OUR HISTORY
Lamb of God Church began 25 years ago in the San Carlos Park area of Lee County, Florida as two churches. In 2004, the two congregations were legally merged to form the first Lutheran Episcopal Congregation in the State of Florida, and only the second in the nation. This merger was approved by both the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the Episcopal Church USA. The rest as they say, “is history”. Learn more about how we got started, our merge with St. Joseph’s Episcopal Church, and what we’re up to now!
TIMELINE
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1982
A New Ministry Profile was submitted to form Lamb of God Lutheran Church and The Rev. Byron W. White, SR. was called as the first Pastor in 1984. 1985 St. Joseph’s Episcopal Church was organized and services were held at San Carlos Park. E. Maurice Pearce was the Priest-in-Charge. 1994 Walter Fohs was installed as pastor at Lamb of God Lutheran Church. 1995 Decision was made to sell the existing building, using the proceeds to pay off the mortgage and initiated a campaign to raise $500,000 to purchase a new site and construct a new building. 2000 Although the federated congregation was not legally formed until 2004, the two congregations began meeting together in late 2000 The gradual merging of two congregations into one was historic. Lamb of God Church became the first federated Lutheran and Episcopal Congregation in the State of Florida and only the second in the nation. 2001 The Arbor was completed. St. Joseph Episcopal Church and Lamb of God joined together to form the “Lamb of God Lutheran-Episcopal Adventure”. Father Richard Palmer and Pastor Walter Fohs served the congregation. |
2002
Becky Robbins-Penniman, an Episcopal priest, joined the congregation. Walter and Becky’s ministry was creative, dynamic and laughter filled, and LOG was truly a united congregation. During this time we professed our values as “Boldly Inclusive, Intentionally Challenging and Joyfully Spiritual”. 2004 Lamb of God Church became the first federated Lutheran and Episcopal Congregation in the State of Florida and only the second in the nation. 2011 Pastor Becky was celebrated as she made the decision to become the Senior Pastor at an Episcopal Church in Dunedin, FL. 2012 Pastor Walter retired from Lamb of God after a long and rewarding career in the ministry. 2013 Pastor Ted Copland, an Episcopal interim priest, guided us through the process of calling a new pastor. Through a congregation-wide survey, several forums and many hours of collaboration, a Profile about who we are as a congregation was written and was been sent out to possible candidates. In August of 2013, Rev. James Reho was installed as Senior Pastor at Lamb of God Church. 2018 Under the guidance of Pastor Carol S. Gates, we are taking the steps to install a call committee and to begin the search for a new pastor. |