Gethsemane Lutheran Church (Portland, Or.)

Gethsemane was formed as a merger between Hope and Mt. Olivet congregations in 1964. Hope had been started by the Missions Board of the ALC in 1950, and property had been purchased at 122nd and SE Mill. Mt. Olivet was born as the result of a dream of several laypersons from Bethel Lutheran in North Portland and was sponsored by the Lutheran Free Church. When the Lutheran Free Church and the ALC merged in 1963, this made Hope and Mt. Olivet sister congregations serving the same general area. With the rapid suburban development it became apparent that these congregations might better serve their overlapping areas as one congregation. Gethsemane began almost immediately to plan for a church. Ground was broken on October 1, 1967 and on June 9, 1968, the first services were held in the new church.