Hollywood Lutheran Church is an amazing and diverse spiritual community of people with fresh, energetic ideas about how to serve others.  Our Hollywood Wedding ministry is one way we hope to show that our doors are open to everyone.

Our Mission

This congregation knows the reason we are here is to serve those people who are not being served by or are turned away from other churches.  In this first decade of the new millenium, we know that the poor and homeless, people of color, singles, sexual minorities, and persons with physical disabilities are ignored by other churches.   We have dedicated our energies to serving them.

Our History

Established in 1921, the congregation built its chapel (sanctuary) in 1924.  We've been a part of Hollywood from its infancy.  Part of our grounds was once owned by Mae West and held a small theatre.

Hollywood Lutheran Church has been served by nine different Senior Pastors in its 86 years, as well as numerous Assistant Pastors, Interns and other professional staff.

Throughout this period, we participated in an active Parish Nurse program to bring holistic health care to ordinary people -- care for the body and for the spirit.  We still provide referrals to the Qeens Care clinics in Hollywood.

Reconciling Churches

In 1999 the congregation took a courageous step in publicly welcoming gay and lesbian people to participate fully in the church, and so joined the Reconciling in Christ program of Lutherans Concerned, a support and advocacy program for sexual minorities.  (There are now some 350 Reconciling congregations in the United States and Canada.)

In 2004 the church took a bolder step to serve LGBT persons by calling the Rev. Dan Hooper as Pastor, an ordained and able minister who had been excluded from the ministry because he is openly gay and partnered.  The church took this risky step -- even while the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is still debating how to include LGBT people and traditional Christians who are uncomfortable or angry about the presence of sexual minorities -- because it believes that Christ calls us ot welcome all persons, and that God loves all people unconditionally. 

     Hollywood Lutheran Church is a lively mixture of LGBT people and non-gay people who accept and welcome them as sisters and brothers.

Our Service to the Community

Los Feliz Art Walks.  In September 2008, in collaboration with the Greater Griffith Park Neighborhood Council, the American Catholic Church and others, we have re-started a monthly arts program to bring together the neighborhood's creative forces.  Tour any or all of Los Feliz' participating galleries, studios, public art spaces, and our own Courtyard Studio & Arts Gallery on the First Friday of each month.  For more information, visit:  www.losfelizartwalk.org .  Are you an artist in the community?  Get listed on this site!

Hollywood Community Garden.  Call us if you're interested in growing flowers or vegetables on your own little plot of land.  We supply the land and the water.  you supoply the effort, the seeds and plants. 

12-Step Recovery Programs.  We host a number of independent 12-Step programs, including Alcoholics Anonymous, Al-Anon, and Overeaters Anonymous.  Meetings are avilable here on Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

     On Sunday, May 6, 2007 we hosted our first 12-Step Sunday, featuring music composed by a man in recovery; including special readings and prayers. All people of faith, and especially those in recovery, are welcome!!

The Poor and Hungry.  We operate the Hollywood Community Food Pantry (open every Tuesday from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.).   The Pantry is not stocked with "government surplus" food, but is supported entirely with donations from members and the larger community.  (If you would like to help or make contributions, click here for more information about the Pantry.)

Children's Theatre.  In 2006 we welcomed the Silverlake Children's Theatre Group to our campus.  The theatre program involves some 75 kids (ages 6-17) from over 20 schools in the Silverlake area.  The group showcases two productions per year of original scripts about important contemporary issues.  This summer, SCTG will host a two-week Summer Camp program. 

For more information see: www.silverlakechildrenstheatre.org.

In 2007, we begin a new community endeavor to bring together Hollywood professionals and hopefuls for informal mixers every several months.  We hope that experienced actors, writers and musicians, editors, location managers, tech and support people will benefit simply from meeting each other and swapping business cards.  For more information see: www.hollywoodcallback.org.