About Christ Lutheran Church
Who we are
We are an inclusive Christian church in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), located in Pacific Beach, San Diego.
We follow Jesus and his teachings. We are a people centered not in judgment, but in God’s unconditional grace. Our mission is to share God’s unconditional love with our community and the world. This includes the full inclusion and affirmation of LGBTQ+ folks and the ongoing, active work of anti-racism.
We invite you to make Christ Lutheran Church your home. You are welcome here regardless of your race, ethnicity, gender identity or expression, age, sexual orientation, marital status, social or economic state, physical or mental challenge, and whether you are confident or questioning in your faith.
Our beliefs
We are a congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), a mainline Protestant denomination of the Christian church rooted in the teachings of Martin Luther. We believe that God calls us and equips us through the Holy Spirit to live faithfully and to strive for justice and peace in all the earth.
Learn more about what we believe.
Common
Our team
Our team is made up of our ministry staff, including Lead Pastor Kinndlee Lund and Associate Pastor Keegan Chin-Cheleden, and Church Council.
Get to know our team.
LGBTQIA+ inclusive church
We are proud to be a Christian community that advocates for the full welcome, inclusion, and affirmation of our LGBTQIA+ siblings in Christ. You don’t have to change who you are, who you love, or how you express yourself to belong and fully participate in the life of this congregation.
Learn more about LGBTQIA+ affirmation and inclusion at CLC.
Anti-racist church
We are committed to the ongoing work of anti-racism as a Reconciling in Christ congregation.
Our history
Founding
Christ Lutheran Church began in 1946 when the Reverend Quentin P. Garman answered a call to establish a new church in the Pacific Beach area of San Diego. The congregation held its first service in a 35-by-35-foot radio repair shop, located on a dirt lot. The church officially organized on June 8, 1947, with 101 charter members, and quickly began raising funds to build its first dedicated chapel, which was dedicated on Thanksgiving Day in 1948.
1955-1970s
The decades that followed were marked by explosive growth, requiring constant expansion of the church campus. By 1955, the congregation had constructed a new 400-seat sanctuary to accommodate its growing membership. Under Pastor Garman’s 35-year leadership, and the guidance of subsequent dedicated pastors, Christ Lutheran developed a powerful legacy of music and community service. Highlights include sponsoring refugees from behind the Iron Curtain in the 1960s, building the Luther View Apartments for low-income seniors in the 1970s, and establishing enduring local outreach programs like Our Daily Bread meals for our neighbors experiencing homelessness and God's Garage for addiction recovery groups. Globally, the congregation funded wells in Sudan, built a home for an orphanage director in Tecate, Mexico, and supported orphans in Rwanda.
Early 2000s
The church underwent a stunning chancel renovation in 2001, highlighted by a massive 82,000-piece glass mosaic illustrating the "River of Life." Despite navigating a challenging decade between 2007 and 2017, marked by significant structural campus repairs, multiple pastoral transitions, and the difficult decision to sell the Luther View Apartments, the congregation persevered through deep introspection and a renewed sense of mission. In 2014, the church joyfully welcomed back a familiar face, Pastor David Nagler, as Senior Pastor. His dynamic leadership sparked a revitalized era of optimism, bringing in new young families and expanding programs like the Cass Street Community Garden, leaving the church in a strong, vibrant position as it celebrated its 70th anniversary in 2017.
Today
As Christ Lutheran Church moves through its eighth decade, the congregation continues to thrive under a new generation of leadership. Today, the church is guided by its first all-woman pastoral leadership team, with Lead Pastor Kinndlee Lund and Associate Pastor Keegan Chin-Cheleden.
Christ Lutheran officially became a Reconciling in Christ (RIC) congregation in 2021, loudly and proudly affirming our commitment to the full inclusion of LGBTQIA+ individuals and the ongoing work of anti-racism
The legacy of community engagement established early on in Christ Lutheran’s history continues to define this community today. Our campus remains a vital hub of care for the Pacific Beach neighborhood. God's Garage continues to serve as a meeting space for our neighbors in recovery. The Compass Station provides vital services and a day center for our unhoused neighbors in partnership with Shoreline Community Services. Our Daily Bread continues serving free weekly meals for over 25 years in partnership with San Diego Catholic Workers. The congregation's mission to share God's unconditional love is still very much a verb.