History of Community Lutheran Church

In the early 1990’s, a dedicated group of Lutherans (under the leadership of Bob Orem) saw a need for a Lutheran place of worship in lower Sussex County, Delaware. The group met with the Synod Bishop, the Regional director of Outreach and others in May 1990.

After touring the area, the Director of Outreach concluded that the area could not support the effort. One member of the Ministry Planning Committee (Rev. Richard Batman, Pastor at St. Pauls in Newark, DE) thought that the area was promising. CLC owes a great deal to his decision. Services were held at Ocean View Presbyterian Church starting in 1991.

In January, 1994, the steering committee decided to go forward with plans and the Rev. Jerrett Hanson arranged for the ELCA-Mission investment fund to purchase the property in Omar and lease
it to Community. The first worship service was held in the present Church building in Omar on May 1, 1994.