On the western edge of downtown Greeneville, Tennessee, a congregation that has lived under the same name since 1892 gathers each Sunday at 400 West Main Street. Reformation Lutheran Church belongs to the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and traces its identity to the Lutheran Reformation, teaching that salvation is a gift of grace received through faith, with Scripture as the standard for Christian life. Members describe the church as a loving, forgiving, concerned community that seeks to proclaim God's love by reaching out to those in need both near and far.
A History on Main Street
The congregation was organized on December 4, 1892 by the Rev. J. L. Murphy. He was followed in 1895 by the Rev. J. C. Barb, who laid the groundwork for a church building on Depot Street. Rev. Francis Marion Harr, serving from 1896 to 1899, designed and built that first building. In 1922 the structure was condemned by the fire department, torn down, and the property sold. The congregation was reorganized in 1924 under Rev. W. C. Huddle and met in borrowed spaces around town, from the courthouse to the Episcopal church and the library.
Rev. Lester A. Wertz arrived in 1930, and construction on the present Main Street church began in 1931 with only $5.37 in the bank. A local man named Fred Rosenblatt became construction foreman, and two farmer members brought their teams and used a bull-tongue plow to loosen the earth, followed by a horse-drawn scoop to excavate the basement. Services first met in that basement, and in the fall of 1932 worship moved into the upstairs sanctuary, with grand hardwood pews and many stained glass windows, the most beautiful being the one behind the altar. The church has continued to grow ever since, adding property, classrooms, the Parish Education Building and Fellowship Hall in 1969, the Easterly Memorial Pipe Organ in 1973, and air-conditioned Augsburg Hall in 1986. The Centennial Year was celebrated in 1992, and in those first one hundred years three young men from the congregation were ordained as Lutheran ministers. A fourth, Rev. Gerald Troutman, went on to become a bishop of the Southeastern Synod of the LCA.
Sunday Worship and Sunday School
Sunday School classes for all ages meet at 9:30 a.m., followed by worship at 10:30 a.m. Services follow the liturgy of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and draw on the talents of a Director of Music, the Altar Guild, ushers, lectors, crucifers, acolytes, and lay assistants. The Easterly Memorial Pipe Organ and stained glass windows shape the sanctuary's traditional feel. The Worship & Music team prepares special liturgies for Christmas Eve, Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, and Good Friday, and assists with baptisms and funerals throughout the year. Each Sunday worship service is livestreamed on YouTube for those unable to attend in person.
Breakfast Club
On the third Sunday of every month, a light breakfast is served in Augsburg Hall at 8:15 a.m. with a short program from a community service group or an individual sharing their ministry. The gathering gives members a chance to connect over coffee and food before Sunday School.
Wednesdays Together and Choir Practice
Wednesday evenings at 5:30 p.m. bring the congregation back to the church for a weekly gathering known as Wednesdays Together. On Thursdays at 5:30 p.m. the choir rehearses in preparation for Sunday worship and special services through the church year.
Christian Education for Every Age
The Christian Education Ministry oversees Sunday School classes for all ages, Adult Bible Study, Confirmation classes, and Vacation Bible School. The team is always looking for teachers and assistants, and encourages every member to participate in some form of ongoing learning.
Piecemakers Quilters and WELCA
Every Tuesday at 10:00 a.m. the Piecemakers Quilters meet in the basement. The quilts they make are given to Lutheran World Relief, Appalachian Helping Hands, the local Food Bank, and other ministries serving people in need. The group also stitches a special quilt for every newborn in the congregation, and quilters of any skill level are welcome.
WELCA, the Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, welcomes all women of the church as members. One circle meets monthly on the third Thursday of each month for lunch, a devotion, prayer, and a business session. Service projects support Lutheran World Relief, the local Food Bank, the Quilting Ministry, the Hope Center, the Children's Advocacy Center, and more. WELCA also hosts an annual Shrove pancake supper and other fundraisers through the year.
Stephen Ministry and Member Care
The congregation chose Stephen Ministry as its way of answering Jesus' command to love one another. Stephen Ministers are trained to provide one-on-one, confidential, non-judgmental Christian presence for people in crisis. A Stephen Minister and a care receiver meet on a regular basis for as long as needed, building a relationship of trust and caring.
The Mutual Ministry team provides regular evaluation of the pastor's ministry, supports the Congregation Council, and encourages continuing education for the pastor and any employees.
Serving Greeneville and Greene County
Reformation's Stewardship team helps select local projects that benefit Appalachian Helping Hands, the Greeneville-Greene County Humane Society, Isaiah 117 House, the Boys & Girls Club, and similar organizations. Each month the congregation collects specific supplies for one of these partners. Recent collections have included towels for Appalachian Helping Hands, canned vegetables for the Food Bank, and individual snacks, baby wash, baby lotion, body wash, shampoo, and conditioner for Isaiah 117 House. Donations can be placed in the marked box in the Sunday School hallway.
Giving can be done in person during the Sunday offering or online through a secure giving page processed by Tithe.ly. One-time and recurring gifts both support the congregation's ministries in Greeneville and Greene County and, through Lutheran World Relief, around the world.
Lutheran Identity
Reformation teaches that we are saved by the grace of God alone, that this salvation comes through faith alone, and that the Bible is the true standard by which all teaching and doctrine are to be judged. The congregation belongs to the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, a community of nearly 10,500 congregations and almost five million members across the United States, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. The Witness & Evangelism team welcomes new members, helps inactive members reconnect, and invites the wider community to share in the life of the church.
Led by Pastor Rev. Mike Sauls, Reformation Lutheran Church continues a tradition that began on Main Street in 1892, gathering around Word and Sacrament each Sunday and reaching outward through quilts, meals, music, and hands-on care for the neighbors of Greeneville.