Zion's Neighboring Lutheran Congregations

Zion's Neighboring Lutheran Congregations

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Zion is one of 28 congregations of the Northern Conference, Central/Southern Illinois Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The heritage of these congregations is predominantly immigrants from Germany and Sweden. Sister congregations from the Conference with a Web presence include:

First English Lutheran Church, Peoria.

Organized in 1906, this was the first Peoria Lutheran congregation to worship primarily in English, though Zion (and presumedly other Peoria Lutheran congregations) had already been offering English language worship for nearly a decade.

Grace and Peace Lutheran Church, Peoria

Formed in 1994 by the merger of two Peoria congregations, Grace Lutheran Church and Peace Lutheran Church. Organized in 1911, Grace's heritage can be traced back to one of the Illinois Lutheran synods that would form the United Lutheran Church in America in 1918. Peace was a daughter congregation of Zion and First English that was organized in 1982.

St. Paul Lutheran Church, Peoria

Organized in 1853, St. Paul is the mother church of Zion and several other Central Illinois Lutheran congregations and has been located mid-town since 1966. Until 1875 St. Paul was part of the General Synod through the Northern Illinois Synod, after which she joined the Iowa Synod.

Salem Lutheran Church, Peoria

This congregation of Swedish Augustana Synod heritage organized in 1883 and moved to mid-town Peoria in 1964.

Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church of Peoria

First planted as a Sunday School in 1883 by the Pastor and people of St. Paul's in Peoria (and thus the Iowa Synod), Zion has been at the corner of Easton and Hayes since prior to her organization in 1894. The link is to Zion's alternate website at forMinistry.com, a ministry of the American Bible Society, which offers free websites to all churches in North America. We also have another alternate site at Lutherans Online, which is sponsored by Thrivent Financial for Lutherans. Pages for Zion can also be found on Facebook and MyChurch.org.

Bethel Evangelical Lutheran Church, Bartonville

A daughter congregation of Zion organized in 1909 and our nearest ELCA neighbor, Bethel and Zion were a 2-point parish served by the same pastor until 1920. Many of Bethel's first members were immigrants from England working the mines just south of Peoria who were evangelized by Zion's German-American Lutheran pastors.

St. John Lutheran Church, Bartonville

While officially organized in 1853, St. John's history claims to pre-date St. Paul's, and thus would be the oldest "Peoria" ELCA congregation. It was first served by pastors of the Northern Illinois Synod and in 1888 joined the Iowa Synod.

Trinity Lutheran Church, Canton

Trinity organized in 1890 as the Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Church. The Augustana Synod congregation was renamed Bethlehem when the primary worship language became English in 1919, and was finally renamed Trinity in 1926.

Wiley Lutheran Church, Ellisville

Organized in 1879, the heritage of this rural parish is the Illinois Synod.

St. Peter Lutheran Church, Glasford

The country parish of Iowa Synod heritage was established south-west of Peoria in 1885 by St. Paul's, Peoria.

St. John's Lutheran Church, Hartsburg

Another rural parish of Iowa Synod heritage, established in the town of Hartsburg north of Lincoln in 1885.

Immanuel Lutheran Church, Lincoln

Established in 1892 by German-speaking Lutherans, this congregation has been served by two pastors who would later serve as Lutheran Bishops in Illinois.

Immanuel Lutheran Church, Minonk

This rural congregation organized in 1915.

Advent Lutheran Church, Morton

Organized in 1966 by developers from the Lutheran Church in America for this growing suburb of Peoria.

Our Savior Lutheran Church, Pekin

A former United Lutheran Church in America mission that organized in 1958.

Zion-Penn Ridge Lutheran Church, Trivoli

A small congregation organized in 1849 by Lutherans from Pennsylvania. They would later be affiliated with the United Lutheran Church in America.

Faith Evangelical Lutheran Church, Washington

Another daughter church of Zion (and thus the American Lutheran Church), Faith was organized in 1947 in Sunnyland.

St. Mark's Lutheran Church, Washington

Organized in 1875, but with roots that go back before the Civil War, St. Mark's was part of the Illinois Synod, which in 1918 would become a synod of the United Lutheran Church in America.

Bethany Lutheran Church, Wenona.

A rural congregation of Swedish Augustana Synod roots, organized in 1892.

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Central Ilinois also has many congregations of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod. While theological differences have kept the ELCA and LCMS far from full fellowship, the Peoria area congregations are able to co-operate in supporting the local ministries of Lutheran Hillside Village, a continuing care retirement community, and Lutheran Social Services of Illinois. LCMS congregations nearest to Zion include:

Christ Lutheran Church, Peoria

Zion's neighbor on the South Side, only a couple of blocks away since both congregations organized in 1894. Christ is a daughter church of Trinity Lutheran Church, Peoria, and has a fine K-8 school with a pre-school.

Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church, Peoria

This congregation was organized in 1961 and in 2004 re-located to the property Redeemer Lutheran (see below) outgrew and sold in 1997.

Mount Calvary Evangelical Lutheran Church, Peoria

A mid-town, neighborhood congregation organized in 1932.

Redeemer Lutheran Church, Peoria

Organized in 1949, Redeemer is the largest Lutheran congregation in Peoria.

Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, Peoria

The only remaining downtown Peoria Lutheran congregation was established in 1857 when dissidents from St. Paul Lutheran Church sought a pastor from the Missouri Synod. Trinity is a mother church of the Peoria LCMS congregations.

St John's Lutheran Church, Green Valley

This congregation was established in 1876.

St Peter's Lutheran Church, East Peoria

This congregation, just across the Illinois River from Zion, was established in 1895.

Bethel Lutheran Church, Morton

This congregation was established in 1945.

St. John's Evangelical-Lutheran Church of Pekin

The oldest LCMS congregation in the area, organized in 1852.

Trinity Lutheran Church of Pekin

This congregation was established in 1941 by members of St. John's.

Our Savior Lutheran Church, Washington

This congregation was established in 1965.

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The nearest congregation of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod is:

Living Hope Evangelical Lutheran Church, Peoria: The congregation organized in the 1990s and moved into their permanent church building -- purchased from Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church (LCMS) -- in 2004.

[ELDoNA]

There is one independent Lutheran congregation in the Peoria area.

Holy Cross Evangelical Lutheran Church, Peoria: Organized in 1968, this congregation near the Bellevue community on the west side of Peoria left the Missouri Synod in 2008. Her pastor is a member of ELDoNA, the Evangelical Lutheran Diocese of North America.

The nearest congregation of the Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ is Peoria's newest Lutheran church:

Living Waters Lutheran Church, Peoria: This congregation is being established (in May 2010) by dissidents from St. Paul Lutheran Church, Peoria, and others departing area ELCA congregations, an after-effect of decisions at the 2009 ELCA Churchwide Assembly.

The Rev. Steven Paul Tibbetts, STS
Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church
1534 S. Easton Avenue
Peoria, IL 61605-3407
(309) 637-9150
zion.elca.peoria@ecunet.org

URL: www.zionpeoria.org/neighbors.html