Did you know that Mount Olive Lutheran Church started with a desire for English worship? A group of 40 German-Americans wanted to attract more people to Lutheranism. They believed worshiping in English was the way. In 1909, their mission became Mount Olive.
Mount Olive Lutheran Church has a progressive history. Although part of the conservative Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, it held onto a progressive outlook. This would later shape its story. The congregation quickly bought land at 31st Street and Chicago Avenue. They began building their first church.
In 1921, Reverend Theo. H. Schroedel became pastor. Over four decades, he built the congregation into a powerful force. This was true in both the synod and the community. Construction on a larger Mount Olive Lutheran Church finished in 1931. That church still stands today.
Like many churches, Mount Olive Lutheran Church grew after the war. In 1957, they added an education and office wing. Meanwhile, Schroedel led a movement to liberalize the Missouri Synod. Paul Manz, Mount Olive’s first cantor, gained worldwide fame. People loved his compositions, organ playing, and new ways of singing together.
Reverend Alton Wedel’s arrival in 1961 pushed Mount Olive Lutheran Church into social ministry. It also engaged in ecumenical movements. Finally, in 1976, a big change happened. Mount Olive ended its 67-year relationship with the Missouri Synod. It later joined the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America ELCA. This is North America’s largest Lutheran group formed in 1988.
In recent years, Mount Olive Lutheran Church has focused its mission. In the 1980s and 1990s, Cantor Mark Sedio strengthened liturgical worship. Reverend Mark Wegner and Donna Neste improved social outreach. Starting in 1998, Reverend William Heisley expanded the congregation’s appreciation for different traditions. These included Orthodox church practices. Cantor David Cherwien arrived in 2001. Pastor Joseph Crippen came in 2010. Anna Scott became neighborhood outreach coordinator in 2014. The church renewed its dedication to musical innovation. It also emphasized preaching and social justice.
Mount Olive Lutheran Church blends tradition with progress. Like a tree, its roots are deep in Christian history. Its branches reach out to today’s world. The church welcomes everyone no matter their background. It is a Reconciling in Christ RIC congregation. They have long been committed to Christ’s welcoming grace.
For over a century, Mount Olive Lutheran Church has stood on Chicago Avenue. Immigrants from Europe, East Africa, and Latin America have been neighbors. Although members live throughout the Twin Cities, they stay connected to the neighborhood’s needs. Their vision is to embody God in service. They also meet God in their neighbor. In worship and on the street, they are always in God’s presence. They strive to be God’s presence.
Mount Olive Lutheran Church has been at 31st and Chicago for over a century. It leads in green technology. The building provides a worship space for celebration. It inspires reflection. It also offers flexible spaces for fellowship and community events. The church focuses on solar and geothermal technology.
Completed in 1931, the Mount Olive Lutheran Church has a Gothic exterior. Inside, the space opens to a vaulted area. Magnificent stained-glass windows surround you. The church follows a cruciform plan. A center aisle with pews and kneelers leads to the altar. A large pipe organ sits above the rear choir loft. Colorful windows show Jesus’ humanity and divinity. They depict figures and events from the Christian story. Renovations have made the building accessible. Recent additions include a columbarium and four icons. These represent the Holy Spirit, Christ’s birth, resurrection, and ascension.