Peace Lutheran Church-ELCA

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Pastor Robert Linstrom and the people of Peace welcome you to Peace Lutheran Church in South Haven, Michigan!

In the early spring of 1901, a small group of Lutherans met in the new Indiana School building to organize a second Lutheran church in South Haven. Doctrinal disputes with the Wisconsin Synod had provoked their withdrawal from affiliation with that synod and the local Wisconsin Synod congregation. While the task of founding a new congregation was daunting, it was not long before “Der Deutschen Evangelische Lutherische Friedensgemeinde” (The German Evangelical Lutheran Peace Congregation) was organized. Pastor Heinrich Thedinga began to serve the new ministry in June of 1901. 35 households made up the charter membership of this congregation. 1901. 35 households made up the charter membership of this congregation.
As the ministry of this new congregation was begun, attention was centered on the young people through the development of a Sunday School, catechetical classes, and a Christian Day School taught in German. Participation in the Day School was required for two years in order to join the congregation. A choir was organized in 1901 and the Ladies Aid Society was begun in 1909.

Because the congregation consisted largely of young couples who had recently arrived from Germany, earthly possessions were few. Consequently, the early days of establishing the ministry of the congregation were difficult. However, about a year after organization, land was purchased and construction of a church building was begun. The church building lifted spirits and provided a solidarity to the congregation, but continuing financial indebtedness caused concerns, particularly during the Depression years, until the mortgage was finally retired in 1937.
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