Mount Olive Lutheran Church (Baltimore Maryland) Records

In 1924, under the leadership of Rev. J. George Spilman, pastor of Bethlehem Lutheran Church, a study was conducted to determine the need for a Sunday School in the Belair Road and Cliftmont area. The people of that area were very interested. This new mission began on March 2, 1924. By that fall, it had already added worship services and had outgrown the facilities. On September 20, 1925, the Bethlehem Chapel was dedicated. The Chapel was regarded as part of Bethlehem from 1924-1949. After much prayer, on September 13, 1949, Bethlehem released from membership 186 members to form the new congregation. The first voters' meeting was held by Mount Olive congregation on September 15, 1949. The first pastor of Mount Olive, Rev. Paul H. Reuter, was installed in February 1950. The Sunday School has always been the mission arm of Mount Olive. The Sunday School grew so large that in 1956 an education building was added to the facilities. The worship center was redesigned in 1966, adding the communion rail, dossal curtain and resurrection cross which hangs gracefully above the altar. Mount Olive faced a major test from 1973-1975, a lengthy pastoral vacancy. In 1982 Mount Olive joined with 10 other Lutheran churches to form the Baltimore Urban Coalition. On September 19, 1982, five vicars were inducted into service to assist the Coalition with their outreach programs. This congregation disbanded on August 21, 2003.