As a new mission congregation of the American Lutheran Church (now Evangelical Lutheran Church In America), Christ Lutheran Church formed in 1972 was formally organized in 1973 with 69 baptized people as charter members and Pastor Paul Christ served as our first pastor.
Our Saviour’s Lutheran congregation in Bremerton donated most of the worship items as well as make a six-year pledge to help fund our new congregation. The first service was held at the Old Belfair Fire Hall, moved to the Belfair Elementary School and a parsonage was built on 5-acres of land adjacent to the North Mason School District property.
In 1975, the ministry of Christ Lutheran Church changed from solely a congregation, to a dual ministry of a congregation and a retreat ministry, and purchased the old “Cheerio Lodge” off North Shore in Belfair, WA. The property consisted of a Log Lodge with attached apartment, 10 cabins, shop, storage building, laundry building, water storage and a tennis court that doubled as a basketball court. The worship services were held in the cozy Log Lodge until the new chapel was built in 1978.
Pastor Paul Christ accepted a call as Head Chaplain at Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming in early 1975. The Rev. Donald Fossum of Trinity Lutheran Church in Lynnwood, WA became pastor and served Christ Lutheran for twenty-five years until he retired in 2000.
The retreat center was shared with the entire Christian community, served many youth groups under supervision of Christian leaders, non-profit civic organizations, designated refugees of local disasters and domestic trauma referred by appropriate agencies. The retreat center closed in 2008. The lodge continues to serve as a community outreach for the Kids Back Pack Program, Community Canning Corp, Lutheran World Relief, educational purposes, and a quilting group that will sew quilts for the people of Africa. The lodge is available to the community for special celebrations and events.
In 1998, a new ministry was established to serve the community. The ministry of Christ Lutheran Child Care Center is to present to children the love of God and presence of Christ in their lives by providing a caring Christian environment in which to nurture their spiritual, social, mental and physical development.
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The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America was formed over 20 years ago. This new church was formed from three separate and well-established North American church bodies:
- The American Lutheran Church
- The Association of Evangelical Lutheran Churches, and
- The Lutheran Church in America.
Beginning January 1, 1988, these churches, with shared beliefs and missions, officially formed the ELCA. Two decades later, this energized church is composed of 4.8 million members and nearly 10,500 congregations across the U.S. and Caribbean. Today, the ELCA reflects the rich and diverse heritage of the people it serves.
But to understand our heritage fully, one must trace our roots back through the mid-17th century, when early Lutherans came to America from Europe, settling in the Virgin Islands and the area that is now known as New York. Even before that, Martin Luther sought reform for the church in the 16th century, laying the framework for our beliefs.
Read about Lutheran Roots in America on the ELCA website >>
