Church of the Nativity and Holy Comforter

Two mainline Protestant churches that have served Baltimore for more than a century – one Episcopal, one Lutheran – today announced plans to enter into joint ministry in an innovative organizational structure that could offer a model for other struggling traditional churches.

The members of the Lutheran Church of the Holy Comforter, established in 1911, will move from their facility on York Road in Govans a half a mile north to the Church of the Nativity, Cedarcroft, an Episcopal congregation that has been located on York Road since 1910. There, the two congregations will begin worshipping together on All Saints’ Day, Sunday, November 1 at 10:30 am.

Although the two congregations will remain as separate legal entities, their members will worship and minister together as the Churches of the Nativity and Holy Comforter. The unusual pairing of churches from different denominations offers a creative response that will enable both churches to more effectively carry out their ministry by combining their individual strengths.

This is especially true for Holy Comforter, which has struggled with many of the same challenges faced by many mainline denominations – declining attendance and financial struggles made worse by the costs of maintaining a large, inefficient physical facility. The church currently is marketing for sale its church sanctuary and adjoining properties in the 5500 block of York Road.

“We love our beautiful church sanctuary where so many life events have occurred – baptisms, confirmations, weddings and, yes, even funerals. But, the building does not make the church, the people do. Entering into joint ministry with the welcoming people of Nativity will enable Holy Comforter’s church family to remain together,” explained the Rev. Dr. David W. Eisenhuth, pastor of Holy Comforter for the past 15 years.

Discussions for the joint ministry began in February, and included several opportunities for the congregations to worship together and join in fellowship activities, including luncheons, spaghetti dinners, spring festivals and Holy Comforter’s Jazz Vespers services, said the Rev. T. Stewart Lucas, Nativity’s rector for two and half years.

Fr. Lucas explained, “We found that we shared so much in common – similar liturgy, similar hymns, similar prayers. And, unlike so many other traditional churches, both Nativity and Holy Comforter have been places where people of different racial, ethnic and economic backgrounds and sexual preferences could worship together. We both are committed to welcoming the stranger, the traveler and the immigrant.”