October 16, 1988. After having her first child, Andrew, in July 1991, she began serving as part-time pastor. David Knapp began serving as a supply pastor in the fall of 1991 and was installed as our full-time Associate Pastor on February 16, 1992.

In October of 1993, we celebrated our 50th Anniversary. Helping us celebrate were our previous pastors: founding Pastor Norman Dversdall and Pastors Luther Watness, Allan Skindlov and Darrel Lundby.

Early in 1994 our Council appointed a Vision Committee to research and evaluate our strengths and our needs as we let God's Spirit lead us to our future. The first Sunday in Advent, November 27, 1994 was a highlight of our year when we dedicated our long-awaited elevator to the glory of God and the use of all.

In 1997 our membership grew to 1,239 with a Sunday attendance at 415 per Sunday. Total giving also climbed to $537,000, with $115,000 given to benevolence, both local and worldwide. The faith covenant of giving a “percentage off the top” mission continues to set the tone for St. Luke’s stewardship life.

On April 20, 1998, Pastor Bentz concluded his St Luke ministry after 28.5 years as our Senior Pastor. In 1998, St. Luke spent some intentional time to pause and reflect on “where we’ve been” and “where we’re going” via four Parish Gatherings. In December of 1998, Pastor David Knapp was called by St. Luke to the position of Senior Pastor and was installed on January 24, 1999.

On September 26, 1999, Pastor Ray Blank was called to serve as St. Luke’s Associate Pastor. His energy and spirit were contagious. In June of 2000, Pastor Blank married a Portland woman and moved to Alaska, due to her health concerns. In the following months, St. Luke called Dan Hibbett as our first full-time Minister of Music and Pastor Kathleen Neeley as our Associate Pastor. In the year 2000, with over 1200 members from 530 households, St. Luke began a new small group ministry called ChristCare. This ministry continues to strengthen our spirituality, fellowship, caring and outreach.

In October of 2003 St. Luke celebrated its 60th Anniversary with a party at the banquet center of the Oregon Zoo.

In January of 2004, St. Luke passed a new Vision Statement that focuses on Joyfully Worshipping, Spiritual Growth, Building Generational Bridges, Serving Our Neighbor, Teaching Tolerance, and Striving for Peace. As of August 2006, St. Luke is a congregation of 1300 members with a budget of $817,000 of which 25% (and numerous volunteer hours) goes to benevolent causes.