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Our History Saint Stephanus Evangelical Lutheran Church was organized on May 26, 1890, by members of Trinity Congregation. The people who helped to organize Saint Stephanus went westward and northward beyond Dale, Snelling and the Como district. In 1888, under Pastor M. Tirmenstein, Trinity Congregation purchased two lots on the corner of Lafond and Grotto Streets and erected a two-story frame building. Shortly thereafter, Pastor Tirmenstein saw the necessity of conducting services every Sunday evening in the upper room of the school building. It soon became apparent that an assistant pastor would be needed at Trinity to serve the growing mission church. Trinity congregation called Pastor Richard von Niebelschuetz of Hillsboro, Kansas. Before long it was evident there was the need to organize a new congregation in this community. Trinity congregation, in a special voters' meeting held on May 4, 1890, approved the organization of a daughter congregation and resolved to donate the two lots and building on Grotto Street to the congregation. At a meeting held on May 26, 1890, it was resolved to organize under the name: The German Evangelical Lutheran Saint Stephanus Congregation, Unaltered Augsburg Confession. Fifty-two men signed the new constitution as voting members and some twenty others agreed to unite with the church as soon as they could receive their letters of transfer from Trinity. Thus Saint Stephanus observes its birthday on May 26 of each year with an annual meeting. The following were the charter members: August Richter, Ferdinand Beyer, Albert Mueggenberg, John Otto, Dietrich Hoelscher, Albert Belde, Leo Schukz, Herman Mueller, Henry Minx, William Bahr, John Beyer, Albert Rauch, C. Krutsch, Edward Birkholz, Christian Wittwer, Fred Barrels, Carl Schultz, Albert Knuth, Carl Loeffler, Gustav Arndt, Dietrich Hasted, Henry Lange, F. Adler, August Gruetzmann, Bernhard Sturm, Frank Woller, Albert Krengel, Henry Berger, Ferdinand Abel, Herman Berg, Henry Koelln, Carl Nitz, Reinhardt Brandt, Fred Brandt, Louis Nitsche, Robert Machgan, Otto Stenzel, Albert Kirchoff, Ferdinand Radmann, August Dettman, Fred Bunde, William Neujahr, John Wachholz, Herman Wilke, Hinrich Koelln, Paul Kirchoff, Carl Kirchoff, Herman Radmann, E. Litschke, Herman Schubring, John Gutz and Albert Kirchoff. The following were elected officers: President, August Richter; Vice President, Henry Lange; Treasurer, Henry Lange; Vestrymen, Ferdinand Beyer, Carl Nitz, Albert Krengel, Henry Lange, William Bahr and Herman Radmann; School Elders, Henry Berger, Dietrich Hoelscher, Frank Woller and Albert Belde. |
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The first responsibility was to officially call the Reverend Richard von Niebelschuetz as pastor. |
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A Call was extended to Pastor A. H. Kuntz of Lewiston, Minnesota to succeed Pastor von Niebelschuetz.
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In June, 1919, Pastor Kuntz accepted a Call to a congregation in Osseo, Minnesota. In 1939 he returned to Saint Paul with Mrs. Kuntz to spend his remaining years. He was in active service for 55 years and died on August 7, 1959.
After a vacancy of six months, during which time our congregation was served by Professor August Schlueter, a Call was extended to the Reverend F.J. Seltz,
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At the 35th anniversary it was decided to redecorate the church. On the evening of May 4, 1925, fire broke out and damaged property to the extent of $13,000. The entire rear wall of the church had to be rebuilt.
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In 1929 the congregation canvassed the Dale-Wheelock neighborhood. A vacant store building was rented at 1500 North Dale Street. On October 7, a Sunday School was begun with 23 pupils. Within three months the enrollment reached 55. In April, 1929, our congregation petitioned the District Mission Board to place a missionary there, and Bethel congregation came into existence.
On May 25, 1930, Saint Stephanus was privileged to observe its 40th anniversary. Professor P. E. Kretzmann, DD., of Saint Louis, Missouri, delivered the English anniversary sermon, Pastor F. Randt of St. Paul, Minnesota, General Vice President of the Missouri Synod, delivered the message in German; and President M. Graebner of Concordia College preached at the English services in the evening. On Monday, a membership banquet was held with Pastor George Propp of Saint Cloud, Minnesota, as guest speaker. On Wednesday night the Walther League banquet was held with Pastor M. Cook of Excelsior, Minnesota as speaker.
The Golden Anniversary of Saint Stephanus congregation was observed on Sunday, May 26, 1940. Pastor Adolph Schwidder, Fort Dodge, Iowa, President of the Iowa District West, delivered the message in the English service. Pastor A. H. Kuntz delivered the message in the German service. Dr. Theodore Buenger of Concordia College spoke at the evening service.
At this time the membership of Saint Stephanus congregation was as follows: 1312 souls, 900 communicant members and 239 voting members.
From time to time, assistants or assisting pastors were appointed or called to help the pastors in their work. During the first world war, Professor August Schlueter, Professor Fred Wahlers, and Candidate Walton Doering.
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The Reverend Theodore H. Goehle was installed as pastor, Sunday, February 1, 1953.
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The Central Lutheran School Expansion Program was celebrated with special services on May 16, 1954. The members were contacted for pledges. The Association hoped to raise $50,000, the cost of the additional two rooms, plus funds to liquidate many short-term notes. That day the Association raised a total of $30,750 in cash and pledges. Of this amount, $6400 was contributed by the members of Saint Stephanus.
In August, 1954, the voters decided to replace the sidewalk around the church at a cost of approximately $1100.
The 75th Anniversary of the church was celebrated on September 19, 1965. Reverend George Wittmer was the preacher. In the evening, Reverend F. J. Seltz spoke at the Reunion Service and on September 22, Reverend Carl Streufert preached at the Christian Education and Youth Service. An anniversary banquet was held on September 24th with Reverend Werner Kuntz as guest speaker.
An Organ Fund was established at the 75th Anniversary because of the need to either repair the 1925 organ or purchase a new one. In February, 1969 a contract was signed for construction of a new 28 rank Cassavant organ at a cost of $51,290. It was dedicated to God's glory on October 24, 1971.
On January 30, 1977, the newly decorated church was rededicated. The choir loft was removed from the front of the sanctuary and a new communion rail was constructed across the nave of the church as you enter the chancel.
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During Pastor Goehle's twenty-five years of service to his Lord at Saint Stephanus congregation, he was involved in all aspects of congregational life, Central Lutheran School, and many community activities. He started the Altar Guild at Saint Stephanus and re-activated the Men's Club. He had a bus bring Concordia College students to teach Sunday School classes. For a time he was the District Walther League advisor. He drove a Central Lutheran School van to enable Roseville children to attend Central Lutheran School.
Saint Stephanus congregation grew under Pastor Goehle's leadership. He was a strong administrator who worked hard at keeping the congregation out of debt. Many young men and women were encouraged by him to be pastors and teachers.
The greater St. Paul community also benefitted from Pastor Goehle's leadership. He served on the St. Paul Ramsey Hospital Board and the Thomas-Dale Development Council. He helped make St. Stephanus available to the community for Head Start classes and he served as Chaplain for the 61st session of the Minnesota House of Representatives.
During the last year of Pastor Goehle's service to Saint Stephanus, he was assisted by Mr. Duane P. Marburger, who served from October, 1977 to September, 1978 as Director of Christian Education and Youth.
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The congregation called Reverend James Vehling, who already held membership at Saint Stephanus,
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Pastor Vehling states: "My recollection of ministry at St. Stephanus can be described as very positive. In a word, those seven years were extremely busy yet satisfying. We sought new and better ways to serve one another and the community. We tried to retain good and worthy traditions while at the same time incorporating new and creative approaches to ministry. Together we promoted Christian education as one of the primary means of communicating the Good News. In the parish setting, the growing interest in Bible study was a thrill. Tuesday Morning Bible Class with a large number of Senior Citizens in attendance, the diligence of the participants in "Crossways" and the faithful folk who gathered at dawn on Wednesdays will always be in my memory. One of the resuks of studying the Word was a greater awareness of the necessity to show compassion and concern for those in special need -- the home-bound, the elderly, the sick, the downtrodden. We cannot forget the joy at seeing elders serve as messengers of Word and Sacrament to the homebound or of hearing about the expressions of love for the sick and lonely by members of the parish. And who can forget the collection of crutches, commodes, wheelchairs, hospital beds, et al. that have been donated to the church for loan to those needing such equipment."
Pastor Vehling was involved in the community life. He was a founding member of the Frogtown Community Association and served on its Board of Directors.
In 1982 women were granted the right to become voting members of the congregation.
Pastor Vehling's ministry at Saint Stephanus was augmented in September, 1983, when the congregation called Mr. Richard Reisetter to serve as Director of Evangelism. Mr. Reisetter had served as a D.E. intern at Saint Stephanus from July, 1982 until November, 1982.
From September, 1983 to June, 1987 he conducted witness workshops, started a greeters' program, started a sponsor program for new members, taught the "Life With God" adult instruction course, and was involved with Wilder High Rise Bible Study and other early morning breakfast Bible Study groups.
After accepting a Call to St. Paul Lutheran Church in St. Joseph, Missouri, Mr. Reisetter left in June, 1987.
In the spring of 1986, Pastor Vehling accepted a Call from the Board of Mission Services to return to Japan as a missionary. He preached his farewell sermon at Saint Stephanus on July 10, 1986.
Reverend Sohn once again agreed to serve as vacancy pastor, on the condition that he could call upon others to do most of the preaching, since he was a full-time member and Chairman of the Religion Department at Concordia College.
Reverend Sohn served about 15 months. The congregation remained active and vibrant during this time. Many new ideas and practices were considered, such as: early communion, adoption of a new hymnal, Lutheran Worship, the use of a cantor for the liturgy, the decision to purchase handbells, and the introduction of a Sunday evening service using alternate worship forms.
There were 888 congregational members at the beginning of the vacancy and 887 members when the vacancy ended. In between, the congregation received about 125 new members to replace those who left the congregation or died. During the vacancy the congregation also went from a $22,000 debt to a $10,000 surplus. This debt elimination is even more a tribute to the congregation members when one realizes that this was done shortly after the congregation had pledged over $52,000 to Synod for the Alive in Christ financial campaign.
Reverend Richard Carter served the congregation as an Assisting Pastor during 1987 and 1988. Before coming to Saint Stephanus, Pastor Carter had served as professor and administrator of the extension program of the Lutheran Seminary in Nigeria. At Saint Stephanus, Pastor Carter worked on a special study program for the Board of Lay Ministry and with the early communion instruction.
In September, 1987, while serving as a senior pastor at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, Reverend Dan Siedenburg received a divine Call from the congregation, which he accepted.
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In his first 26 months of ministry, the congregation grew from 887 souls to 938. As of January 1, 1990, there were 696 communicant members and 175 voting members.
At the end of 1989, the congregation was able to fulfill all of its financial obligations.
On January 12, 1990, gale force winds blew about one third of the bricks off the front of the church. The preliminary estimated cost of damage was $75,000.
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Saint Stephanus, as the rest of our parent body, the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, has not been immune to such change. Our congregation has evolved under the influences of both societal change and synodical change.
Those of us who have joined Saint Stephanus in the last few decades, whether through baptism, transfer, or adult confirmation, can't possibly have a total perspective of what congregational life was like during earlier times. It might not be too surprising to find out that the congregation primarily grew out of German stock. Look at the names of today's members and you see many obviously German spellings. Siedenburg certainly is not an Irish name. However, if you look at the names of the members and clergymen during the first few decades, you would see even more such names.
Of course, names alone do not a heritage make. St. Stephanus was at one time a totally male dominated institution. By 1930 St. Stephanus Lutheran School had employed only two women teachers. We realize how slowly change sometimes comes when we note that women had no voting rights at St. Stephanus until 1982.
Another German Lutheran tradition of the past was having all the men sit on the one side of the aisle and the women on the other. This practice ceased in the early 1920's. On top of that, the women in the early days did not approach the communion rail until after all the men had communed.
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Change does not always come easily or without struggles, but it does come. Now that you have read the history of St. Stephanus, think of the changes which have occurred, dream of those you'd like to see happen, and plan to work for their acceptance as St. Stephanus Lutheran Church enters its second century of sharing God's love.
Our eighth pastor, Reverend James Bender, was called as an Assistant Pastor to Pastor Siedenberg in 1991. In 1994 Pastor Siedenburg took a call to California, leaving Pastor Bender as the sole pastor. Pastor Bender served the congregation through December, 2008, when he took a call to Kansas.
This excerpt was taken from the Centennial Book, a detailed history of the congregation, prepared by Marian Harmening and Edward Potter.
Pastor
Richard von Niebelschuetz