The History of Trinity Lutheran Church

— New Directions: the turbulent 60's

The next quarter-century brought more growth and outreach, but in varied and unpredictable ways. The sixties were a difficult time for our nation. Generational clashes, racial strife, and differing opinions about our involvement in a war in Southeast Asia tore our nation apart.

Memphis in 1957 was feeling a surge of growth prompted by a war-inflated economy and my northern industrial labor problems. Residential neighborhoods expanded to the south, east, and north. Interstate expressways were soon under construction. The Liberty Bowl Stadium and Midsouth Coliseum were built in the sixties, away from downtown. Large shopping centers sprang up in the suburbs, and the general migration was away from the river. However, three notable anchors remained within a mile of the church: the Medical Center, the University of Tennessee Center for the Health Sciences and government services.

Pastor Paul Martens came to Trinity from a mission background, having served ten years in China. Beginning in the sixties, when the post-World War II world was opening to the Gospel in many exciting ways, he served on the syndical Board for Missions, with the congregation’s blessing. After Trinity’s expansion and building projects were completed in the early sixties, the church began to deal with the concept of ‘mission’ close at hand. In line with city growth, the Memphis Lutheran family increased greatly, numbering 19 congregations by 1969. Much of that growth was made up of younger members of Trinity who were starting families and moving to the subarbs.

Trinity looked upon the transfer as an important mission movement, and considered it a blessing to help establish new congregations. A nucleus remained, however, with some people driving long distances to continue active participation at the downtown church. In time, city expansion resulted in two significant factors for Trinity: the median age of members rose, and the image of “Dear Old Mother Church” settled about her, tempting her to limit her vision of her own future.

All downtown churches faced similar problems. For mutual strengthening and intelligent planning, the Downtown churches association was formed in 1967. Trinity initiated a self-study and found much work to be done in the congregation and within the vicinity of the church.

Daytime parking problems led her to begin the first Vacation Bible School in the city. The work expanded to include sessions for children in a neighboring housing project as well.

At this time, the collection of hospitals within miles of Trinity, known collectively as the Medical Center, was the largest hospital center in the world. The task of administering spiritual care at the Medical Center became too numerous to be followed up by the Lutheran pastors of the city; so, in 1964, Pastor E W Callies was called as Institutional Chaplain by the Mid-south District. In addition to sharing the regular hospital ministry, he carried on work at the Psychiatric Hospital, at Juvenile Court and in the jails.

The popular Noonday Book Review lunches were begun at the church in 1967 in four week series, twice yearly. For attorneys, businessmen, office workers and homemakers alike, this program was designed to raise Christian consciousness in the community.

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