Christ Lutheran Church (Rochester, Minnesota) Official Acts

Christ Lutheran Church began as a mission congregation established by Redeemer Lutheran Church in Rochester. Under Rev. E. O. Schwerman and Rev. Bohrer's guidance the congregation committee met for the first time on March 13, 1959. The congregation requested a seminary graduate as the congregation's pastor, and this graduate would be shared with Our Savior Lutheran Church (Eyota, Minnesota). The graduate assigned from Concordia Seminary, Saint Louis was Donald F. Emily. The congregation chose the name of Christ Lutheran Church on May 15, 1959. The Emily family moved to Rochester in July 1959, and the first worship service occurred on August 2, 1959 at Longfellow School. Groundbreaking for the Education Unit was held on October 7, 1959. The building's cornerstone was laid on December 27, 1959 and on February 21, 1960 the first worship service was held in the Education Unit. It was dedicated on May 1, 1960. Once the Education Unit was completed on April 17, 1960, the church leaders called a special Voters Meeting to begin building a parsonage. There were also plans to build a large sanctuary. Christ and Our Savior became two separate congregations in 1974. The mortgage burning took place in 1986. The 50th anniversary of the congregation was celebrated on August 30, 2009, and the 55th was celebrated on August 24, 2014.