Our History

Come learn about the rich history of both our Christ the King and Cross of Life Campuses as well as how we came to be UNITY!

Click on the name or logo to jump to a church history.

Cross of Life

UNITY Lutheran Church

Christ the King

• November 1956 - Pastor Robert L. Bartsch begins holding services at Woodside School located at Lily Road and Capitol Drive in Brookfield, WI (pictured).

• April 1957 - Christ the King was organized with 202 charter members.

• November 1957 - Groundbreaking ceremony for the chapel at 146th Street and Lisbon Road.

• February 1958 - The Rev. Arnold B. Stilwell, Jr. accepts call to be first resident Pastor, serving 3 years.

• 1962 - The Rev. P. Frederick Opem begins his tenure with Christ the King.

• 1965 - The present site of Christ the King, 4600 Pilgrim Road, was purchased for $85,000.

• January 1966 - Groundbreaking on the modern church begins with the formal dedication one year later.

• February 1967 - The present church building formally dedicated.

• 1968 - The congregation reaches 1000 members as Pastor Edward P. Ankerberg becomes the first Associate Pastor.

• 1975 - Pastor William M. Stewart succeeds Pastor Edward as Associate Pastor, serving 7 years.

• 1982 - Pastor Richard Schmeling called to be Associate Pastor, serving 5 years.

• 1983 - A Remodeling and Building Committee is formed to plan for new additions to the church including a new worship area, narthex, music room and a new bell tower. A new Cassavant Pipe Organ was built and installed.

• 1987 - Pastor Richard O. Sauerlender accepts call to be Associate Pastor, serving 4 years.

• 1988 - Construction begins on the new additions.

• 1989 - The finished construction and pipe organ dedicated including a newly-remodeled sanctuary with the semi-circular layout.

• 1990 - Rev. Opem (pictured) retires from CTK and is named Pastor Emeritus for his 29 years of service.

• 1991 - Pastor Gary Grindeland accepts call to be Pastor, serving 6 years.

• Palm Sunday, 1997 - The Thomas Morgan Memorial Library is dedicated.

• 1997 - The Prayer Garden is constructed and dedicated in front of the church.

• 1998 - Pastor Steve D. Clingman accepts call to be Pastor, serving 13 years.

• 2007 - Christ the King celebrates it's 50th Anniversary.

• 2012 - Jim Ahlquist accepts call to be pastor, serving 5 years.

Click on the name or logo to jump to a church history.

Christ the King

UNITY Lutheran Church

Cross of Life

• 1978 - Pastor Dave Swenson canvases the neighborhood and begins holding services at Hillside Elementary School in Brookfield, WI (pictured). First Service (3/14/1978).

• 1979 - A Charter for the new Cross of Life church is formed and signed by 253 members.

• 1980 - Pastor Dave answers the call and officially becomes Cross of Life's First Pastor. Church becomes self-supporting through the pledges of the members.

• 1982 - Groundbreaking begins on the present location of Cross of Life.

• April 3rd, 1983 - First Service in the new building preceded by a pilgrimage from Hillside (pictured). Building dedicated later that year.

• 1986 - Pastor Dave accepts call to Good Shepherd Lutheran in Madison, WI. Membership up to 620 members.

• 1987 - Pastor Harold Freiheit accepts call to be Pastor, serving 2 years.

• 1988 - Groundbreaking begins with the Education Wing.

• 1989 - Dedication of the finished Ed Wing. Groundbreaking of the new Sanctuary begins.

• 1990 - Current Sanctuary is dedicated. Pastor Sue M. Sheffer-Meyer accepts call to be Pastor, serving until 1995.

• 1996 - Pastor John Horner-Ibler (pictured) accepts call to be Pastor, serving 27 years.

• 1998 - Pastor Maria Pederson accepts call to be Pastor, serving 8 years.

• 1999 - Cross of Life introduces Saturday evening worship services.

• 2002 - Groundbreaking begins on the last expansion of the Cross of Life building including a Second Floor Education Wing, Fellowship Hall expansion and Offices.

• 2003 - The latest expansion is dedicated. Cross of Life begins international partnership with El Salvador.

• 2006 - Pastor Sherrie Lorbeck (pictured) accepts call to be Pastor.

• 2013 - Pastor Muriel Otto accepts call to be Pastor, serving 11 years.

Click on the name or logo to jump to a church history.

Christ the King

Cross of Life

UNITY Lutheran Church

• Summer 2002 - Cross of Life and Christ the King hold their first joint Vacation Bible School (VBS). Becomes a permanent fixture.

• 2010 - Discussions about a potential merger between the two churches begin.

• 2012 - Pastor John takes a subbatical where he researches multi-church integration. Talks about a merger increase.

• 2013 - Both churches agree to a 3-year plan to enter into a merge. Summary of COL/CTK Collaboration • Full Discussion of COL/CTK Collaboration Document

• April 17, 2016 - Final vote to merge passes. Members choose the name "UNITY Lutheran Church" out of dozens of potential candidates.

• January 1, 2017 - State of Wisconsin officially recognizes UNITY Lutheran Church.

• 2019 - Planning for the Christ the King campus "Backyard" begins.

• March 2020 - COVID outbreak. Church moves to pre-recorded online services and services held at various member homes.

United in Christ, Together in Ministry!

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Our History

Come learn about the rich history of both our Christ the King and Cross of Life Campuses as well as how we came to be UNITY!

Click on the name or logo to jump to a church history.

Christ the King

• November 1956 - Pastor Robert L. Bartsch begins holding services at Woodside School located at Lily Road and Capitol Drive in Brookfield, WI (pictured).

• April 1957 - Christ the King was organized with 202 charter members.

• November 1957 - Groundbreaking ceremony for the chapel at 146th Street and Lisbon Road.

• February 1958 - The Rev. Arnold B. Stilwell, Jr. accepts call to be first resident Pastor, serving 3 years.

• 1962 - The Rev. P. Frederick Opem begins his tenure with Christ the King.

• 1965 - The present site of Christ the King, 4600 Pilgrim Road, was purchased for $85,000.

• January 1966 - Groundbreaking on the modern church begins with the formal dedication one year later.

• February 1967 - The present church building formally dedicated.

• 1968 - The congregation reaches 1000 members as Pastor Edward P. Ankerberg becomes the first Associate Pastor.

• 1975 - Pastor William M. Stewart succeeds Pastor Edward as Associate Pastor, serving 7 years.

• 1982 - Pastor Richard Schmeling called to be Associate Pastor, serving 5 years.

• 1983 - A Remodeling and Building Committee is formed to plan for new additions to the church including a new worship area, narthex, music room and a new bell tower. A new Cassavant Pipe Organ was built and installed.

• 1987 - Pastor Richard O. Sauerlender accepts call to be Associate Pastor, serving 4 years.

• 1988 - Construction begins on the new additions.

• 1989 - The finished construction and pipe organ dedicated including a newly-remodeled sanctuary with the semi-circular layout.

• 1990 - Rev. Opem (pictured) retires from CTK and is named Pastor Emeritus for his 29 years of service.

• 1991 - Pastor Gary Grindeland accepts call to be Pastor, serving 6 years.

• Palm Sunday, 1997 - The Thomas Morgan Memorial Library is dedicated.

• 1997 - The Prayer Garden is constructed and dedicated in front of the church.

• 1998 - Pastor Steve D. Clingman accepts call to be Pastor, serving 13 years.

• 2007 - Christ the King celebrates it's 50th Anniversary.

• 2012 - Jim Ahlquist accepts call to be pastor, serving 5 years.

Click on the name or logo to jump to a church history.

Cross of Life

• 1978 - Pastor Dave Swenson canvases the neighborhood and begins holding services at Hillside Elementary School in Brookfield, WI (pictured). First Service (3/14/1978).

• 1979 - A Charter for the new Cross of Life church is formed and signed by 253 members.

• 1980 - Pastor Dave answers the call and officially becomes Cross of Life's First Pastor. Church becomes self-supporting through the pledges of the members.

• 1982 - Groundbreaking begins on the present location of Cross of Life.

• April 3rd, 1983 - First Service in the new building preceded by a pilgrimage from Hillside (pictured). Building dedicated later that year.

• 1986 - Pastor Dave accepts call to Good Shepherd Lutheran in Madison, WI. Membership up to 620 members.

• 1987 - Pastor Harold Freiheit accepts call to be Pastor, serving 2 years.

• 1988 - Groundbreaking begins with the Education Wing.

• 1989 - Dedication of the finished Ed Wing. Groundbreaking of the new Sanctuary begins.

• 1990 - Current Sanctuary is dedicated. Pastor Sue M. Sheffer-Meyer accepts call to be Pastor, serving until 1995.

• 1996 - Pastor John Horner-Ibler (pictured) accepts call to be Pastor, serving 27 years.

• 1998 - Pastor Maria Pederson accepts call to be Pastor, serving 8 years.

• 1999 - Cross of Life introduces Saturday evening worship services.

• 2002 - Groundbreaking begins on the last expansion of the Cross of Life building including a Second Floor Education Wing, Fellowship Hall expansion and Offices.

• 2003 - The latest expansion is dedicated. Cross of Life begins international partnership with El Salvador.

• 2006 - Pastor Sherrie Lorbeck (pictured) accepts call to be Pastor.

• 2013 - Pastor Muriel Otto accepts call to be Pastor, serving 11 years.

Click on the name or logo to jump to a church history.

UNITY Lutheran Church

• Summer 2002 - Cross of Life and Christ the King hold their first joint Vacation Bible School (VBS). Becomes a permanent fixture.

• 2010 - Discussions about a potential merger between the two churches begin.

• 2012 - Pastor John takes a subbatical where he researches multi-church integration. Talks about a merger increase.

• 2013 - Both churches agree to a 3-year plan to enter into a merge. Summary of COL/CTK Collaboration • Full Discussion of COL/CTK Collaboration Document

• April 17, 2016 - Final vote to merge passes. Members choose the name "UNITY Lutheran Church" out of dozens of potential candidates.

• January 1, 2017 - State of Wisconsin officially recognizes UNITY Lutheran Church.

• 2019 - Planning for the Christ the King campus "Backyard" begins.

• March 2020 - COVID outbreak. Church moves to pre-recorded online services and services held at various member homes.

• 2021 - Outdoor services begin at Christ the King campus.

• 2023 - Christ the King's Backyard is completed.

• December 2024 - Pastor Justin Kierzek (pictured) accepts call to be Pastor.

UNITY Lutheran Church

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