Mission Statement

Growing God’s servants; Serving God’s people.

Vision Statement

To foster a grace-filled relationship with God and neighbor, we love inclusively, grow spiritually, and serve faithfully.

Our History

A beautiful picture of Saint John's Lutheran church from the outside. Gothic building with green trees and bushes all around

St John’s Lutheran Church is part of the oldest Protestant Christian tradition, dating back to Martin Luther and the Protestant Reformation in 1517, more than 500 years ago.

Our congregation, too, has a long and enduring history. Organized in 1888 as the first English speaking Lutheran congregation in Knoxville with 29 members. In 1911, members broke ground for our current church building thanks to a generous gift of land and $90,000 given by charter member Martha Henson. Dedicated on May 25th, 1913, the Gothic revival style building has been a cornerstone of the Emory Place neighborhood for more than 100 years.

Despite a word of caution from Martha Henson’s husband that a church could not survive in this location, St. John’s has not only survived the decades and century, but has THRIVED in this urban setting surrounded by immediate opportunities for ministry.  ​​