Church History

History of Ascension

Ascension Lutheran Church was formed in February 1966 to share the good news of God in Jesus christ with people in the greater Burlington area. Our faith community attracts people from as far away as Isle-LaMotte, St. Albans, Morrisville, Waterbury, Hinesburg, Charlotte, as well as Burlington, Essex Junction, Williston, Bristol, Middlebury, Stowe, Vergennes, and Colchester. Rev. Dale Gustafson, fresh out of seminary, was sent by Synod to be our first Pastor and as a mission developer. The new congregation met at Orchard School for 3 years using the folded up lunch tables as an altar covered by a cloth fashioned by Mable Fisher.

We are now located on Allen Road, off Shelburne Road (Route 7) and Spear Street, and have been called "the church in the trees" because of the massive pines which grace our property.

We continue to grow in faith and participation, serving the needs and interests of a diverse, multi-generational congregation. We hope we will get to know one another!

History of the ELCA

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America was formed over 20 years ago. This new church was formed from three separate and well-established North American church bodies:

•  The American Lutheran Church
• The Association of Evangelical Lutheran Churches, and
• The Lutheran Church in America.

Beginning January 1, 1988, these churches, with shared beliefs and missions, officially formed the ELCA. Two decades later, this energized church is composed of 4.8 million members and nearly 10,500 congregations across the U.S. and Caribbean. Today, the ELCA reflects the rich and diverse heritage of the people it serves.

But to understand our heritage fully, one must trace our roots back through the mid-17th century, when early Lutherans came to America from Europe, settling in the Virgin Islands and the area that is now known as New York. Even before that, Martin Luther sought reform for the church in the 16th century, laying the framework for our beliefs.

Read about Lutheran Roots in America on the ELCA website >>

Go to our own What is the ELCA page >>