Churches in Minneapolis

Notable evangelical churches in Minneapolis

• Bethlehem Baptist Church, Minneapolis — one of the most theologically influential Baptist churches in America; the longtime pastoral home of John Piper (1980–2013); known for Piper's expository preaching and his development of "Christian Hedonism" theology; continues under Jason Meyer and then Jonathan Parnell; its pastoral training program and Desiring God ministry have shaped evangelical preaching globally.
• Eagle Brook Church — one of the largest churches in Minnesota; multiple campuses across the Twin Cities metro; approximately 20,000 weekly attendees; contemporary non-denominational evangelical with strong family programming.
• Woodland Hills Church, Saint Paul — founded by Greg Boyd; known for its open-theist theology and emphasis on nonviolence and the kingdom of God; intellectually engaged evangelical congregation that takes hard theological questions seriously.
• The Crossing, Minneapolis — a theologically Reformed evangelical congregation in the Uptown neighborhood; known for serious preaching and engagement with Minneapolis urban culture.
• Grace Church, Eden Prairie — large evangelical church in the southwestern suburbs; strong family programming; theologically conservative.
• Redeemer Lutheran Church, Minneapolis — theologically orthodox Lutheran congregation; part of the growing Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ (LCMC) network; serious about liturgy and confessional Lutheran theology.

Lutheran Minneapolis

No American metro has a stronger Lutheran identity than the Twin Cities. Minnesota Lutheranism has several distinct streams:

• ELCA (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America) — the largest Lutheran denomination; historically dominant in Minnesota; progressive on social issues; strong institutional presence through hospitals, universities (Luther College, Augsburg, Gustavus Adolphus), and social service agencies. Luther Seminary in Saint Paul is one of the largest Lutheran seminaries in the world.
• LCMS (Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod) — theologically conservative Lutheran denomination; smaller presence in Minnesota than the ELCA but significant in German settlement areas; holds to traditional Lutheran confessionalism.
• North Heights Lutheran Church, Arden Hills — one of the most unusual Lutheran churches in America; charismatic Lutheran congregation; holds Lutheran liturgy alongside Pentecostal-style worship and spiritual gifts emphasis; historically one of the largest Lutheran congregations in Minnesota.
• House of Hope Presbyterian / Lutheran congregations, Saint Paul — historic mainline congregations with deep Saint Paul heritage.

Catholic Minneapolis–Saint Paul

The Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis is one of the major Catholic jurisdictions in the upper Midwest, shaped primarily by Irish and German Catholic immigration in the 19th century:

• Cathedral of Saint Paul — the mother church of the archdiocese; magnificent domed building modeled on St. Peter's Basilica; dominant feature of Saint Paul's Cathedral Hill neighborhood
• Basilica of Saint Mary, Minneapolis — the first basilica designated in the United States (1926); stunning Beaux Arts building in downtown Minneapolis; active parish with strong music program
• Saint Agnes Church, Saint Paul — historically significant German Catholic parish; known for exceptional traditional Latin Mass and sacred music; one of the finest examples of German Catholic church architecture in the upper Midwest
• Growing Hispanic and Somali Catholic communities — Saint Paul and Minneapolis have significant East African Catholic populations (particularly from Ethiopia and Eritrea) as well as growing Mexican and Central American Catholic communities

Diverse Christian communities

The Twin Cities have become one of the most ethnically diverse metros in the upper Midwest — and their church scene reflects this:

• Hmong Christian churches — Minnesota has the largest Hmong population in America, concentrated in Saint Paul; dozens of Hmong evangelical, Lutheran, and Christian and Missionary Alliance churches serve this community
• East African evangelical churches — Somali-background Christian, Ethiopian, and Eritrean evangelical congregations; Lake Nokomis Presbyterian has been notably active in Somali ministry
• Latino evangelical churches — growing network of Spanish-language Assemblies of God and non-denominational congregations in South Minneapolis

Frequently asked questions

What is the religious character of Minneapolis compared to other Midwest cities?

Minneapolis is more secular than comparable Midwest metros like Cincinnati or Columbus, and its downtown neighborhoods have low church attendance. But the suburban and exurban ring is significantly more churched, and the Lutheran institutional heritage (hospitals, universities, social services) gives the metro a Christian cultural residue that survives lower attendance rates. The evangelical megachurch scene — particularly Eagle Brook — is among the largest and fastest-growing in the upper Midwest.

Is John Piper still at Bethlehem Baptist?

John Piper retired from Bethlehem Baptist in 2013 after 33 years as senior pastor. He continues to lead Desiring God Ministries, which remains based in Minneapolis. Bethlehem Baptist is now led by Jonathan Parnell and maintains the same Reformed Baptist theological identity.