Reverend Duane T. Wuggazer and Reverend Theodore Wuggazer
Celebrating 100 years at Lutheran Church of the Redeemer
Lutheran Church of the Redeemer’s first worship service was held on November 23, 1924, in a storefront building on Old Woodward. Birmingham was a small, rural village when the Detroit pastoral conference surveyed the area and considered it a likely location for a new mission opportunity. Our first pastor, Rev. L. Schlessinger, worked diligently to spread the word, and six months later May 10, a small chapel was dedicated on the corner of Lincoln and Ann streets. Rev. R. Scaer assumed the pastoral-ship from 1926 until 1931, when Rev. Theodore Wuggazer answered and accepted the call. Under his guidance, Redeemer’s early congregation began to grow. The Depression years were difficult on the church as families moved away in search of employment. In 1938, the congregation voted to transfer its membership from the English District of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS) to the Michigan District of the LCMS. This step provided much-needed financial support and within two years the parish numbered 120 communicants.
Buoyed by vision and hope, Redeemer purchased the present 6 3/4 acre site on which it now rests and built a new worship center modeled after the colonial Martha and Mary Chapel at Greenfield Village. The new church was dedicated on June 19, 1942.
Postwar years brought growth and expansion. Several times in the years that followed, the sanctuary was enlarged, and educational facilities were added. The Sacred Space I campaign began in 2010 when the Town Square was added to the West Entrance and several building renovations took place. In 2019, Sacred Space II was launched. With this 2nd phase our Sanctuary was enlarged and more classroom space was added. This expansion brought Redeemer to its current size and the new Sanctuary was dedicated in 2022. Redeemer was grounded in the motto that: ”All May Find a Place at His Table”.
In 1962, Rev. Duane Wuggazer, son of Rev. Theodore Wuggazer, joined the pastoral staff of Redeemer and after the untimely death of his father in 1966 became Senior Pastor. As ministries were expanded, new professional staff members were added to meet the needs of spiritual growth and care.
In 1998, Rev. Randall Schlak joined our ministry staff and worked alongside Rev. Wuggazer. Following Pastor Duane’s retirement in 1999, Pastor Randy assumed the role of Senior Pastor. In November 2001, long-time Redeemer staff member, Vicar Cary Richert, was ordained and became Redeemer’s Associate Pastor. In the summer of 2009, Rev. Duane Wuggazer’s son, Mark, was ordained, and like his father and grandfather before him, has stepped up to the pulpit to share the word of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. (Pastor Mark has since taken a call as Senior Pastor to another local congregation). On June 14, 2016, Reverend Duane T. Wuggazer, Emeritus joined the Saints in Heaven, and at the end of August 2017, Reverend Cary Richert retired. Another son of the congregation, Rev. James Greenwalt, was ordained and joined our staff as our Associate Pastor.
Redeemer continues to be a vibrant congregation where God’s love in Jesus Christ inspires us to invite and welcome neighbors, friends and people just like you to sit down with us at His Table. He reassures us that there is a place for everyone to feast on the abundant gifts of his grace and mercy. We hope and pray you will come and see us soon!