The History of St. Paul's Lutheran Church Manistee, Michigan

Abstract

Brad Wright’s 1991 history of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Manistee, Michigan, traces the congregation’s development from its founding in 1881 through 1990. Initially served by unaffiliated pastors, the church joined the Michigan Synod in 1885 under Rev. A. Moussa. Wright details the construction of the church and school buildings, pastoral transitions, and the congregation’s steady spiritual growth. The essay highlights key events such as the 50th and 75th anniversaries, the hosting of the Michigan District Pastoral Conference in 1949, and the challenges of pastoral retention due to internal conflicts. Financial records and excerpts from bulletins illustrate the church’s operations and evolving concerns. Wright concludes with reflections on the congregation’s resilience, its desire for dedicated pastoral leadership, and its potential for renewal. The essay includes the church’s constitution and 1990 financial report. —Abstract created by Microsoft Copilot (GPT-4)