Gloria Dei is a congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, part of a global communion of 65 million Christians. (For a glimpse at Lutherans around the world, go to http://www.lutheranworld.org/Directory/Welcome.EN.html.

Gloria Dei has been serving Downers Grove since 1948. Our "parent" congregation was Grace Lutheran Church, LaGrange. We are evangelical Lutherans, which means that our focus is on proclaiming the Gospel, and that our ministry is in continuity with the Reformation in 16th Century Europe. We acknowledge our ecumenical ties, including the Roman Catholic church with which we share a heritage, and our "cousins" of the Reformed and Anglican traditions.

The present building, at Main and Grant, was begun in 1955, and expanded in 1962. Stained glass windows were dedicated in 1969.

Lutheran congregations in the United States are separately incorporated, calling their own pastors from the roster of the larger church, owning their own property, and determining their own future through participation of the voting members of the congregation. The church's constitution outlines our purpose, confession of faith, and organizational structure.