About Us

Our Faith

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America confesses the Triune God — Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. In our preaching and teaching the ELCA trusts the Gospel as the power of God for the salvation of all who believe.

ELCA teaching or theology serves the proclamation and ministry of this faith. It does not have an answer for all questions, not even all religious questions. Teaching or theology prepares members to be witnesses in speech and in action of God’s rich mercy in Jesus Christ.

Scripture, Creeds, and Confessions

The ELCA’s official Confession of Faith identifies the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments (commonly called the Bible); the Apostles’, Nicene, and Athanasian Creeds; and the Lutheran confessional writings in the Book of Concord as the basis for our teaching. ELCA congregations make the same affirmation in their governing documents, and ELCA pastors promise to preach and teach in accordance with these teaching sources. This Confession of Faith is more than just words in an official document. Every Sunday in worship ELCA congregations hear God’s word from the Scriptures, pray as Jesus taught and come to the Lord’s Table expecting to receive the mercies that the Triune God promises. Throughout the week ELCA members continue to live by faith, serving others freely and generously in all that they do because they trust God’s promise in the Gospel. In small groups and at sick beds, in private devotions and in daily work, this faith saturates all of life.

The first Lutheran worship service in Clinton, SC, was held on July 21, 1912 at the Methodist Church. On July 11, 1920, St. John’s Lutheran Church was organized. In the fall of 1920, St. John’s was received into the SC Synod of the United Lutheran Church in America as a part of a parish with Immanuel, Greenwood. Services were held in parishioner’s homes in addition to the community assembly room and later years at the Masonic Hall and Copeland’s Hall. Their first building was constructed in 1926 on Hampton Avenue. The parish alignment with Immanuel ended on December 31, 1938. In the early 60′s there was a growing interest in improving the church’s facilities and additional property on Hampton Avenue was purchased. However, no construction took place at this time. In July, 1964 as a memorial to their son, church members gave four acres of land on Broad Street for a new church site and a building committee was formed. A new building was constructed and the first service at 1009 Broad Street was held on October 13, 1968. On January 1, 1988, the Lutheran Church in American joined with two other Lutheran churches to form the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The people of St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church have continued to serve faithfully in God’s mission for eighty eight years in the Clinton community.

Past Pastors and Vicars of St. John's

1912-1918 The Rev. James D. Kinard, pastor of Immanuel Greenwood, led the first Lutheran service in Clinton and conducted services from time to time.

1918-1923 The Rev. Dr. A. J. Bowers, Pastor of Immanuel Greenwood continued to lead services.

1924-1938 The Rev. Muller R. Wingard, Pastor of Immanuel, Greenwood continued to lead services

1939-1943 The Rev. J. LeGrande Mayer, first full time Pastor of St. John’s

1944-1946 The Rev. J. Shelton Moose

1946-1952 The Rev. James C. Dickert

1953-1955 The Rev. J. Marion Rhoden

1956-1959 The Rev. L. Allen Wertz, Jr.

1960-1964 The Rev. J. Gordon Peery

1964-1969 The Rev. Dr. E. Bryan Keisler, Interim Pastor

1969-1971 The Rev. John L. Setzler

1971-1987 The Rev. Marion W. Clark

1988-1992 The Rev. Lewis A. Groce

1992 The Rev. Hugh E. Baumgartner, Interim Pastor

1992-1998 The Rev. James Addy

1999-2003 The Rev. Deborah Wood

2004-2012 The Rev. Denise Seymour

2012-2017 The Rev. David Edenfield, Interim Pastor

2018-2019 Vicar Josh Parris

2019-2020 Vicar Jennifer Roberts

2020-Present Vicar Christopher Girardeau

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