The German Evangelical Lutheran Immanuel Church at SE 15th and Lambert, 1908 – 1955

Immanuel Lutheran Church at SE 15th Avenue, 1955 – Present

 

Sketch of Present Church Building 

Immanuel Lutheran’s history dates back to the early summer of 1908.  A number of families from the Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church  (then located at NE Rodney Avenue and Ivy Street), who lived in the Sellwood area, were instrumental in starting a congregation in their community.  They appealed to their pastor, Dr. J. Rimbach, to use his influence to get a church started there. 

The record states that the first service was held on July 12, 1908 and Professor F. W. J. Sylwester, President of Concordia College in Portland, presided.  The first two services were held in a vacant store building on SE 11th and Umatilla Streets, after that they were held in the Union Hall on SE 13th and Tenino Streets. 

The congregation was organized on August 30, 1908, at a meeting called by Pastor Rimbach.  Four men signed the constitution presented by Pastor Rimbach.  There four men were:  John Helm, William Hering, George Hoehner, and Christian Kurtz.  Members of the Trappe, Klug, Bohlmann, and Staats families were also among the early members of the congregation.  The name this group chose for their congregation was Die Deutsche Evangelische Lutherische Immanuel’s Gemeide (The German Evangelical Lutheran Immanuel Church) of Portland, Oregon. 

Following the organization, the congregation resolved to call a resident pastor.  The call was assigned to the Reverend H. C.  Ebeling of Gaston, Oregon.  He accepted the call and was installed on November 15, 1908.  The congregation resolved to raise $25 a month toward the pastor’s salary and asked the District Mission Board for a subsidy. 

Early in 1909, the congregation purchased a building site at SE 15th Avenue and Lambert Street.  On April 18, 1909, the cornerstone of the first church was laid, and on the day of Pentecost, the church was formally dedicated.  The size of the first church was 30 by 42 feet, and included a basement. At this time the congregation numbered 11 voting members, about 50 communicant members, and about 100 members. 

 First Church on SE 15th and Lambert – view from the East 

On July 8, 1909, Immanuel congregation was received into membership of The Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod at the District Convention in Tacoma, Washington. 

In 1909, Pastor Ebeling organized a Christian Day School and was its teacher until 1921.  Pastor Ebeling submitted his resignation on December 19, 1937 due to health reasons.  Pastor Ebeling was named an Honorary Pastor at that time. 

 

Pastor Ebeling with Confirmation Class 

The Immanuel Ladies Aid Society was organized on January 6, 1911. 

Reverend Trinklein, Immanuel’s second pastor, was installed on April 24, 1938. 

In 1938, the congregation purchased the house at 1434 SE Lambert Street for a parsonage.  This house was used as the parsonage until 1969 when the congregation sold it and gave the pastors a housing allowance to provide their own home. 

For more than 15 years the congregation gather funds for a new and larger church.  On November 5, 1950, ground was broken for the new church building, parish hall, dining room, kitchen and office at 7810 SE 15th Avenue.  The old church was moved to the lot directly south of the current church location that is now used as a parking lot.  During construction of the new church services were held at the old church and the chapel of McGinnis and Wilhelm Funeral Home.  The new facilities were completed on and dedicated on March 27, 1955. 

A year after the dedication of the new church building, Pastor Trinklein suffered a heart attack and died. 

Pastor Waldo Rist was called from Idaho Falls, Idaho and was installed on March 3, 1957.  Under his leadership the congregation continued to grow until he accepted a call to Spokane in the fall of 1962. 

Pastor Unterschultz was called from Spokane and was installed on October 6, 1963.  Pastor Unterschultz was a strong leader and a popular pastor. 

In July 1966, the final payment of the debt on the church was paid and celebrated with a mortgage burning ceremony.  In 1966, stained glass windows began to be installed in the church and within two years all of the windows were replaced with stained glass. 

In the summer of 1972, Pastor Unterschultz, already over retirement age, notified the congregation that he was planning to step down.  Pastor Orville Markgraf was installed on May 20, 1973 and served until his resignation, due to health reasons, on December 31, 1977.  Pastor Unterschultz again became pastor for an interim period until the vacancy could be filled. 

Pastor Ruben Bauer of Prosser, Washington was called.  He accepted the call and was installed on June 18, 1978.  Under his pastorate a new constitution was prepared and adopted by the congregation.  Pastor Bauer resigned in 1980 to pursue other interests. 

Pastor Sidney Johnson, a professor at Concordia College, was chosen as Vacancy Pastor.  After serving for two months, the congregation called him to the position of Pastor of Immanuel Church.  Pastor Johnson accepted the call and was aided by Pastor Unterschultz until he could leave his position at Concordia and begin full responsibilities at Immanuel on June 13, 1982. 

Immanuel celebrated its 75th Anniversary in July 1983. 

Pastors of the church: [1]

Rev. H. C. Ebeling	1908 – 1937
Rev. H. J. Trinklein	1938 – 1956
Rev. Waldo Rist	1957 – 1962
Rev. Philip Unterschultz	1963 – 1973
Rev. O. H. Markgraf	1973 – 1978
Rev. Ruben Bauer	1979 – 1981
Rev. Sidney Johnson	1982 -

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