Hope Lutheran Church is a merger of Forest Heights and Good Shepherd Lutheran Churches of Edmonton’s south side. Forest Heights had been founded in 1954, Good Shepherd in 1957. Following the organization of a federated parish under Pastor Rudy Busch in 1967, merger negotiations were begun in September of 1968 and completed on January 1, 1971.
Pastors Rudy Busch 1971–72, Irvin Holm 1972–79, Martin Garber–Conrad (interim pastor) 1979, David Saude 1979–1989, Roy Pudrycki 1989–2001, Laird Borst 2001-2018, Kathie Schmitke (interim pastor) 2018-2020, and Erik Osness 2020-2023 have served Hope. As of November 1, 2023, our congregation is without a pastor.
Hope expanded its facilities in the late 1970’s with the construction of a new sanctuary and offices, and the renovation of the kitchen and classrooms.
Hope Lutheran Church is an independent/unaffiliated Lutheran congregation committed to upholding The Lutheran Confessions and to serving the surrounding community where we gather to worship.
History tells us that people come and go, buildings rise and fall, but the Lord is constant, and His church remains.