West Portal Lutheran Church is a Lutheran congregation in San Francisco, California, whose ministry includes worship, missionary and outreach programs, Bible study, fellowship, and West Portal Lutheran School. West Portal Lutheran School is a ministry of West Portal Lutheran Church and provides Christian education for grades K-8 in a Christ-centered environment.
The church’s history began on July 11, 1943, when Pastor Haake conducted the first service at the Empire Theatre on West Portal Avenue. In 1948, the dedication of West Portal Lutheran Church and parsonage took place at 200 Sloat Blvd., where the church and Sloat campus remain to this day.
History of West Portal Lutheran Church and School
West Portal Lutheran School began shortly thereafter in 1951 with 59 children and 4 classrooms. Following significant enrollment growth, Haake Hall was dedicated in 1957 with a total school enrollment of 300 students.
In 1974, the school expanded further with the purchase of a church building and education wing at 37th Avenue and Moraga Street. In June 1982, an additional classroom building, Janssen Hall, was built at the Sloat campus.
After tearing down the old Moraga Street school building, West Portal completed the current Sunset Campus at 3101 Moraga Street to house Kindergarten through 3rd Grade. Currently, West Portal Lutheran School has over 300 students and 24 teachers.
Location and architectural character
West Portal Lutheran Church is located at 200 Sloat Blvd., San Francisco, CA 94132. The building is a typical California Spanish colonial-style building, built in 1947, with red tile roofs and a dark wood beam ceiling.
Before this church was built, the congregation met in a theater. The sanctuary is a good mixture of brightness and darkness. It conveys immediately the feeling of being in a consecrated place.
The West Portal district of San Francisco derives its name from the west portal of the Twin Peaks streetcar railway tunnel, opened in 1918, which connects the area to downtown. Streetcars still run through the Twin Peaks tunnel.
This part of the city has a mixture of middle class housing as well as homes for more wealthy people. Standing on the sidewalk in front of the church, one can see the Pacific Ocean to the west, as well as a park featuring tall eucalyptus trees.
To the north is a beautiful grove of eucalyptus trees behind the school buildings. To the south is an attractive residential district. To the east is Mount Davidson, the tallest hill in San Francisco, on which luxurious homes have been built and which is crowned with a huge cross.
It is a popular setting for Easter sunrise services.
Congregation and ministries
At the last count, West Portal had 859 baptized members, of which an average of 259 attend on a weekend. The congregation are actively involved in missionary and outreach programs.
One project: they support a missionary in China. There are Bible study groups, sports groups and other organizations.
The congregation offers opportunities to become actively involved and to enjoy fellowship. It is a congregation which is apparently focused on reaching out to people who do not belong to the church, especially through the school, and to people all over the world.
Worship at West Portal Lutheran Church
The service observed at West Portal Lutheran Church was the Divine Service, Setting 1. The service was formal liturgical worship, conducted with reverence and modesty.
At the door we were greeted with a handshake in a friendly, polite manner as we were given a bulletin. The padded pew was comfortable. The pre-service atmosphere included lively, quiet conversation during the organ prelude.
The opening words of the service were: “Good morning! Welcome to worship at West Portal Lutheran Church.” The congregation used the Lutheran Service Book.
Everything needed, including the service music and the words to the hymns, was presented in its entirety in the bulletin. One needed the hymn book only if a particular hymn was unfamiliar and one needed to look at the melody.
It seemed welcoming to me - an indication that the service is not just for insiders who know it by heart or who can juggle the books with ease. By providing the entire service from beginning to end in the bulletin, they made it easy for a visitor to participate.
Usually, one is distracted by having to turn quickly to pages in a hymnal, in order not to lose track of what is going on. It is a service of love to spare the worshipper this distraction.
The musical instruments were organ and piano. Brandon Kung played some selections on the piano as the offering was being received and communion was being distributed. Holy communion was ministered by Kantor J. Wayne Kerr, pastoral deacon and director of music, who also presided at the organ.
O Christ, Thou Lamb Of God (Lutheran Service Book Setting THREE) | THE AGNUS DEI
Preaching and sermon
Anthony Dodgers, a seminarian, conducted the service and delivered the sermon. The sermon lasted 12 minutes.
Mr Dodgers' sermon was cohesive, well-structured and easy to listen to. It was remarkable how much solid content was presented within the relatively short time.
He showed poise and had a smooth delivery, as though he had been preaching for several years. He spoke in a natural way. He did not draw attention to himself by trying to speak too expressively, but at the same time he avoided the pitfall of being too bland.
He let the words speak for themselves, which is not easy to do.
His text was Luke 7:36-8:3, concerning Jesus forgiving the sins of the woman who bathed his feet, much to Simon's distress, and resuming his travels with the Twelve.
The focus of the sermon was the kissing of the feet of Jesus: why Simon the Pharisee did not do it, why the woman did. He spoke of the “dirty, dusty feet of Jesus” as a means of grace: they represent the self-debasement of God in Jesus.
We also can kiss the feet of Jesus by serving others. It is not demeaning to serve.
A welcoming worship environment
The service was conducted with reverence and modesty. The congregation showed respect for worship and worshippers.
The simple beauty of the sanctuary keeps coming back to me in spirit. So typically Californian in style, so well balanced, except for the sickly mustard yellow in the window.
There were two distractions. There was an open door to the right of the altar area; occasionally one could see movement on the other side of the door.
The other distraction was the stained glass window behind the altar. At first it was pleasing to look at, but after a while I started to wish that whoever designed it had chosen a different shade of yellow. Somehow it looked sickly in comparison to the freshness of the blues and reds.
Fellowship after worship
As we loitered in our seats at the back of the church, someone came up to us, greeted us, and invited us to the after-service coffee. In the fellowship hall below the church it was easy to engage people in conversation.
The decaf coffee was surprisingly strong, which was fine with me. Church coffee is usually too weak. Cake, brownies and donuts were also offered.
West Portal Lutheran School
West Portal Lutheran School provides quality, full-time Christian education as a ministry of West Portal Lutheran Church. The school has provided Christian Education for 75 years for grades K-8.
The school believes in challenging students academically while providing a nurturing Christ-centered atmosphere emphasizing grace, integrity, respect, and love.
“Train a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not turn from it.” Proverbs 22:6.
The crown jewel of this congregation is its school, recently featured on local television as being the best grade school in southwestern San Francisco. There are about 500 students in grades kindergarten through eight, spread over two campuses and served by a staff of about 40.
Sixty per cent of the families participating in the school do not belong to a church. Eighty-one per cent of the students are Asian.
Mission and educational philosophy
West Portal Lutheran School is dedicated to educating and nurturing students as a whole in their faith and character development, social-emotional growth, and academic excellence in a Christ-centered environment.
Every teacher and faculty member promises to provide God's love to your child, to care and nurture them as they learn and grow to their full potential.
With the blessing of our Lord, we accept the challenge to assist you in the education of your child.
Looking back, I am very grateful to have attended West Portal Lutheran for K-8. It afforded me a solid, well-rounded foundation in those critical years.
The teachers made all the difference; they don't just help students thrive, but excel. I firmly believe in the school philosophy and have enrolled my children at WPL so they can receive the same positive experience.
Accreditation and nondiscrimination policy
West Portal Lutheran School is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges and the National Lutheran School Accreditation.
West Portal Lutheran School admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school.
It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, and national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.
Campuses and grade levels
| Campus or facility | Role in the school’s history |
|---|---|
| 200 Sloat Blvd. | The church and Sloat campus remain at this location. |
| Haake Hall | Dedicated in 1957 following significant enrollment growth. |
| 37th Avenue and Moraga Street | Purchased in 1974 as a church building and education wing. |
| Janssen Hall | Additional classroom building built at the Sloat campus in June 1982. |
| 3101 Moraga Street | Current Sunset Campus housing Kindergarten through 3rd Grade. |
Tuition and financial assistance
For the 2026-2027 Academic Year, the Community Rate for Grades K-8 and all children is $12,957. The Active Member Rate for Grades K-8 and all children is $10,365.
| Tuition category | Annual amount | Average of 9 payments | Average of 10 payments | School fees |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Community Rate | $12,957 | $1,439.67 | $1,295.70 | $1,115.00 |
| Active Member Rate | $10,365 | $1,151.67 | $1,036.50 | $1,115.00 |
A tuition account fee of $55 per household applies in addition to the above tuition amounts.
Discounts available: For payment of tuition balance in one installment in September or two installments in September and January, discounts of $45 off tuition per student and $30 off tuition account fee per household will be applied.
The Active Member rate applies for communicant members of West Portal Lutheran Church.
In order to help make sure the commitment to membership in West Portal Lutheran congregation is genuine, there are certain expectations of member parents and their children.
- Activity in faithful, regular worship and other Church functions of at least one parent who is a communicant, confirmed, member of West Portal Lutheran Church for at least one year.
- Baptism of the family children in the Christian faith.
- Regular, faithful attendance, at least 60% of the time, by children in West Portal Lutheran Church Sunday School, Catechism/Confirmation classes when age appropriate, and Church Services.
West Portal Lutheran School offers need-based tuition assistance to families who qualify. West Portal Lutheran School partners with The BASIC Fund for financial aid.
All families applying for tuition assistance from West Portal Lutheran School are required to first apply for a scholarship from The BASIC Fund.
Seventy-five years of Christian education
West Portal Lutheran School celebrated 75 years of Christ-centered education. The anniversary observance included an open house and reception, followed by a worship service.
The celebration was associated with the words: “Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!” Psalm 100:4.
The anniversary event was scheduled for Saturday, September 26, 2026, with an Open House and Reception from 1:30-5:00 PM and a Worship Service from 5:00-6:00 PM.
The location was 200 Sloat Blvd., San Francisco, CA 94132. The dress code was formal attire for adults and school uniform for current students.
