The Lutheran Church began in Germany about 500 years ago when Martin Luther, a Roman Catholic priest and professor of theology, and his supporters were put out of the Roman Catholic Church for criticizing certain practices of the church and insisting on having some things changed so that the Gospel might be proclaimed more clearly.

The St. Mark's Lutheran Congregation was organized in 1850. It was the first church to be formed after the town of Oakland was granted its charter in 1849.