Lutheran Church of the Divine Shepherd (Ann Arbor, Michigan) Records

Record Group

Identifier: Collection ID-0100

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The bound Practical Church Record book contains Baptisms 1965-1998; Confirmations 1965-1991; Marriages 1967-1995; Deaths 1965-1998. The document box contains history (including service folders from the first service in 1965, building dedication, 20th Anniversary, and 50th Anniversary), information on the building, Constitution and By-Laws, membership information, Council and Voters' meeting minutes from 1965-1966, 2015-2016, and some photos. Added OCT 2016 #25 in August 2019: Scrapbook contents from 1964-2016; film of First Service February 1965; audio tape of Rev. Henry Brinkler's Installation March 15, 1987; viedeotape from congregation's 25th anniversary 1990; viedeotape of 30th anniversary September 17, 1995; Rev. Arthur Spomer's file 1966, as well as his correspondence 1964-1973.

Dates

Creation: Majority of material found within 1965 - 2016

Biographical / Historical

The Mission Board of the Michigan District of the LCMS recognized the need for a mission congregation on Ann Arbor's northeast side in early 1964. Rev. Arthur Spomer, a pastoral candidate from Concordia Seminary (Saint Louis, Missouri) was called to be the missionary-at-large by the District. The congregation was organized and incorporated on March 28, 1965. Groundbreaking for the church building took place in August 1966, and the Dedication Service took place on June 4, 1967. Additional space for fellowship and classrooms was added in 1982. The congregation closed in 2017.