Kountze Memorial Lutheran Church
{{Short description|Lutheran church in Omaha, Nebraska, U.S.}}
{{Infobox religious building
| building_name =Kountze Memorial Lutheran Church
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| image =KountzeLutheranOmaha.jpg
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| caption =The church in 2021
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| location = 2650 Farnam Street
Omaha, Nebraska
| coordinates = {{Coord|41|15|29|N|95|57|04|W|format=dms|display=inline,title|type:landmark_region:US-NE}}
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| religious_affiliation =Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
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| website ={{url|http://www.kmlchurch.org}}
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| groundbreaking =1904
| year_completed =1906
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Kountze Memorial Lutheran Church is located at 2650 Farnam Street in Midtown Omaha, Nebraska. Organized on December 5, 1858, as Emanuel's Evangelical Lutheran Church, the church is thought to be the first Lutheran congregation organized west of the Missouri River.[http://www.kmlchurch.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=42&Itemid=94 "Church history"], Kountze Memorial Lutheran Church. Retrieved 1/31/08. In the 1920s the church was credited with being the largest Lutheran congregation in the United States.Schwarz, J.C. (1936) Religious Leaders of America: Who's Who in the American Clergy. p 36.Carey, F. (1929) "Romance of Omaha." Supplement to the Omaha Bee. Chapter 10.
History
In 1856, Augustus Kountze, then a young banker new to Omaha from Ohio, requested a pastor from the church of his youth. Reverend Henry Kuhns conducted the first Lutheran services in Omaha on November 21, 1858, with 14 founding members.[http://www.historicomaha.com/ofcchap3.htm "Creightons Arrived in '56; Church Bells Rang Over New City"], HistoricOmaha.com. Retrieved 2/1/08. In 1862 the church constructed its first building at 13th and Douglas Streets in Downtown Omaha.Rea, L. (2004) [http://www.omahahistory.org/History%20at%20a%20Glance%209-2007.pdf History at a Glance] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081029122148/http://www.omahahistory.org/History%20at%20a%20Glance%209-2007.pdf |date=October 29, 2008 }}, Douglas County Historical Society. p 16. Retrieved 1/31/08. The second building was constructed in 1885 at 16th and Harney Streets and was named in memory of Kountze's father, Christian Kountze, after Augustus contributed one half of the construction costs.[http://omaha.lib.ne.us/earlyomaha/buildings/kountze_memorial.html "Kountze Memorial Church"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061007003214/http://www.omaha.lib.ne.us/earlyomaha/buildings/kountze_memorial.html |date=2006-10-07 }}, Omaha Public Library. Retrieved 1/31/08.
The current building was opened in 1906, and the church continued to grow, adding neighborhood Sunday Schools across Omaha. Many of these Sunday Schools later developed into separate congregations, including the Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer on North 24th Street, Gethsemane Lutheran Church at 19th and Castelar, Pilgrim Lutheran Church at 42nd and Bancroft Streets, and St. Matthew Lutheran Church at 60th and Walnut. In 1916 the church claimed to be the largest Lutheran congregation in the world, with over 2,000 members.[http://memories.ne.gov/cdm/ref/collection/opl/id/38 "Kountze Memorial Church"], Nebraska Memories. Retrieved 1/31/08. During the First World War the pastor of Kountze was embroiled in controversy as he was an outspoken opponent of the war. While many German members supported him, many in the congregation did not; however, he was not asked to leave his position.Ross, W.G. (1994) Forging New Freedoms: Nativism, Education, and the Constitution. University of Nebraska Press. p 76.
The conventional of the Evangelical Lutheran General Synod of the United States of America was held at the church in 1887.[http://www.graceluth.com/gelc/information/info-history.shtml "A Historical Sketch of Grace Memorial Lutheran Church"], Retrieved 1/31/08. In 1940, Kountze hosted the annual convention of the United Lutheran Church in America.
Extensive remodeling and repair work coincided with the 100th anniversary of the building in 2006. Kountze celebrated its 150th anniversary as a congregation in 2008.[http://www.kmlchurch.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=42&Itemid=94 "Church history"], Kountze Memorial Lutheran Church. Retrieved 1/31/08.
See also
References
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External links
- [http://www.kmlchurch.org/ Church website]
- [http://www.historicomaha.com/kntzmmrl.jpg Modern photo]
- [http://www.omahapubliclibrary.org/galleries/artwork/awo_049a.jpg Historic photo] of the second building
- [http://memories.ne.gov/cdm/ref/collection/opl/id/38 Historic postcard] of the current building - Nebraska Memories
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Category:Churches completed in 1913
Category:20th-century Lutheran churches in the United States
Category:Churches in Omaha, Nebraska
Category:Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Category:Lutheran churches in Nebraska