Our Story
"Gloria Dei" means "to the Glory of God",
These words spoken by John W. Hendricks, the first Pastor of Gloria Dei, remain the affirmation of
our very existence. 60 years later, Gloria Dei continues to serve western Cincinnati and the tristate area faithfully.
Through a welcoming spirit, which has led to greater acceptance and diversity within our community of faith,
Gloria Dei seeks to make our Lord Jesus Christ real and accessible through shared relationships, meaningful worship experiences, community missions, and inclusivity.
How it all started...
On August 2, 1959, a newly formed mission congregation held its first worship with 33 people.
On October 18th, 1959, Gloria Dei was officially organized into a congregation of the American Lutheran Church
with 73 baptized and 50 confirmed charter members. Ground was eventually broken for the Church building
at our current location on June 19, 1960. The building was dedicated on April 30, 1961.
In 1966 Ground was broken for the education wing portion of the church. This second phase of construction produced a new and enlarged church building, and this was dedicated on September 10, 1967. In 1999, Gloria Dei celebrated its 40th anniversary with a year-long observance entitled "On our way rejoicing." It was during this year that the congregation began a third building project. Finished and dedicated in 2000, Gloria Dei added a new Narthex gathering area and a multi-purpose room and nursery area.
After sixty years of worship, fellowship, and outreach, we are more than a congregation;
we are a family of faithful Christ-centered believers.
As we grow into this new age, we continually seek new ways to welcome all people into this family, no matter where you are on your faith journey and regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, age, physical or mental challenges, financial resources, family status, religious background, whatever your country of origin or ancestry;
whether you are a believer, a doubter or a seeker; in Christ's love, we welcome you, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit we can work together to usher in God's reign of justice, peace, and mercy, as we proudly proclaim,
​