Who We Are

At Gustavus Adolphus, service to neighbor is at the heart of who we are. We are a congregation that works to embody the love of God by showing up for our community, from participating in the creation and support of local hospitals, schools, and care centers for the elderly in the early years of the church, to our partnerships with Merrick Community Services, Lutheran Social Services, and Lyngblomsten today, as well as our free weekly community meal. We love being part of St. Paul’s East Side community and value our partnerships with other nearby ELCA churches through the East Side Collaborative.

In January of 2026, the congregation unanimously voted to become a Reconciling in Christ congregation. This welcome statement reflects our commitment to those values.

Gustavus Adolphus Lutheran Church is a congregation committed to the proclamation of the gospel of Jesus Christ for every person. All people who attend our worship services and events are welcome, regardless of age, race, citizenship, gender identity and expression, socioeconomic status, family status, sexual orientation, physical abilities, mental abilities, or where they are on their faith journey.

Membership is based on baptism and an expressed desire to be part of this congregation. Membership, however, is not required to participate in this journey of faith with us. We seek both members and friends committing to the ongoing work of anti-racism, serving our neighbors, and embodying God’s grace and unconditional love for all creation.

OUR CORE VALUES

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GROW IN SPIRITUAL VITALITY

We believe that the journey of faith is a holistic, life-long walk. It is about being nurtured in our understanding of God’s unconditional love and grace, as well as being encouraged to live our faith in every aspect of our life. Our commitment is to provide diverse and meaningful opportunities to grow in our spiritual vitality through study, service and multi-generational experiences.

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WORSHIP CREATIVELY AND FAITHFULLY TOGETHER

We celebrate the powerful witness of our Lutheran heritage, the strong values of liturgical worship and preaching the Biblical story in creative and relevant ways. We are committed to providing worship that honors our traditions, welcomes new and adapted experiences and encourages participation of all people no matter who they are or from where they come.

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EMBRACE OUR WONDER

Life is not a simple black and white experience. It is filled with wonder, profound questions, and living with the unknown. Taking risks, making mistakes, and feeling safe to ask questions are essential in our community of faith. We live this out by meeting people where they are, valuing a variety of perspectives of faith and life, letting “no” be as important as saying “yes” and reflecting, in everything we do, the unconditional love and acceptance of a gracious God.

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BUILD AUTHENTIC CHRISTIAN RELATIONSHIPS

Knowing our neighbor is as much an act of authentic engagement as it is a desire to welcome all who come into our lives. Our commitment to build authentic Christian relationships is to be “in” the community, to faithfully accept people that are different from us, genuinely get to know our neighbors, even when it may call us to enter the trenches of their lives. We want to be the face of Jesus to others.

Our core values define the heart of who we are and who we desire to be as a congregation. They are both representative and aspirational. We embody these values in our daily lives through our variety of vocational calls and through our shared work and ministry as a congregation. Our core values guide the decisions that our lay leaders and pastors make on behalf of our congregation.