St. Paul's Lutheran Church - ELCA

               712 Schilling Avenue, Baytown, TX  77520    Tel. 281-422-9333

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ELCA Quick Facts

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America resulted from a union of three North American Lutheran church bodies: The American Lutheran Church, the Association of Evangelical Lutheran Churches and the Lutheran Church in America. The three churches agreed to unite in 1982. The ELCA actually began operating on January 1, 1988.

St. Paul’s Lutheran Church (established in 1943)

Led by Pastor Nancy Simpson

 

TX-LA Gulf Coast Synod

Led by Bishop Mike Rinehart (as of 9/29/07)

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

Led by Bishop Mark Hanson  

· St. Paul’s is one of the congregations that make up the TX-LA Gulf Coast Synod. 

· The TX-LA Gulf Coast Synod is one of the synods that make up the ELCA. 

· Currently the ELCA is approximately 5 million strong in membership

 

A BRIEF  HISTORY OF ST. PAUL’S LUTHERAN CHURCH

1943—Organization and call for first Pastor

1944—First Pastor, Reverend J.A. Pietsch

1945—Purchased land for first Church, near Goose Creek Stream and Main  Street.

1948—Church dedicated, June 13, 1948

1950—Second Pastor, Karl Bracker 1950-55

1955—Third Pastor, August Hannemann 1955-57

1957—Fourth Pastor, Harold Bomhoff 1957-1970

Period of numerical and spiritual growth.

1957—Texas Hwy Department announced plans to extend Loop 201 through the church property.  A relocation site was purchased off of Garth Road

1964—Cornerstone laid for new church.  Church dedicated 12/6/1964

1970—Fifth Pastor, Charles Probst 1970-1989

1989—Sixth Pastor, Ed Schlachenhaufen 1989-1994

1993—50th Anniversary and remodeling

1994—Seventh Pastor, William Putman (Interim) 1994-1995

1995—Eighth Pastor, Doug Guthier 1995-2002

2000—Bell Tower constructed and dedicated

2002—Ninth Pastor Ordination of Pastor Bonnie Parker 2002-2011

2003—60th Anniversary  

2011- Tenth Pastor, William Schwertlich (Interim) 2011-2012

2012 - Eleventh Pastor, Reverend Nancy Simpson 2012- present

 

Statements of Belief

Lutherans believe in the Triune God. God created and loves all of creation -- the earth and the seas and all of the world’s inhabitants. We believe that God's Son, Jesus Christ, transforms lives through his death on the cross and his new life, and we trust that God's Spirit is active in the world.

We are part of God’s unfolding plan. When we gather for worship, we connect with believers everywhere. When we study the Bible or hear God’s word in worship, we are drawn more deeply into God’s own saving story.

The convictions shared by Christians from many different traditions are expressed in statements of belief called creeds.

These ecumenical creeds that Lutherans affirm and use in worship confess the faith of the church through the ages and around the world.   

The Apostles' Creed

The Nicene Creed

The Athanasian Creed

 

ELCA Confession of Faith

What we believe in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

  • This church confesses the Triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
  • This church confesses Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and the Gospel as the power of God for the salvation of all who believe
    • Jesus Christ is the Word of God incarnate, through whom everything was made and through whose life, death, and resurrection God fashions a new creation.
    • The proclamation of God's message to us as both Law and Gospel is the Word of God, revealing judgment and mercy through word and deed, beginning with the Word in creation, continuing in the history of Israel, and centering in all its fullness in the person and work of Jesus Christ.
    • The canonical Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the written Word of God. Inspired by God's Spirit speaking through their authors, they record and announce God's revelation centering in Jesus Christ. Through them God's Spirit speaks to us to create and sustain Christian faith and fellowship for service in the world.
  • This church accepts the canonical Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments as the inspired Word of God and the authoritative source and norm of its proclamation, faith, and life.
  • This church accepts the Apostles', Nicene, and Athanasian Creeds as true declarations of the faith of this church.
  • This church accepts the Unaltered Augsburg Confession as a true witness to the Gospel, acknowledging as one with it In faith and doctrine all churches that likewise accept the teachings of the Unaltered Augsburg Confession.
  • This church accepts the other confessional writings in the Book of Concord, namely, the Apology of the Augsburg Confession, the Smalcald Articles and the Treatise, the Small Catechism, the Large Catechism, and the Formula of Concord, as further valid interpretations of the faith of the Church.
  • This church confesses the Gospel, recorded in the Holy Scriptures and confessed in the ecumenical creeds and Lutheran confessional writings, as the power of God to create and sustain the Church for God's mission in the world.

The Confession of Faith is published in the Constitution of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.