Our Redeemer Lutheran Church (Taylor, Michigan) Official Acts and Records

• 1909-1909 | Rev. Julius Cernicky
• 1912-1912 | Rev. Josef P. Kolarik
• 1913-1914 | Rev. Jan M. Marcis
• 1914-1952 | Rev. Dr. Andrej A. Daniel
• 1953(?)-1956 | Rev. Michael Brondos
• 1956-1964 | Rev. Nicholas Zipay, Jr.
• 1964-1966 | Rev. John Stefan Obeda
• 1967-1970 | Rev. William J. Yunk
• 1971-1974 | Rev. Richard C. Eyer
• 1974-1981 | Rev. Robert E. Kass
• 1981-1988 | Rev. Gordon K. Goltz
• 1988-2000 | ???
• 2000-2004 | Rev. Samuel R. Pranschke 1999 - 2000 (Vicarage)
• 2006-2015 (?) | Rev. Erwin M. Hutter 2005 - 2006 (Vicarage)

Around 1903, large numbers of Slovak immigrants began arriving in Detroit. Many immigrants were Lutheran, but there was no church available to hear the Word of God in their language, so they got together at each other's homes to hear Bible stories and sing hymns. In 1902, the Slovak Evangelical Lutheran Synod was formed to serve Slovak speaking people in North America. Beginning in 1906, Slovak speaking pastors came to Detroit on a temporary basis to serve. However, the Slovak Lutherans of Delray didn't have their own pastor, so sometimes they would have to go weeks or months between services. A group of 25 men gathered to form a congregation on January 3, 1909. They originally named the congregation First Slavish Evangelical Lutheran of the Augsburg Confession of Detroit, Michigan. From 1909 - 1912, there was no Synod affiliation. The Missouri Synod accepted the task of serving these congregations. This parish was funded partially by the Missouri Synod Mission Board. The congregation became self-supporting on January 12, 1924. During the early years, this congregation did not have their own church building. Services were usually held at Concordia Lutheran Church, a Missouri Synod church. Land was purchased in 1912, and on September 17, 1917, ground was broken for a new building. It was dedicated on June 16, 1918. On September 5, 1928, the congregation became a member of the Slovak Synod of America (later the Slovak Evangelical Lutheran Church (1945) and later the Synod of Evangelical Lutheran Churches (1959). In 1937, the congregation officially changed its name from First Slavish Evangelical Lutheran to First Slovak Evangelical Lutheran. Nine acres of land was purchased for the future building of a church. The name of the congregation was again changed to Our Redeemer Evangelical Lutheran Church on October 13, 1957. A new parsonage was purchased in 1959, and the 50th anniversary of the congregation was celebrated. Between 1964-1966, the congregation made their move to close and sell the Delray building and move to Taylor. During this transition, the congregation was without a building for about a year. The new building was finished and ground breaking was held in October 1967. The dedication was held on May 19, 1968. A different parsonage was purchased in 1974. The 75th Anniversary was celebrated on April 29, 1984. The 100th Anniversary was celebrated on May 17, 2009. This congregation disbanded on January 1, 2024. (Information taken from 100th Anniversary booklet)