Looking for a Lutheran church in Green Bay, Wisconsin? You’ve got quite a few choices.
Green Bay has a substantial Lutheran heritage, with congregations belonging to several different Lutheran church bodies. Some are large churches with schools, multiple pastors, and several worship services. Others are smaller congregations where generations of families have gathered around the same altar.
And while these churches share the Lutheran name, they don’t necessarily share the same theology.
This guide focuses on nine congregations of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) in Green Bay and the surrounding communities. All nine confess the authority of Holy Scripture, teach salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, and subscribe to the historic Lutheran Confessions.
But each has its own history, personality, worship schedule, and ministries.
Lutheran Churches in Green Bay, WI
1. Faith Lutheran Church — Green Bay
Faith Lutheran Church is located on South Webster Avenue in Green Bay. Established in 1945, Faith has grown into a congregation with a strong emphasis on traditional Lutheran worship, Christian education, and community outreach.
Faith describes its worship as the Divine Service, emphasizing that God comes to His people through His Word and Sacraments. Its services follow the historic Lutheran liturgy, with Scripture readings, hymns, preaching, and the Lord’s Supper.
The congregation offers Sunday morning and Monday evening worship, making it a convenient option for people whose work schedules make Sunday attendance difficult.
Faith also has a particularly active educational ministry. In addition to Sunday Bible classes and children’s instruction, it offers weekday Bible studies, catechism classes, and opportunities for young adults. Its campus includes Faith Christian Preschool, and the congregation supports Lutheran elementary and high school education in the Green Bay area.
Its community ministries include food and clothing collections, blood drives, and practical assistance for families experiencing difficulties.
Address: 2335 S. Webster Avenue, Green Bay, WI 54301
Website: flcgb.com
2. Hope Lutheran Church — De Pere
Hope Lutheran Church serves De Pere from its location on South Superior Street.
Founded in 1951, Hope offers both traditional and contemporary worship while maintaining its identity as a confessional LCMS congregation.
The traditional services follow the familiar pattern of Lutheran liturgy and hymnody. The contemporary service uses more modern Christian music and a praise team. This gives families some flexibility in worship style while remaining within the same congregation.
Hope is especially active in Christian education and family ministry. Its Angels of Hope Preschool serves young children, while Sunday school, confirmation instruction, and youth activities provide opportunities for older students.
The congregation also participates in De Pere Christian Outreach, supporting food assistance and other local charitable efforts. Stephen Ministry provides trained laypeople who offer Christian care and encouragement to people facing difficult circumstances.
Hope’s combination of worship options, educational programming, and community service makes it worth considering for families in De Pere and southern Green Bay.
Address: 700 S. Superior Street, De Pere, WI 54115
Website: hopedepere.org
3. Pilgrim Lutheran Church — Green Bay and Suamico
Pilgrim Lutheran Church is one of the larger and more programmatically active LCMS congregations in the Green Bay area.
It operates two worship locations: its main campus on St. Agnes Drive in Green Bay and another in Suamico.
Pilgrim offers traditional and contemporary worship services, including Saturday evening and Wednesday evening opportunities. Its traditional services retain the historic Lutheran liturgy, while contemporary worship incorporates newer music and a praise band.
One of Pilgrim’s most distinctive ministries is its school. Pilgrim Lutheran School serves children from early childhood through eighth grade, and the campus also provides preschool and childcare services.
That makes Pilgrim an especially practical option for families who want their children’s education closely connected with their congregation.
Pilgrim also has an established tradition of community outreach, youth activities, Bible studies, and congregational fellowship.
Green Bay address: 1731 St. Agnes Drive, Green Bay, WI 54304
Suamico address: 2999 Lakeview Drive, Suamico, WI 54173
Website: pilgrimluth.org
4. Redeemer Lutheran Church — Green Bay
Redeemer Lutheran Church has served Green Bay since 1937.
Located on South Oneida Street, Redeemer is a congregation with a strong emphasis on biblical preaching, Lutheran doctrine, and traditional worship.
Its services generally follow the liturgy of the Lutheran Service Book or historic Lutheran hymnals, although the congregation also incorporates some contemporary music.
Redeemer celebrates Holy Communion regularly and emphasizes the Lutheran understanding that Christ truly gives His body and blood in the Sacrament.
The congregation has a particularly substantial teaching and media ministry. Alongside Sunday and weekday Bible studies, Redeemer broadcasts worship services and produces regular devotional content.
Redeemer also has a long history of community involvement, including neighborhood gatherings, charitable collections, and congregational fellowship events.
For someone looking for an established Green Bay congregation with traditional Lutheran teaching and a strong emphasis on Bible study, Redeemer is worth a visit.
Address: 210 S. Oneida Street, Green Bay, WI 54303
Website: redeemerlutherangb.com
5. Our Saviour Lutheran Church — Green Bay
Our Saviour Lutheran Church is located on South Henry Street on Green Bay’s east side.
The congregation offers several Sunday worship opportunities, along with Sunday school and adult Bible study. Its ministry emphasizes the proclamation of the Gospel, the administration of the Sacraments, and Christian education.
Our Saviour is also closely associated with Green Bay Trinity Lutheran School, which is located at the same address. The school serves students in kindergarten through eighth grade and is supported by several area LCMS congregations.
That educational connection is an important part of Our Saviour’s identity. The congregation also supports Our Saviour Preschool and participates in the broader network of Lutheran education in northeastern Wisconsin.
For families interested in traditional Lutheran worship and Christian schooling, Our Saviour offers both in one location.
Address: 120 S. Henry Street, Green Bay, WI 54302
Website: oslc-gb.org
6. Zion Lutheran Church — Oneida
Zion Lutheran Church in Oneida has served its community since 1923.
Located on Rose Hill Drive, Zion is a smaller LCMS congregation with a distinctive history of ministry in the Oneida area.
The congregation provides traditional Lutheran worship, Bible study, Sunday school, and youth education. Its ministry includes outreach to families and the surrounding community, including connections with the Oneida Nation.
Zion offers Sunday worship throughout the year, with additional Thursday evening services during the summer months.
While larger churches may offer numerous programs and several different worship styles, smaller congregations like Zion have a different appeal. Church life can be more personal, and worship remains centered on the same Word and Sacraments that have sustained Lutheran congregations for centuries.
For people living west of Green Bay, especially in Oneida and the surrounding communities, Zion is a convenient LCMS option.
Address: 453 Rose Hill Drive, Oneida, WI 54155
Website: ziononeida.org
7. Christ of the Bay Lutheran Church — Green Bay
Christ of the Bay Lutheran Church is located on Laverne Drive on Green Bay’s east side.
Organized in 1976, Christ of the Bay is a smaller LCMS congregation. Its regular Sunday worship is at 9:00 a.m.
Christ of the Bay emphasizes the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the ministry of Word and Sacrament. Like the other LCMS congregations in this guide, it teaches the historic Lutheran understanding of salvation by grace through faith, the authority of Scripture, and Christ’s presence in Holy Communion.
The congregation also supports Lutheran education through its association with Green Bay Trinity Lutheran School and Northeastern Wisconsin Lutheran High School.
Not everyone wants a church with hundreds of worshippers, multiple campuses, or an elaborate calendar of activities.
Christ of the Bay offers another possibility: a smaller congregation gathered around the preaching of God’s Word and the celebration of the Sacraments.
Address: 450 Laverne Drive, Green Bay, WI 54311
Website: cotbchurch.org
8. St. John Lutheran Church — Pulaski
St. John Lutheran Church serves the Pulaski area northwest of Green Bay.
The congregation belongs to the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod and shares the doctrinal commitments of the other churches on this list: the authority of Holy Scripture, justification by grace through faith in Christ, and the importance of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper.
St. John is part of the rural and small-town Lutheran tradition that has shaped northeastern Wisconsin for generations.
These congregations have often served as important centers of community life, gathering families not only for Sunday worship but also for catechism instruction, weddings, funerals, and the many ordinary events through which Christian faith is passed from one generation to another.
For residents of Pulaski and nearby communities, St. John is another LCMS congregation to investigate.
Location: Pulaski, Wisconsin
9. Zion Lutheran Church — Wayside
Zion Lutheran Church of Wayside is located in the rural community of Wayside, southeast of Green Bay.
Founded in 1863, Zion is one of the oldest congregations on this list. Its history reaches back to the era when German Lutheran immigrants were establishing churches throughout northeastern Wisconsin.
Today, Zion operates both a church and a Lutheran school, continuing its long commitment to Christian education.
The congregation offers traditional and contemporary worship. Traditional services use the liturgy and hymns of the Lutheran Service Book, accompanied by the organ. Contemporary worship features newer Christian music and a praise team.
Zion also provides Sunday school, confirmation instruction, youth activities, and adult Bible studies.
Its combination of historic roots, a substantial educational ministry, and multiple worship opportunities makes Zion a notable LCMS congregation in the greater Green Bay area.
Address: 8378 County Road W, Greenleaf, WI 54126
Website: zionwayside.org
What Does LCMS Mean?
All nine congregations in this guide belong to the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod.
The LCMS was established in 1847 by German Lutheran immigrants who wanted to preserve the historic doctrine and practice of the Lutheran Church.
The word Synod refers to churches walking together in a common confession of faith.
LCMS congregations teach that the Bible is the inspired and inerrant Word of God and accept the Lutheran Confessions collected in the Book of Concord as a faithful explanation of biblical doctrine.
Among the central teachings of confessional Lutheranism are:
- Justification by grace through faith: Sinners are forgiven and declared righteous before God because of Jesus Christ, not because of their own works or merits.
- Holy Baptism: Baptism is God’s work, through which He grants forgiveness, life, and salvation. Lutheran churches therefore baptize infants as well as adults.
- The Lord’s Supper: Christ’s true body and blood are present with the bread and wine, given and shed for the forgiveness of sins.
- Law and Gospel: Scripture both exposes our sin through God’s Law and announces forgiveness and salvation through the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
- The historic Christian faith: Lutherans confess the Apostles’, Nicene, and Athanasian Creeds and regard themselves as part of the one holy Christian and apostolic Church.
LCMS congregations also ordinarily practice closed Communion. Visitors from outside the LCMS or churches in fellowship with it should speak with the pastor before receiving the Sacrament.
Are All Lutheran Churches in Green Bay LCMS?
No. Green Bay also has congregations belonging to other Lutheran denominations, especially the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS) and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).
These church bodies share important historical roots but differ on significant theological questions.
The WELS and LCMS are both generally regarded as confessionally conservative Lutheran church bodies. Nevertheless, they are not in church fellowship, owing to disagreements on matters including church fellowship and the roles of men and women in the church.
The ELCA generally takes a more progressive approach to several theological and social questions, including the ordination of women and same-sex marriage. It also differs from the LCMS in its approach to biblical authority and the interpretation of Scripture.
These distinctions matter. Choosing a Lutheran church isn’t simply a matter of finding the nearest building with the word Lutheran on the sign.
It’s worth learning what a congregation actually believes, teaches, and confesses.
Which Lutheran Church in Green Bay Should You Visit?
If you’re looking for an LCMS congregation in Green Bay, you have an unusually good selection.
Some churches offer large educational ministries and several worship styles. Others emphasize traditional liturgy or have smaller congregations where members know one another well.
All nine churches in this guide share a common confessional foundation, but each serves its community in a distinctive way.
Our advice? Visit a few. Listen to the preaching. Pay attention to how the congregation worships, what it teaches about the Sacraments, and how it cares for its members and neighbors.
And don’t hesitate to ask the pastor questions.
Lutheran pastors tend to enjoy talking about theology. Sometimes rather more than you expected.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Lutheran churches are in Green Bay, Wisconsin?
Green Bay and its surrounding communities have numerous Lutheran congregations belonging to several denominations, including the LCMS, WELS, and ELCA. This guide highlights nine LCMS congregations in the greater Green Bay area.
What is the difference between LCMS and WELS?
Both denominations emphasize biblical authority, salvation by grace through faith, and the historic Lutheran Confessions. They differ in their understanding and application of church fellowship and certain questions about church roles. They are not presently in altar and pulpit fellowship.
Are there Lutheran churches in Green Bay with traditional worship?
Yes. Faith, Redeemer, Our Saviour, and several other congregations in this guide offer traditional Lutheran worship. Some, including Hope, Pilgrim, and Zion Wayside, also provide contemporary worship options.
Which Lutheran churches in Green Bay have schools?
Pilgrim Lutheran Church operates its own elementary school. Zion Lutheran Church in Wayside also operates a school. Several other LCMS congregations support Green Bay Trinity Lutheran School and Northeastern Wisconsin Lutheran High School. Faith, Hope, and Our Saviour also have connections to preschool ministries.
Can visitors attend an LCMS church?
Absolutely. Visitors are welcome to attend worship, hear the Scriptures, sing hymns, and participate in congregational prayers. Because LCMS churches practice closed Communion, visitors should speak with the pastor before receiving the Lord’s Supper.
Are there Lutheran churches outside Green Bay?
Yes. Lutheran congregations can be found throughout northeastern Wisconsin, including Door County, De Pere, Pulaski, Oneida, Greenleaf, Algoma, Sturgeon Bay, and many smaller communities.