The History of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church

Written by Howard Fenton & Adapted by Kelly Ylitalo

Early Manistee, MI saw the influx of many immigrant nationalities, among which were the Danes, Swedes, Norwegians, and Germans, and most of these were of Lutheran heritage.  As each immigrant group spoke its own language, it was necessary to form several separate Lutheran congregations.

In 1950, the Norwegian church dissolved their congregation, and its members joined the other Lutheran churches in the area at that time:  Our Savior’s belonging to the Lutheran Church in America (LCA) Danish Synod; Messiah, formerly Ansgarius Evangelical Lutheran Church and belonging to the LCA Swedish Augustana Synod; St. Peter belonging to the American Lutheran Church (ALC) German Synod; and Norwalk Lutheran belonging to the ALC Synod.

In early 1969, at a chance luncheon meeting, members form Messiah and Our Savior’s remarked how nice it would be if the congregations could all become one.  Both church boards were approached, and soon interest began to grow.  Next, St. Peter’s was asked to join the discussion (Norwalk Lutheran did not wish to be part of a merger), and a study was formed.  After much prayerful consideration, discussions, and meetings with the presidents of the LCA Michigan Synod and the ALC Michigan District, the three congregations voted to merge.

The name Good Shepherd Lutheran Church was chosen, and Messiah, being the largest of the three edifices, was selected as the facility and site for our worship and ministry.  We officially became one congregation on January 4, 1970 and were governed by the LCA until the LCA merged with the ALC and the Association of Evangelical Lutheran Churches to form the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) in 1988.