Benicia Lutheran Church

The mission of Benicia Lutheran Church is to make disciples of Jesus Christ and serve members of the congregation and surrounding community through worship, education, witnessing, fellowship, and service.

Our community is close-knit, and the same is true within our faith family; but we are always hoping to welcome new people into this family. Christ is continually bringing new and exciting opportunities into our path, so we are responding to His grace with continual self-examination in light of that grace. Right now, we are reflecting upon our lives of faith up to this point, and we hope to move forward in prayer and submission to God’s will.

Beginnings: On May 16, 1976 fourteen people gathered together at the home of Bill and Linda Ballowe to discuss the possibility of starting a church in Benicia. They had a vision of a Lutheran congregation in Benicia. So they rolled up their sleeves, united their efforts, and worked hard together in order to accomplish the task of starting a Lutheran congregation. Their vision was realized when Linda Bellowe, the lay delegate from Benicia Lutheran Church, signed the constitution of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod during the April 10-13, 1980 58th Convention of the California-Nevada-Hawaii District on behalf of Benicia Lutheran Church. The congregation then celebrated that event during its May 18, 1980 Charter Sunday Worship Service.

Pastors: In May of 1977, Christ Lutheran Church in Martinez graciously allowed their pastor, Rev. Russell Howen, to lead and nurture the members of Benicia Lutheran Church. In January 1981, Pastor Richard C. Glock accepted the call to be pastor of Benicia Lutheran Church. After Pastor Glock retired over a decade later, Pastor Charles Simonson accepted the call to be Pastor of Benicia Lutheran Church in April of 1994, staying for a few years before accepting another call. After a two-year vacancy, Pastor Gary Bell was called to be pastor of Benicia Lutheran Church; he was installed on May 16, 1999. In February of 2009, Pastor Jason Moreno was called as Associate Pastor in charge of youth and evangelism. In August of 2010, Pastor Moreno became head pastor. Pastor Bell retired from Benicia Lutheran Church in November of 2010. In March of 2011, Pastor Moreno resigned as pastor. Benicia Lutheran then began the interim ministry process in May of 2011 to reevaluate itself and its ministry before looking for a new pastor. Pastor David Rose was our Interim Pastor during this transition period and performed his final Worship Service on Sunday, August 4th, 2013.

Pastor David Floyd became our Pastor in August, 2013, and served us through November, 2020, when he accepted a call to Faith Lutheran, Pleasant Hill.

Pastor Phillip Kohlmeyer of Concord, CA, started serving us in December, 2020, and became our vacancy Pastor in January, 2021.

All are welcome to come and Worship with us each Sunday.