MIF loan helps Central Lutheran Church meet the needs of its neighbors today
It was time for something new for Minneapolis’ downtown cathedral congregation just over four years ago. The Rev. Peter Nycklemoe had just arrived as the new pastor for Central Lutheran Church, and a visioning process began, with intimate “cottage meetings” in members’ homes.
A commitment to renewal emerged from that discernment process. Members agreed that a mission-focused congregation would focus on worship life, deep faith formation, service to the community and generosity.
With a nod to all four of these key areas, the congregation turned to its physical environment. The campus’ 1950s ministry buildings updated with 1980s additions not only had fallen into disrepair, but more important, these buildings no longer effectively served the needs of the congregation. Central Lutheran draws its 1,100 baptized membership from throughout the entire Twin Cities metro area. City dwellers, folks from 29 different zip codes and many visitors worship in this neo-Gothic cathedral. And the congregation reaches out to its city neighbors.
The stately neo-Gothic sanctuary of Central Lutheran Church—and the Minneapolis skyline—rise up over the congregation’s new building, the “renewed vessel,” where faith formation and care for the community take place.
“We took the time to listen to God and to each other,” Pastor Nycklemoe recalls. As a result, Central’s members made the bold decision to tear down the dated ministry buildings, covering 75,000 square feet, and replace them with a dynamic, new space—a highly efficient and accessible 22,000-square-foot building that would be inviting and inspirational. Congregation members chose the Mission Investment Fund as their lender for this large-scale project.
“MIF’s relational and missional process is most appealing to me,” Pastor Nycklemoe says. “MIF starts out in a relational way and wants to understand our missional goals. And I appreciate that when we choose MIF as our lender, our loan payments go back to help other congregations do what we’re doing.”
For Central’s grand cathedral MIF financing helped restore stained glass windows and enhance lighting and sound.
As the dated ministry buildings came down, only the glorious sanctuary remained. MIF’s loan assisted some updating there as well, with restoration of stained glass windows and updates to lighting and sound.
But the real work took place immediately adjacent to the sanctuary with the construction of a modern, circular, wraparound building. Today, here stands a great room, with a two-story wall of windows providing a view to downtown Minneapolis—and Central’s neighbors.
“While our cathedral is more introspective, our new, adjacent building is circular by design, completely organic, filled with natural light and outward-looking,” Pastor Nycklemoe says. “This new building supports our sense of connection to the community. Our hope is that the building will help us be more integrated into the community.”
Indeed, it is. Outreach to the community is deep and varied at Central. The new building houses Central’s Restoration Center, where thoughtful and innovative work takes place for people experiencing homelessness and poverty. Central manages a health care ministry, in partnership with Augsburg University, that provides a host of health services—from checking blood pressure to monitoring for diabetes—with a special focus on foot care, a constant priority for people experiencing homelessness. Central’s Restoration Center also provides a Free Store, a well-stocked boutique of new and gently used clothes, accessories and household items. Another unique service offers emergency rental assistance for individuals and families facing a loss of income and difficulty making the next month’s rent. Another effort, Street Voices of Change, advocates to empower those who have experienced homelessness to work for change.
Central’s volunteers serve up weekly meals for city neighbors in the new building’s large fellowship space.
Central’s new building draws in the community as well as its own membership with a huge, flexible fellowship space. It is here where worship takes place at midday on Mondays, followed by a community meal prepared in the new kitchen. Education rooms house Sunday school and faith formation programs. Exterior courtyards add some of the largest green spaces in downtown Minneapolis.
Says Pastor Nycklemoe: “Our building is open all week for those who are in desperate need. It is our privilege to be there in the city, listening to God’s call to help.”
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