Our History

Resurrection Lutheran Church celebrated its 45th Anniversary in 2019.

The Board of American Missions of the Lutheran Church of America(largest of the three merging bodies of the present ELCA) called Pastor ArlynTolzmann. He came as mission developer.

The first worship was held at Christie Elementary School on PalmSunday, April 7, 1974 with 168 present. On December 7, 1975 the congregation approved a church building proposal for $350,000 and groundbreaking began on September 26, 1976 among showers.

There were growing pains during the formative years as the church located in the rapidly expanding Plano community in a northern suburb of Dallas.

Early members recall dirt roads and a cotton patch (hence the butterfly or symbol of Christ's Resurrection) and the cotton boll(cotton patch site symbolized in the letterhead and newsletter banner)to tell of the location of the first church building.

Plano's demographic changes were dramatic. The impact on the mission church was also dramatic. At one point in its history, Resurrection was the fastest growing mission in the Lutheran Church of America.

Resurrection would have several more ground breaking ceremonies before finally moving into its current facility in July of 1993. The current sanctuary seats 550-625 and the chapel seats 75-90.

A variety of ministries have been established over the years including Stephen Ministry, Christ Care, Youth and Adult Choirs, Handbell Choirs, a variety of Bible Study Groups and Fellowship activities, Prayer Ministry, Prime Timers (for Senior Citizens), Singles Dinner Group, Boy Scouts, Women of the ELCA (WELCA), Blood Drives, Social Ministry activities (Oaks Indian Mission, Christmas Gift Project, Mission Partners, School Supply Project, etc.), Basketball and Softball and Youth Groups.

The RLC Preschool programs started on August 3, 1997, as the ARK Preschool.  The ARK closed in the fall of 2019 after years of declining enrollment.

Resurrection continues its rich history of service to the community and has a goal of changing lives to reflect the life of Christ. Our Resurrection Lutheran Church Charter encourages us to participate in ministry in the following ways: LEARN, SERVE, WITNESS and WORSHIP.

Our Pastors


1973 – Rev. Arlyn Tolzmann accepted a call to be a mission developer on Oct. 12.


1979 - Rev. Stephen W. Wentreck became the first Associate Pastor of RLC.


1983 - Rev. Yutaka Kishino began his work as the Associate Pastor.

1988 – Associate Pastor Rev. Scott Zimmerer, was installed.

1995 – Rev. Darrel Gilbertson was installed as Senior Pastor on August 21

1998 – Rev. Walter Klockers began working as the Associate Pastor

2001 – A call was extended to Rev. Gary Charles Hess as Senior Pastor

2003 – Rev. Ray Flachmeier joined Pastor Hess as an Associate Pastor

2007 – Pastor Todd Bruning was called as Senior Pastor

2015 – Rev. William Jon Irons accepted the call as Senior Pastor




HERE is a copy of the 25th Anniversay History Book, published in 1999.