Atonement Evangelical Lutheran Church

Atonement Evangelical Lutheran Church was organized in 1903 as a member of the General Council. It was located at 7001 S. Laflin Ave., and at 7120 S. Laflin Ave. It withdrew from the ELCA in 1997.

In the Fall of 1902, Rev. J.R.E. Hunt of St. John's Lutheran Church at 61st and Indiana enlisted his members in canvassing the area around 69th and Loomis Streets. The first meeting was held by Pastor Hunt on Oct. 12, 1902, in a store room at 69th and Ada Streets. The congregation was officially organized on June 7, 1903 as "The English Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Atonement." In 1933 the name was changed to "Atonement Evangelical Lutheran Church."



The lots at 70th and Laflin were purchased in 1907, and the first building (pictured above) was dedicated on May 9, 1909.

By 1924, the need for a new building was evident. After a successful fund-raising campaign, the cornerstone was laid on Oct. 23, 1927, and the building (pictured below) was dedicated Feb. 19, 1928. The old church was used as a gym, until being turned back into a chapel in 1952.



In 1962, construction was started on a new building at 79th and Lamon outside of the Chicago city limits, in Burbank, Ill.

In 1997 Atonement withdrew from the ELCA.

Pastors
L.P. Pence
Dec. 6, 1903-1906

A.H. Arbaugh
July 14, 1907-Jan. 31, 1910

P.S. Baer
July 9, 1911-1913

Theodore Albert
Sept. 1, 1913-Oct. 1, 1918

Luther Hogshead
Dec. 1918-Dec. 1919

L.O. Cooperrider
June 20, 1920-Nov. 30, 1941

Ralph McClintock
May 27, 1942-Aug. 14, 1946

Irwin C. Birk (interim)
1946-1947

Martin G. Kabele
March 22, 1947-

W. Douglas Larson

Original records
Original record books may be located at Atonement Evangelical Lutheran Church, 7001 S Laflin St., Chicago, IL. The ELCA Archives has congregation histories and other materials relating to Atonement Ev. Lutheran Church.

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Sources
"Directory of the Atonement Ev. Lutheran Church, 50th Anniversary Issue," Spring 1953.