PHILOSOPHY OF MINISTRY

Our philosophy of ministry simply describes "why we do what we do the way we do it." After a lot of careful research, Redeemer Lutheran Church intends to be a church that is:
  • centered completely on the unchanging, unconditional gospel of Jesus Christ, revealed in God’s inspired Word
  • equipped to articulate what we believe and defend why we believe it
  • mission-minded, with sensitivity to people of other backgrounds and cultures
  • intent on doing everything we do with purpose and God-pleasing excellence
  • friendly and relational, by growing deeper connections among believers, welcoming guests to worship, and extending connections and invitations in the community
  • engaging, by equipping members and students to get involved in appropriate ways, no matter how long they may be with us
  • flexible and willing to adapt to make our heritage relevant in changing circumstances
  • connected to our city and university

core values

Core values describe what we, based on a study of Scripture and our ministry setting, are convinced are the most important activities and attitudes that must shape our ministry at this time.


At Redeemer Lutheran Church, we value:

  • Christ-centered worship that emphasizes the relevance of textual preaching, the importance of the sacraments, prayer, and vibrant church music as the heart and core of what we do (2 Timothy 4:2, Matthew 28:19, 1 Corinthians 11:24-25, 1 Thessalonians 5:17, Ephesians 5:19)
  • In-depth teaching of Scripture that provides opportunity to grow in faith, knowledge, and service (Hebrews 6:1, 2 Timothy 3:16)
  • Evangelism that is driven by the fact that Jesus died for all people in this world (Acts 1:8, 1 John 2:2)
  • Fellowship that builds not simply a friendly church but a church of friends who support and connect with each other (Acts 2:46, Ecclesiastes 4:9-10, 1 Peter 4:8-10)
  • Campus ministry at the University of Michigan that trains students to articulate and defend their faith (Psalm 78:4, 1 Peter 3:15)
  • Community service that cares for the physical needs of the people in our city (Proverbs 19:17, Isaiah 58:10, Matthew 5:16, James 2:15-16)
  • Hospitality that greets guests just as warmly as people we already know (Hebrews 13:2, Romans 12:13)
  • Cooperation that unifies our ministry and seeks to do it as excellently as possible (Psalm 133:1, Colossians 3:23, 1 Chronicles 29)