Earliest records
The earliest records available at this time indicate that
ministries by ordained pastors of the Lutheran Church of Finland
in the greater Seattle area began in 1908. The
below named Pastors had been assigned to the Seamen’s Mission
Station in Seattle. It is believed that these individuals also
served other Finnish communities in southwestern Washington.
|
• Klaus Eliel
Sjoblom |
1908- 10 |
|
• Eeli Johannes
Hakala |
1910 - 11 |
|
• Aarne Viktor
(Hellstrom) Halla |
1919- 20 |
During this period the Finnish Evangelical
Lutheran Church was formed in Seattle. We have a copy of the
minutes of its second annual meeting held on January 12, 1912,
at which time a Constitution and By-Laws were approved. These
documents were hand-written in Finnish by an individual with
knowledge of such matters, who was probably the pastor. No
signatures or names appear on these documents.
The Congregation is formed
On November 23, 1919, a group of Finnish
speaking Finns met on the premises of the Bethel Evangelical
Lutheran Church, a Swedish speaking congregation located in
Ballard at the corner of NW 64th Street and 22nd Ave NW. The
purpose of this meeting was to form a new Finnish Lutheran
Church and apply for membership in the Suomi Synod. The minutes
of this meeting refer to two earlier attempts to form a Finnish
congregation that failed due to no synod affiliation. This
leads us to the conclusion that the church formed in 1912 did
not survive. The minutes were signed by Aarne V. Halla, who we
earlier mentioned as having been assigned to the Seamen’s
Mission.
On December 7, 1919, the Finnish
Evangelical Lutheran Church of Suomi Synod was formed. We
believe that Rev. Arvo J. Korhonen served as its first pastor.
This lawful meeting of the new congregation created its Articles
of Incorporation that consisted of two Articles. By-Laws were
also established, and resemble what we now refer to as our
Constitution.
The following slate of officers was
elected and executed these documents:
• Victor Koski, President
• Andrew Lassila, Vice-President
• Ferdinand Haggman, Secretary
• John Lindstrom, Financial Secretary
• John Carlson, Treasurer
• Kaisa Lassila, Deacon
• Ida Lindstrom, Deacon
The above named individuals also comprised
the first Church Council.
Finnish Lutheran Church and Suomi
Synod
On December 14, 1919, the newly formed
congregation applied for membership in the Suomi Synod of the
Finnish American Evangelical Lutheran Church. This application
was signed by Otto Linderman, Vice-President. Acceptance of the
Finnish Evangelical Lutheran Church of Seattle by the Synod is
evidenced by the framed document on display outside the pastor’s
office. It is dated January 5, 1920 and is beautifully written
in Finnish. On September 8, 1920, the Articles of Incorporation
were filed with the State of Washington. Two additional
Articles were approved at the Annual Meeting of our Congregation
on January 31, 1999, which were subsequently filed with the
state. Other amendments made over the years to the original
Articles reflect name changes as follows:
• February 15, 1951 name changed to
Bethel Lutheran Church of Suomi Synod
• June 23, 1966 name changed to Bethel
Lutheran Church of King County
• January 18, 1988 name changed to
Finnish Lutheran Church
In the early 1960s the Suomi Synod
congregations were merged into other LCA synods in their
respective geographical regions. Whatever changes this brought
about are unclear, but Pastor Kaarto responded by disengaging
our congregation from the LCA. This lead to the name change on
June 23, 1966 referred to previously.
Pastors
Unfortunately, historical records of our
Church are incomplete. However, we are able to determine that
the following Finnish Lutheran Pastors likely have served this
congregation:
|
·*
Aarne Viktor (Hellstrom) Halla
|
1919-20 |
|
·
A.J. Korhonen
|
1922 |
|
·
Sakari Hakala |
1922-25 |
|
·
Abraham Salminen |
1925-29 |
|
·
Otto E. Maki |
1930 |
|
·
Antti Karlin |
1930-37 |
|
·
Otto Kaarto |
1939-78 |
|
·
Richard Rintala |
1981-86 |
|
·
Jarmo Tarkki |
1986- 94 |
|
·
Auvo T. Naukkarinen |
1994-99 |
|
·
Seppo J. Hartikainen |
1999-2006 |
|
* Timo Saarinen |
2006-present |
During the last couple of decades, other
Pastors who have figured prominently in our congregation include
Leslie Larson, ELCA ret., Jukka Joensuu, Emmaus Lutheran Church,
Paul Bjorklund, Evangelical Covenant Church ret., and Antti
Lepisto, President, Suomi Conference.
Site
The Finnish Lutheran Church has occupied
its present site at the intersection of NW 85th Street and 13th
Avenue NW, in the Crown Hill district of Seattle, since 1954.
This was a newly constructed facility that speaks positively of
the spiritual and financial condition of the congregation. City
records indicate that the church was previously located a few
miles south of its present location at 1706 NW 65th in the
community of Ballard. A drive by of this address shows that the
small church has been converted to a private residence.
The ‘Old” Church period ends
Exploring the history of the congregation
further compels the writer to divide it into two eras. The
period from inception of the church in 1919 through the ministry
of Otto Kaarto who died in 1978 is to be referred to as the “Old
Church”. From 1981 onward it will be referred to as the “New
Church”. Unfortunately the passing of Rev. Kaarto at an advanced
age left the congregation without any established successor.
Furthermore, the number of active members attending Sunday
service had dwindled to a handful. One member of the old church
commented that Rev. Kaarto’s compensation was only $100 per
month. No wonder there was no successor!
Following the death of Rev. Kaarto no
further services were held for some time. During this dark
period, an independent congregation of non-Finnish Lutherans
gained access to the church and began holding services. Those
Finns who did show up were treated with contempt. On one
occasion the pastor of this renegade congregation referred to
the Finns attending Sunday services as “weeds needing to be
plucked from the garden”.
The Lawsuit brings a New Era
Finnish “sisu” soon emerged, and there
were numerous meetings held within the Finnish community to
discuss the fate of the congregation. This led to the hiring of
an attorney to represent its position, and a lawsuit was brought
against the congregation of squatters who were in possession of
the church facility. A significant number of people in the
Finnish community doubted that our efforts would bear fruit, but
even these people eventually became believers, giving further
momentum to our cause. Support from within the Finnish
community was widespread, and was not limited to just church
going individuals. During this period of uncertainty, we were
blessed to have Pastor Richard Rintala in our area, a person who
was instrumental in keeping the congregation alive.
Many services were held at St. John
Lutheran Church on Phinney Ridge in order to demonstrate that
the congregation was alive and well. The court action was
costly in terms of human effort and expense. There were many
bake sales, bazaars, and personal giving of time and funds by a
great many people. During the two week trial in the spring of
1983, our side of the gallery was full of concerned observers,
while the defendant group’s gallery was empty. Certainly this
must have made an impression on the jury that ruled unanimously
in favor of our case, bringing to an end our four year
struggle. The Finnish Lutheran Church thus emerged into a new
era, but not without challenges, as we were still somewhat in
debt due to the legal expense.
A Flourishing Congregation
Pastor Richard Rintala accepted our Call
to the ministry of the congregation and we were off and
running. The challenges we faced at this time were probably
similar to what the original founders of the church experienced
in 1919 and beyond. We have met all of these challenges and
have grown as a congregation, and as individuals. While the old
congregation held its services in Finnish, and ministered mainly
to Finns who had come to this area as immigrants, the new church
has a more broadly mixed membership which of course includes
immigrant Finns, but also many second and third generation
Finns, often with non-Finnish spouses, and others who are
Finnophiles (lovers of things Finnish). Church services are now
bi-lingual, with the sermon delivered in Finnish or English on
alternating Sundays. The congregation has also reached out to
the community of Swedish speaking Finns and their families and
proudly includes a significant number in its membership. Where
else can you find a church where the minister gives communion in
Finnish, English or Swedish, depending who is the recipient of
these sacraments?
History compiled by J. Bradford Borland,
President Emeritus
Finnish Lutheran Church
Last revised November, 2006