In July 2005, LCH members gathered after worship to hear members talk about our more distant past and dialog about more recent events. The page is a record of that discussion.

The Ministry Planning Task Force welcomes your comments, questions, and suggestions. Use this form to send your thoughts, submit your comments to the Task Force via email, or bring or mail them to the church office.

The links below will take you to information related to the activities of the Ministry Plan Task Force.

LCH Mission and Values Statements
Task Force Charge, Membership, and Process
Results of Natural Church Development Survey (June 2005)
“Norms” that Underlay the Life of our Church. (November 2005)
Draft Ministry Plan Goal Statements (January 2006)
Results of First Vote on Draft Goals (February 2006)

Results of our Historical Reflection—

Timeline of Church Life and History

In July 2005, the Ministry Planning Task Force led us in a period of historical reflection—a time for members and friends of the congregation to talk story about church history as they know and perceive them.

Several participants shared their own memories, and then everyone took up pens and markers to add their own items to a timeline that had been prepared from a variety of sources.

According to members of the Task Force, the purpose of the event was for everyone to face the truth of who we are by celebrating / confronting past actions and drawing out the story of who we want to be as a church. The Alban literature pointedly notes the importance of shining light on the skeletons in our past, as well as on the face we prefer to show. Honest self-examination is a starting point for discerning our vision for the church’s future.

This table was compiled from For Beer and the Bible by Sandra Wagner and contributions from the contributions at the Historical Reflection Gathering in July 2005.

If you have items to add to the timeline—big church events that we forgot or your own personal milestones—please use this form to submit them for inclusion.

1900 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 future

Time Period		Event
1849		Herr Hackfield arrives in Hawaii (1849)
1881		1st Arrival of German Agricultural Laborers
1883		Lihue Lutheran Church founded
1899		Hackfield and Isenberg families donate funds to found Deutsche Evangelische Lutherische Gemeinde zu Honolulu
1900
1900		LCH charter church founded
1901		LCH church building dedicated
1912	1914	Pastor Englehardt installed
1914	1916	Interim Pastors—Isenberg and Schalfirt
1916	1954	Pastor Hörmann installed
1917	1918	U.S. in WWI
1921		Green Street parsonage purchased
1926		Swedish Crown Prince Gustavus Adolfus and Princess Louise visit LCH
1930		“Hawaii Lutheran” newsletter begins
1941	1945	U.S. in WWII
1945	June 30	Pastor Hörmann retires. Pastor Hamme installed.
1950
1950		50th Anniversary. LCH buys Punahou property. Pastor Edward Spirer installed as acting pastor (1950-1954)
1953		Punahou Street Church dedicated
1954	1963	Pastor Glen Balsley installed
1956		Russell Berkstresser installed as choir director
1958		“Heartbeat” publication begins
1959		Hawaii Statehood. Martin Luther King Jr. stays at LCH parsonage in Kahala
1960
1960		U.S. in Vietnam
1963	1969	Pastor Earl Johnson installed
1965		Associate Pastor Nathan Huang installed.
1966	1968	5 national Lutheran Church bodies join to form “Buddhist-Lutheran Dialogue” through LCH
1966		AA uses LCH as meeting site
1968		Rev. Ted Fritschell installed to establish Lutheran Campus Ministry at UH and East-West Center
1967		Assistant Pastor Howard Correy installed
1969	2000	Pastor Don Johnson Installed.
1970
1972	September	Joe Hansen installed as Choir Master. Carl Crosier becomes organist. Carol Langner joins choir.
1973		Dedication of remodeled church
1973	January	Official end of Vietnam War
1973	1974	Makiki Park Community Activism
1975	April	Saigon falls. U.S. out of Vietnam.
1975	May	Beckerath Organ dedicated.
1976		Compline Service initiated. Bach cantata vespers and EPG concerts established.
1978		Carl Crosier becomes director of music. Katherine Crosier becomes organist
1979		Meals on Wheels founded
1980
1980		Randy and Jeanne Castello Marry and join LCH.
1980		Fred Benco and Carolyn Ishikawa join LCH. Paul Benco baptized.
1980		Chinese Lutheran Church services begin.
1980		“Children’s Sermon” time outside of sanctuary begins under Nicki Stewart Chinn.
1981	August	Olivia Rambell joins LCH.
1981		Bhanu Rana and Meena Ishikawa baptized
1982	Spring	Lutheran Campus Ministry ties severely reduced
1982		Marisa Castello born and baptized.
1983	June	Jimmy and Olivia Castro married
1984		Pastors start preaching from outside of the pulpit
1986	1992	Seminary internship program starts
1987	September 11	Naomi Castro born. Baptized 11/01/87
1987		Roy Helms joins choir
1988		Don and Biz Person join LCH.
1989		Nick Castello born and baptized
1989		Leased church space for pre-school? “Rainbow” then “Seagull”
1990
1990		90th anniversary luau in parking lot—yummy
1990		Don deployed to Desert Storm
1990	2000	Benefit Concerts—$35,000 raised in 8 concerts for local human service agencies (KKV, HIS, Foodbasket-PWAC)
1991		Fred Benco asked by Pastor Johnson to head stewardship. Two weeks later, Pastor Johnson announces Bill Kunisch as intern.
1991		Fritz Fritschel installed as Associate Pastor
1991	May	Karyn Castro born. Baptized 7/07/91
1991		Ohana / Small Group sexuality study started. Downtown Ohana Group continues past ELCA sexuality study led by Mary Reese.
1991	1974	Liturgical Dramas with Stephanie LeBlanc
1992		Lutherfest initiated—costumes/banquet/entertainment in the sanctuary
1992	1995	Parsonage issues—other members left LCH over this issue.
1993		Reconciling in Christ—approximately 15% of congregation left LCH, but some rejoined at a later date.
1993		Bhanu Rana’s funeral
1994		Paul Benco Confirmed
1995		Bill Potter joins LCH.
1996		Bob Zimmer joins LCH after seeing advertisement in Men’s Chorus Concert Program placed by the Mary Magdelene Society
1996		Judie Boutá joins LCH and becomes part of the choir after being invited to the church by Lynne Kinney saying, “Judie, you’ve got to come join our choir!!” It’s been a nurturing family!
1997		Lutheran youth go to Mexico with Pastor Johnson
1998		Pulpit comes down
1999		Congregation members start marching in Gay Pride Parade
1999		LCH Preschool founded
1999		Purchase of Poki Lot and Luther Place. Sold Kahala parsonage.
2000
2000		Pastor Johnson Resigns. Interim Pastor Barber arrives.
2000		St. Matthew Passion
2001		David and Karen Barber arrive as installed Pastor.
2001	November	Linda Mizuno becomes administrative assistant
2001	Easter	Michael Barnett’s 1st Attendance at LCH. Walls Shook.
2001		Church Web Page created (pixi.com)
2001	December	Ray Herradura starts attending
2002		Ray Herradura becomes member of LCH.
2003		Capital Campaign begins: “Gifting · Growing · Serving.” Don Person named chair.
2003		Brian Weis joins LCH.
2003		LCH Web Page changed to own domain: lchwelcome.org
2003		First same sex relationship blessing—Bob Zimmer and Ray Herradura
2004	August	Pastor Fritschel retires
2004		St. John Passion
2004		Paving of Poki Lot (Tree finally cut down)
2004		Internship program renewed after 12+ years with arrival of Intern Katy Grindberg.
2004	September	Angie and Jim Niermann join LCH.
2004	December	Chinese Lutheran Church departs
2005	March	Ministry Plan Task Force begins work.
2005	Easter Vigil	Angie Niermann baptized
2005		1st Heifer Ark floated by LCH youth group
2005	July	Partnership with Episcopal Campus Ministry starts.
2005	August	Intern Katy Grindberg departs leaving big shoes.
2005	September	Intern Josh Graber arrives and fills big shoes.
2005	December	Pastor David announces his retirement.
2006	February	Call Committee convened.
2006	March 4	Children’s Benefit Concert raises $2,000 in gifts and pledges towards our second “ark” of animals through Heifer International. An article about the concert appeared in the June issue of The Lutheran.
2006	April 30	Pastor David’s last service.
2006	May 14	Pastor Steve Jensen’s first service as interim pastor.
Future
		Pre-school expands or closes.
		Sunday School enrollment increases.
		New Bathrooms!!
		Music Program expands. Becomes training center for Church Music.
		Capital Campaign reaches goal.