Joseph Ellwanger -- Pastor Emeritus

Pastor of Cross Lutheran Church in Milwaukee, 1967-2001, Joseph W. Ellwanger brought a wealth of knowledge and experience garnered in his years working in Birmingham, Alabama, where he had grown the congregation from 30 members to 300. He was also active in the civil rights movement, marched with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and participated in the funeral for one of the four girls who was killed in the church bombing.

Once he arrived in Milwaukee, Ellwanger again carried out lively, productive ministry and led the transformation of Cross Church from a congregation that was over 95% white and outer urban to become an 80% black urban congregation with 700 members.

One of his greatest strengths was refusing to see any boundary at the doors of the church, keeping his Vision always on the greater community, and Cross' place in it. he helped the congregation develop a refugee program, a youth-oriented ministry, and an ecumenical prison re-entry ministry called Project Return.   he gave leadership to the forming of MICAH, a congregation-based justice organizing group in Milwaukee,formed in 1988, and was President of MICAH, 1995-1997.

Since his retirement in 2001, both he and his wife Joyce have worked diligently on a variety of projects and organizations involving social justice and other issues facing the community today.

On Sunday, June 6, 2010. Pastor Joe was declared Pastor Emeritus of Cross Lutheran Church, and the lower level community room was dedicated as the Ellwanger Fellowship Hall. A  portrait and plaque have been added, commemorating both the man and his contributions.