Faith Lutheran Church San Dimas

02/10/2026

Help Faith Lutheran Church remain open and serving our community.

Below is a sample letter you may send to express your support and ask the ELCA to stop efforts to seize church property.
You are welcome to personalize the letter to fit your style and wording

Thank you. Know that every letter helps us to stop the ELCA...... Copy and paste into an email or letter whatever your preference is.

Bishop Brenda Bos
Southwest California Synod, ELCA
1300 East Colorado Street
Glendale, CA 91205
[email protected]

Subject: Request to Withdraw the Lawsuit Against Faith Lutheran Church, San Dimas, California

Dear Bishop Bos and Members of the Synod Leadership,

I am writing as a concerned supporter of Faith Lutheran Church in San Dimas, California, and as someone who cares deeply about the long-term health of Lutheran congregations.

Faith Lutheran Church is a revitalized and active congregation. It maintains its property, pays its mortgage, serves multiple congregations on its campus, and operates a preschool that has served families for decades. This is not a church that has been abandoned or neglected.

For this reason, the Synod’s continued pursuit of litigation under the claim of “preservation” raises serious concern. To many observers, the issues involved appear to center on property ownership and financial control rather than theology.

The congregation has already spent substantial sums on legal fees simply to defend the property it has maintained and funded for decades. Continuing litigation under these circumstances risks unnecessary harm to a functioning congregation and diverts resources away from ministry and mission.

At a time when many churches across the country are struggling or closing, congregations that have worked diligently to remain open and serve their communities should be supported rather than subjected to prolonged legal conflict.

I respectfully urge the Synod to withdraw this lawsuit and pursue a resolution that allows Faith Lutheran Church to continue its ministry, honors its long history, and reflects the ELCA’s stated commitment to supporting its congregations.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[City, State]

cc:
Presiding Bishop Yehiel Curry
Headquarters Lutheran Center
8765 West Higgins Road
Chicago, ILL 60631
[email protected]

Rev. Lucille Mills
Legal Department
[email protected]

General Mailbox
[email protected]

Faith Lutheran Church
505 East Bonita Avenue
San Dimas, Ca 91773
[email protected]

02/09/2026

This week on Twitter Faith Lutheran Church San Dimas,

With 100,000 churches expected to close, why is the ELCA suing one of its own churches to force closure? We believe it’s about the $4M property.

he ELCA, the largest Lutheran denomination, is suing one of its own churches. Is doctrine being used to justify taking property from vulnerable congregations?

If this ELCA ruling stands, the denomination could take churches whenever it claims financial need.

A small Lutheran church in southern California is in a court battle to maintain ownership of its property, worth about $5 mil

02/09/2026

Due to access issues on the url line we used we posted our full press release in this post

PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Is the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Bullying Churches Into Closing for Its Own Profit?

A California Church, a $5 Million Property, and a Precedent That Will Affect Every Congregation

San Dimas, California — Faith Lutheran Church, a 70-year-old Lutheran congregation in San Dimas, California, is engaged in a legal dispute with the ELCA Southwest California Synod after discovering that the Synod secretly voted to place the church’s property into “preservation status” while simultaneously guiding the congregation through a formal disaffiliation process.

Faith Lutheran maintains that this case is not theological, but rather a property dispute masquerading as theology — one that raises serious concerns for congregations across the country.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Faith Lutheran nearly closed, like many churches. Instead, the congregation rebuilt. Finances were reorganized, unnecessary expenses were eliminated, and the church campus was revitalized. A long-standing preschool reopened, two additional congregations began worshiping on the campus, and Bible studies, youth programs, and community gatherings were restored. Today, the campus is active nearly every day of the week.

During this period of rebuilding, representatives of the ELCA Southwest California Synod attended church council meetings and publicly praised Faith Lutheran’s progress. What was not disclosed was that months earlier, a small group of the Synod leadership secretly voted to seize the church property. There was no notice, no inspection, and no warning.

At the same time, the ELCA Southwest California Synod guided Faith Lutheran through a formal disaffiliation process and represented that as long as the congregation remained Lutheran, it would retain ownership of its property. Faith Lutheran followed the process exactly as instructed and documented communications throughout. Approximately twenty minutes after providing formal written notice of disaffiliation, Faith Lutheran received notice from ELCA attorneys stating that the property was now in preservation and no longer belonged to the congregation.

The Faith Lutheran campus is valued at approximately $5 million, with nearly $4 million in equity built by the congregation over decades of stewardship.

The matter proceeded toward trial. A summary judgment motion was heard. The court ruled against Faith Lutheran, concluding the matter was theological and therefore beyond judicial review. Faith Lutheran has since filed a Motion for Reconsideration, asking the court to reevaluate the ruling in light of new information demonstrating that “preservation” is a financial and property mechanism, not a theological doctrine.

The judge is expected to rule on the issue of the Motion for Reconsideration on February 23, 2026. If the motion is granted, the case will proceed to trial. Should the motion be denied, it is anticipated that Faith Lutheran will file appeals, if necessary, to the California Supreme Court and, if necessary, the United States Supreme Court. This process could take eight years or more, delaying any final determination regarding possession of the property. Unless there is an out-of-court settlement somewhere in this process.

Faith Lutheran believes the period between now and February 23, 2026, represents a meaningful opportunity to resolve the matter without years of costly litigation. Faith Lutheran Church leaders are encouraging respectful public engagement, including letter-writing efforts urging the ELCA Southwest California Synod to withdraw its lawsuit and asking the court to recognize the dispute for what it is: a property issue, not a theological one.

Faith Lutheran is pursuing this matter not only to protect its own congregation, but because of the precedent it will set for other churches — particularly within the ELCA, one of the largest Lutheran denominations in the United States.

Contact:
Faith Lutheran Church, San Dimas Catherine MacWillie 909,753.9912 - direct
Email: [email protected]
Facebook: Faith Lutheran Church, San Dimas

01/25/2026

As we enter 2026, our hearts at Faith Lutheran are full. We’re grateful for a year marked by faith, partnership, and community.

From welcoming neighboring congregations — including Holy Name of Mary and others — into our Parish Hall, to supporting shared worship and fellowship across denominations, God continues to bring people together on our campus.

Our preschool remains a cornerstone of ministry, serving families for more than 50 years under the faithful leadership of Nancy Lira and a devoted teaching staff.

Beyond our walls, we’re thankful for outreach through civic service, chaplaincy, and strong relationships throughout the community.

We move into 2026 with gratitude, hope, and joy — ready to serve, grow, and walk together in faith. 🙏✨

01/25/2026

01/25/2026

We’re blessed to open our doors to neighboring congregations, including functions led by Pastor Gwen’s church — a joyful reminder that when God’s people come together, worship and community grow stronger. 🙏✨

01/25/2026

Each Sunday, our church campus comes alive with worship throughout the day:
Faith Lutheran at 9:30 am, Redemption Church at 11:00 am, and Calvary Meno at 5:00 pm — with an additional Calvary Memo service on Thursday evening at 7:00 pm. One campus, one shared faith. God is great. 🙏🤍Meno

01/25/2026

What a blessing when space becomes the problem! Our Parish Hall nursery is bursting at the seams — from babies and toddlers to kids, teens, and everyone in between. Some Sundays, we even spill into the preschool classrooms just to make room. God is on the move, and our campus is joyfully growing! 🙏✨

01/25/2026

Celebrating four years of Redemption Bible Church calling the Faith Lutheran campus home! Through joyful worship, deep fellowship, and boldly sharing God’s Word, their congregation has flourished — growing from a small gathering of 30–40 to a thriving community of over 200. We give thanks to God for the life, faith, and joy they bring to our shared campus. 🤍✨

01/25/2026

In just one year with us, Calvary Meno has been building faith, friendship, and community through Bible study — and the joy is contagious. 📖✨🤍📖