St. John’s Lutheran Church was founded in 1953. We are a congregation of the South Carolina Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). We are diverse body of people who find unity in Jesus Christ.

Mission Statement:
Sharing God’s Grace, Serving Through Love

Our mission statement reflects our belief that the life of faith involves both our receiving grace and our sharing grace with others. We are empowered to serve by God’s love and we strive to serve others with that love.

Welcome Statement:

Out of a broken and divided world, all are welcomed into the whole body of Jesus Christ at St. John’s. We trust in a God who loves all people, no matter their economic status, age, marital status, ethnicity, race, country of origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, diversity of ability, or religious background. Together we join in sharing God’s grace and serving through love, experiencing the transforming love of our Savior.

Core Values:

  • We hear the Good News of God’s Love in worship and scripture.
  • All are welcome and valued, with no exceptions.
  • We serve and help our neighbors, community, and those who are in need.
  • We love, care for, nourish, and support one another.
  • We are boldly generous with time, talents, space, and our resources.

We believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ is rooted in God’s love for us and our call to love others. All are welcome to join this community of faith in worshiping and serving God. We serve God by serving and helping others, by seeking equity and justice for all of God’s children, by loving and caring for one another in life’s joys and struggles, and by sharing what God has given us with others.

Affiliations:

Denomination – The ELCA is a church denomination organized in three expressions. We are a congregation located in Beaufort, South Carolina, seeking to share the Good News of God’s love in word and deed our community. We are part of the South Carolina Synod, seeking with other ELCA congregations in South Carolina to partner in ministry across the state. The SC Synod is one of 65 Synods of the ELCA, working together across the USA and the world.

Community partners – St. John’s is committed to serving others by supporting the work of community agencies and organizations who serve our community. Among others, St. John’s supports work at HELP of Beaufort, Family Promise of Beaufort County, the food pantry at the Salvation Army of Beaufort, the food pantry at the St. Francis Center on St. Helena Island, the Good Neighbor Medical Clinic of Beaufort, and several 12-step organizations. We also provide space for rehearsal and performances of several community musical groups.

Full communion partners – As an ELCA congregation, St. John’s is in full-communion with congregations of the Presbyterian Church (USA); The Episcopal Church; the United Church of Christ; the United Methodist Church; the Reformed Church in America; and the Moravian Church. St. John’s is committed to partnering with congregations of these and other church traditions to serve Jesus Christ in our community.

Reconciling in Christ congregation – St. John’s is a member of an association of Lutheran churches which have made a commitment to welcome persons of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions into full participation in the church and to strive for justice and equity for people of all races.