Who knew that a piece of Latvia could thrive right here in New York City? The Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Church has served as a cornerstone of New York Latvian life for over a century. It unifies Lutherans of Latvian descent in the tri-state area.
The New York Latvian Ev. Lutheran Church has four parishes. These parishes are in Manhattan, Yonkers, New Jersey, and Long Island. Services are mainly held in these locations. The church also holds services elsewhere.
Two pastors lead the congregation. Their names are Laris Saliņš and Juris Saivars. They care for roughly 480 people. The Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Church of New York is more than just Sunday services.
In the summer, the church runs a camp for children. There are two sessions in Latvian and one in English. It takes place in the Catskill Mountains. During the school year, the New Jersey Latvian School and the Yonkers Latvian School are in full force. The Yonkers School also offers Latvian as a Second Language courses for adults.
The Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Church of New York is part of two larger organizations. It belongs to the Latvian Ev. Luth. Church of America. It also belongs to the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America.
The Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Church in America formed in 1957. It reorganized as a formal denomination in 1975. In 1978, Lauma Lagzdins Zusevics became the first woman to serve as a full-time minister. In 2014, she became the first female Lutheran bishop in Latvian history.
The Church of Latvia proper does not recognize women’s ordination. As of 2007, the Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Church in America had 12000 congregants. There were 68 congregations. The headquarters is in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
So, as you pass by this building remember its importance. The Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Church is a place of worship. It is a community hub. It preserves Latvian culture. It is right here in the heart of New York.