History

Martin Luther Chapel has a long legacy in the East Lansing community with residents and Michigan State University students. Visit our chapel, and become a part of our history.

Our History

In 1921, Rev. Paul Woldt of Trinity Lutheran Church in Lansing, MI began working with the Lutheran students at Michigan State University, then known as Michigan Agricultural College. In 1931, Rev. Philip Schroeder took over for Rev. Woldt and served for eight years. Christ Lutheran Church, Lansing assumed the campus ministry in 1939 and 1940 since his church was closer to MSU than Trinity Lutheran,. Following in his father’s footsteps, Rev. Enno Woldt served as part time pastor. Their home became a virtual second home to students.

In 1942, Rev. Woldt helped form Alpha Omicron Chapter of Gamma Delta, an international association of Lutheran college and university students. On Sunday evenings, a meal was provided, followed by a discussion period, and closed with a vespers service. The Sunday meal is still a tradition today at Martin Luther Chapel. Two of the first three Gamma Delta presidents attended Concordia Seminary to study for the ministry. Due to a growing student population, the need for a student center and chapel materialized. A committee of students, pastors and synod officials of the English District of the Missouri Synod conducted the search for a suitable location. On August 1, 1954, the English District Mission Board purchased the property at 444 Abbott Road, East Lansing. This house, formerly All Saints Episcopal Church, and later served as a parsonage, became the first and long awaited Martin Luther Chapel and Student Center. During the summer of 1954, three large groups of students spent three weekends cleaning, fixing, and painting the house. On October 3, 1954, Martin Luther Chapel and Student Center was formally dedicated with guest speaker the Rev. Scheips, student pastor at the University of Michigan. Vicar William Woldt, son of Rev. Enno Woldt, student pastor at Christ Lutheran was chosen to assist in parish and student work. He and his wife moved into the apartment that fall. The first eight students to act as caretakers also moved into the third floor.

On August 1, 1955, Martin Luther Chapel and house received the first full time student pastor in its history, Dr. Gerhart Mundinger. Having received his Ph.D. at the University of Wisconsin, completed his studies for ministry at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis. On March 4, 1956, at the installation banquet, Rev. Enno Woldt was honored for 16 years of service as the student pastor, for helping establish a Gamma Delta Chapter, and for his instrumental leadership in the purchase of the new facility. Dr. Mundinger was ordained as the full time pastor June 3, 1956. Dr. Mundinger also lectured at MSU in the religion department. In December a chapel assembly was officially formed by the English District of the Missouri Synod. Students carried out the ministry on the Michigan State University campus and student officers were elected to lead the various activities of the local Lutheran Church congregation. Pastor Mundinger left in 1958. Rev. Donald Ortner, assistant pastor at Grace Lutheran Church in Pontiac, became interim pastor for a year. Mrs. Ortner served as organist and their son, Stephen, was the altar boy. Pastor Henry Gross, a retired pastor assisting at Christ Church, and Pastor David Metzger, a retired Wisconsin synod pastor from Lansing, preached when Pastor Ortner was preaching at Grace Church. Pastor Ortner conducted the Sunday night Vespers to stay in contact with the students. In addition to his chapel duties, he taught at Rodney B. Wilson High School in St. Johns and also studied for his doctorate degree. His wife, active members, students and Gamma Delta members, were instrumental with additional duties of the chapel. The chapel was truly a student centered, student governed and student run church. Despite questions at this time of ongoing funding for the ministry, newer facilities and a pastor, God continued to bless us.

In the fall of 1959, the students received their second full time pastor, the Rev. William Britton, who had previously served as student pastor at Kansas University. In the summer of 1960 the English District of the Lutheran Church voted to provide the MSU students with a better facility. Thus began the exciting time of planning and then, construction of a new facility to replace the house on Abbot Road, the Martin Luther Chapel and Student Center. The house that had served as Martin Luther Chapel and Student Center was razed, and on the same piece of land, a church was built. The cornerstone was placed in October, 1963. One year later, the dedication service for the completed building took place. The shingles of this stave church, which is mostly roof at a very steep incline, were all cut and placed by the hands of one man with only two tools. All the bricks were hand made. During the time of construction, the Michigan State University chapel was used for worship services. Rev. Theodore Bundenthal served as Pastor from 1961-1967. During his time there, the new building was constructed and dedicated. Rev. David Kruse began his ministry in 1967. He continued to expand the ministry primarily by involving the community in a larger role in the ministry. In the late 1970’s, he replaced the “big green school bus,” which had been used to transport students, with a van.

In 1980, Rev. David Dressel accepted the call from Martin Luther Chapel and continues as pastor today. In May of 2010, the English District of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod awarded him an honorary Doctor of Divinity in recognition of his service to the English District in many roles and his exemplary pastoral work in national and local campus ministry. The ministry has grown by leaps and bounds and continues as a vital ministry to college students as well as community residents. Since Pastor Dave has been at Martin Luther Chapel, a mission congregation in Haslett, St. Luke Lutheran, has been established. The Steinway piano was rebuilt, the boiler received an overhaul, and a new van was purchased in 1997 to replace the one purchased in the 70’s. The building itself has gone through two major renovations. The first was in 1990 when an apartment was added for the Chapel Manager’s residence, and the second was completed and dedicated in September, 2002. This was a major renovation that expanded the existing narthex, added a childcare room, new kitchen, new office space, and an elevator.