Gloria Christi Lutheran Campus Church Records

The Gloria Christi Lutheran Campus Church Records, comprising four boxes, are arranged in seven main categories: Constitution and By-Laws; Minutes; Legal Documents; Correspondence; Membership Records; Financial Records; and Publications. Financial records, which rather thoroughly document the organization's activities from 1964 through 1981, form the bulk of the series.

Constitution and By-Laws

Included with the Constitution and By-Laws is an “Outline of the Needs of the Parish and of the Structure to Meet Them” drawn up in the process of forming, Gloria Christi. It projects the nature of worship, education activities, special service projects, financial arrangements, and the function of the pastor and congregation officers.

Minutes

Minutes of the congregational meetings exist from 1974 through 1979, with a few reports of 1968 and 1971 meetings. Arranged chronologically, they commonly include a summary of officers' reports, the Pastor's report, and various committee reports. Congregational policies such as the question of women assisting as ministers, proposals for a unified campus ministry, election results, and announcements of future activities are also recorded in the minutes.

Another folder contains the minutes of miscellaneous special committees, from 1975 through 1979. Included are the minutes of a Task Force formed during 1975-76 to investigate potential problems resulting from Pastor Brueggemann's departure. There are also minutes from diaconate meetings (1975-1979), executive council meetings (1975-1976), and a two-session goal setting meeting in 1978, all of which are arranged chronologically.

Correspondence

The bulk of the correspondence is between representatives of the Gloria Christi congregation and the University Lutheran Church from 1975 to 1977. Arranged chronologically, it mainly concerns Gloria Christi's use of the Lutheran Chapel-Center.

The general correspondence, 1975-1978, arranged chronologically, is all incoming, and includes miscellaneous business letters addressed to the pastor and congregation, and personal letters from congregation members.

Membership Records

Membership records consist of an alumni list, February 1976, and lists of congregational officers and members, 1969-1981. From 1977 until 1980 the congregation also kept a guest register. All of these records are arranged chronologically.

Financial Records

Gloria Christi's fiscal year (February 1 - January 31) coincided with that of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. The financial records consist of ledgers, journals, account books, financial reports and budgets, accounts payable vouchers, check stubs, and bank statements. Since there is not a ledger for every year, the accounts payable vouchers and attached paid invoices, check stubs, and bank statements were retained for the three bank accounts they maintained. Gloria Christi Account #242-128-9, operating from April 1965 to February 1981, was used to pay for such expenses as liturgical books, music and subscriptions; refreshments for coffee hours; guest speakers and preachers; and the printing of Sunday bulletins. The Reverend Eugene V. Brueggemann-Mission Account # 080-500-1, operating from May 1967 through June 1972, was reserved for the payment of rent to the Lutheran Student Foundation for the use of the Chapel-Center; utility bills; the pastor's salary; secretarial services; and travel and conference expenses incurred by the Pastor. The Lutheran Association at Northwestern University Account #450-802-9, operating from February 1970 to January 1973, was used for the joint expenses of Gloria Christi and the University Lutheran Church when they co-sponsored programs such as coffee hours and seminars.

The first four folders of financial records contain ledgers, journals and other account books. One folder contains a ledger covering the periods February 1, 1965 - January 31, 1968 and February 1969 - January 1970. In the next folder is a volume containing a detailed journal for account #242-128-9 maintained from February 1965 through August 1967, with just a few entries for 1966. The second part of the book contains the Financial Secretary's Record of Income, covering 1968 through 1981.

Three folders of budgets and financial reports from 1962 through 1981, are arranged chronologically; included are proposed budgets, quarterly and yearly financial reports, and letters from the Synod regarding subsidies paid to Gloria Christi.

The remaining financial records include accounts payable vouchers, check stubs, and bank statements. They are arranged by account number with Gloria Christi Account # 242-128-9 first, followed by the Mission Account # 080-500-1 and the Lutheran Association Account #450-802-9. For each account vouchers are first, check stubs second, and then bank statements. The records in each folder are arranged chronologically. The vouchers for the Lutheran Association Account have been discarded since the account's check stubs record the same information. Canceled checks for all three accounts have been destroyed because the information they provide is available on the check stubs.

Publications

All Gloria Christi publications are arranged chronologically. One folder contains reports resulting from parish planning sessions and studies done during the period in which Gloria Christi considered merging with the University Lutheran Church. Arranged chronologically they date from 1976 to 1980. Another folder contains the “calls” or invitations to become pastor extended by the congregation. The newsletters from 1976 to 1980 are arranged chronologically. Flyers and announcements from 1973 to 1978 for single programs such as retreats are arranged chronologically. Contained in the final seven folders are bulletins distributed at religious services from September 1973 to October 1980. In addition to the day's liturgy the bulletin announces weekly events and lists the current pastor and officers for the congregation.