Serving the Richmond area since 1956.

Meet the Team

Our History

Trinity Lutheran Church was established in 1956 as a westward expansion project of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in downtown Richmond. In response to growing development west of the city at that time, Trinity was planted at what was then the westernmost boundary of the Richmond area.

Since the 46 founding members first opened Trinity’s doors nearly 70 years ago, Richmond’s expansion has continued, and the church has grown to be the largest and the most centrally located LCMS congregation in the greater Richmond area.

In 2018, Trinity took over operation of Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Ashland, Virginia, approximately 20 minutes north of the Parham campus, and has maintained the ministry there since that time.

Since its founding, Trinity has carried out its mission to “gather, grow, and go” by faithfully serving the community through Word and Sacrament ministry, and through social ministry outreach to area schools, charities, and neighbors.

Our Mission

Gathering around the cross of Jesus.

We will experience and rejoice in God's loving, forgiving presence in Jesus Christ and share that love with the people in our congregation and community. "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another" (John 13:34 ESV).

Growing in God's grace.

We will be lifelong learners, continually learning the truth of God's Word and how that truth applies to our life of discipleship. "Speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ" (Ephesians 4:15 ESV).

Going out to share His love.

We will tell and demonstrate the love of Jesus in all avenues of our everyday life. "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth" (Acts 1:8 ESV).

Our Beliefs

Trinity is a congregation of the Southeastern District of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod (LCMS). 

To be Lutheran means that we accept the Scriptural truths that inspired the reformation of the Christian Church in the 16th century and confessed in the Book of Concord. These teachings led to a renewed focus on the Gospel, often summarized as the “Solas”:

Sola Gratia (Grace alone)

We believe that we are saved solely by God’s grace. There is nothing we can do by our own efforts to earn salvation; it is entirely a gift from God, given freely out of His boundless love and mercy. 

Sola Fide (Faith alone)

The only way to receive God’s grace is through faith. We believe that faith itself is a gift from God, created within us as He works through the Holy Spirit. This gift is imparted to us in the waters of baptism, and through the preaching, teaching, and hearing of His Word. Through these means, God nurtures and strengthens our faith, drawing us closer to Him.

Solus Christus (Christ alone)

Christ is both true God and true man, born of the virgin Mary. He sacrificed Himself for the sins of the world, rose from the dead, ascended into heaven, and promises to return in glory. He is the object of our faith, for He alone has accomplished our redemption and offers us eternal life through His victory over sin, death, and the devil. It is in Him alone that we find forgiveness, salvation, and life. 

As a result, we uphold an extravagant and mysterious view of God's love: that man is saved purely by God's grace alone, through faith alone, on account of Christ alone. We believe that God is so loving and powerful that he is actively working through His Word, as well as saving and sustaining sinful men, women and children through his mysterious gifts of baptism and the Lord's Supper.

Sacraments

Baptism

Baptism is a gift from God that works forgiveness of sins, rescues us from death and the devil, and gives us eternal life. In Romans 6 Paul even tells us that we are “buried with Christ by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.” Through baptism, we are united with Christ in His death and resurrection, allowing us to live in the fullness of His grace.

Lord’s Supper

In the Lord’s Supper, we believe that Christ is truly present in, with, and under the bread and the wine. He instituted this meal for our benefit so that we would be able to physically receive forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation. As Jesus Himself said, "This is My body, given for you... This is My blood, shed for you for the forgiveness of sins," reminding us that through this holy meal, He imparts His grace directly to us.

For an overview of all our beliefs as well as our take on current cultural issues such as marriage, life, and more please see lcms.org.