About Us
Holy Cross – established in 1940 – is part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). We are located in south Minneapolis, nestled along Minnehaha Parkway, and are part of the Minneapolis Area Synod, ELCA.
Proudly Serving Our Community
We are proud to financially support several ministries outside of Holy Cross, including our synod and district ministries, Community Emergency Service – a food shelf in the Minneapolis Phillips neighborhood, Campus Crusade for Christ – a college campus/student ministry, Trinity First Lutheran School, the Community Involvement Program, and Crest View Senior Community.
We also host several community groups: Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) groups meet on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays; Gamblers Anonymous (GA) meets on Sundays with the GA inter-group meeting on Saturdays; International Cesarean Awareness Network (ICAN) meets the second Monday of the month; Home School Coop meets the second and fourth Thursday of the month; and a craft group meets the first Monday of the month.
We are members of West of the Rail Business Association (WRBA) and Field Regina Northrup Neighborhood Group (FRNNG) in an effort to become a more integral part of our community.
Our History
Holy Cross was founded on April 19, 1940. Thirty seven people, representing 185 communicants, to whom Trinity First Lutheran Church had granted release three days earlier, approved the name “Holy Cross Lutheran Church,” accepted a constitution, elected officers, and extended a call to Pastor Carl J. Hoffmann. The congregation initially worshiped at Miles Standish School.
On November 19, 1940, the congregation purchased the land where the church now stands. The building, designed by O. Harold Swanson, was completed on December 21, 1941. The church purchased the land adjacent to the church on April 13, 1944 and acquired the parsonage at 17th & Minnehaha Ave. May 28, 1944.
A new Kilgen organ was installed and dedicated on June 5, 1955. The current parsonage next to the church was purchased in 1957 and the church offices were added in 1959. In 1965, Holy Cross purchased two lots across 18th Avenue to create a parking lot. That same year, a street level entrance to the building was added. The education wing was built in 1970.
In 2021, Holy Cross members voted to move from being affiliated with the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod (LCMS) to the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA).
Learn more about our history in the 75th Anniversary Book (published in 2016).