Opening the congregation’s time capsule.

ST. CATHARINES, Ont. – In 1970, Resurrection Lutheran Church in St. Catharines secured a mortgage from the East District Church Extension Fund to build an uncommon church facility nestled at the bottom of the Niagara Escarpment, featuring 1970s architecture and ascending levels toward the sanctuary.

The original building of Resurrection Lutheran in St. Catharines.

In 1976, Resurrection’s pastor, Rev. Roger J. Humann, was appointed as the developer for a Canadian Lutheran seminary as an extension of Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Indiana. In September of that year classes began and Resurrection Lutheran became the first home of Concordia Lutheran Theological Seminary (CLTS), operating out of the education area of the building with office space and weekday use of the church proper. In 1984, the seminary transitioned to its newly completed building on the campus of Brock University.

Over the years, the unique design of Resurrection Lutheran has proved to be an obstacle for aging members and families with infants and toddlers. Different accessibility alterations had been considered but failed to solve the overall problems. As the congregation reached its fiftieth anniversary, many of its members had to find other places to worship. These heartbreaking farewells led to the ultimate decision to sell the building and find an accessible location for the congregation.

The congregation gathers on the steps of Resurrection Lutheran Church following the final service in its original building.

The church building and property were sold in July 2019 with an agreement for continued use of the building while searching for a new location in the area. The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic slowed the search considerably. With nothing suitable immediately available as an independent worship location, an old partnership was renewed. The Board of Regents of CLTS agreed to share space with Resurrection Lutheran Church, with the seminary playing host this time. Benefits to the congregation include no conflicting schedule for use of the sanctuary space on Sundays and evenings, as well as office space and the use of classrooms for Sunday School, Bible studies, and meetings.

After the Divine Service on October 25, 2020 the congregation gathered outside the original church building to open the time capsule placed behind the cornerstone fifty years ago. The capsule contained the original Constitution and Bylaws of the congregation, an Annual Report for 1969, a Bible, Luther’s Small Catechism, currency including a one dollar bill, and a local newspaper from March 1970 with a cover story featuring Expo 70 held in Japan.

On November 1, the Martin Luther chapel at Concordia Lutheran Theological Seminary was filled to COVID capacity as the members of Resurrection Lutheran held their first regular Divine Service in their new church home.

Contents of the time capsule.

The historic close relationship between the seminary and the congregation has been the foundation of an ever-increasing partnership. The congregation will benefit not only from the fully accessible physical place, but also from the scholarly, confessional zeal for the faith exhibited in a seminary setting with faculty, staff, and students who have dedicated their lives in service to Christ and His Church. The seminary, on the other hand, cannot help but gain from the presence of a functioning congregation in its very midst as it continues to prepare pastors and other servants for the congregations of Lutheran Church–Canada.

———————

Rev. Kurt A. Lantz

Comments are closed.