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Welcome to the Lutheran Center
Welcome to the Lutheran Center
  
"May God be gracious to us and bless us and make His face shine upon us, that your
ways may be known on earth, your salvation among all nations." Psalms 67:1-2
   
 
John and Dorothy Rule
 
John Rule was born and raised in the Sharon, Kansas area on a ranch owned by his father and grandfather. They also owned a ranch in Blessing, Texas.

John was educated at Fairmount College in Wichita. He was a real estate investor and developer in the greater Chicago area his entire business life. Through his business contacts, he acquired this building in 1990. He retired in San Antonio, Texas. John died in March 1999. His wife, Dorothy, died in December 2001. John named the building The Dorothy Rule Education Center in her honor.

 
   
JOHN T. RULE generously gifted this building to the Kansas District in February 1997.  
   
Rev. Roland Boehnke

The 1997 Kansas District-LCMS Convention adopted a resolution to receive the gift of the building located at 1000 SW 10th Avenue, Topeka, Kansas. This building, the Lutheran Center, has been given to the Kansas District through the office of hte Kansas District Planned Giving Counelor.

Kansas Logo Stained Glass
 The stained glass artwork displayed in the lobby and basement conference of the Dorothy Rule Education Center was designed and constructed by Rev. Roland Boehnke. Rev. Boehnke is retired. The last church he served was Trinity LCMS, Mission, Kansas.

 In addition to his service as parish pastor, Pastor Boehnke has served the Kansas District and the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod in a variety of capacities as district executive, circuit counselor and district vice-president.
Christian Symbols Stained Glass
   
   
Kathryn Stach
In October 1998, bids were let for the renovation of 1000 SW 10th Avenue. In mid January 1999, Laborers for Christ arrived and began their work. The District Office move was completed in December 1999.

The Lutheran Center was informally dedicated at the Kansas District Board of Directors meeting in January 2000 and was formally received in a service of thanksgiving at the 2000 Convention of the Kansas District.









When you visit the Lutheran Center, please take time to enjoy the thirteen different crocheted artworks throughout the building. Lois Behnke donated these works of art that were stitched by her mother, Mrs. Kathryn Stach.

Mrs. Stach was born in Michigan on September 2, 1905 and moved to Kansas when she was 5-years old. Kathryn was a lifelong, Missouri Synod Lutheran from th eKinsley/Offerle, Kansas area.

This specific type of crochet work is referred to as filet work. There are a variety of stitches used in the handwork. Christ in the Temple was the last piece crocheted by Mrs. Stach, due to failing eyesight. Karhryn passed away in November 1999 at the age of 93.

Jesus on the Cross Crocheted
 
MORE INFORMATION
 
As near as we can find out, the building was constructed in the early 1970s. It was built for and occupied by the Taylor Insurance Agency. When Taylor Insurance Agency was sold, the building came up for sale and was then purchased by John Rule around 1990
     
LCMS Cross on Building
   .The Kansas District LCMS received the building at the April 1997 District Convention. Plans were immediately begun for its renovation. Many hours of planning by staff and support staff went into the renovation design which will serve the District's ministry well into the future. At this point, there aren't any changes that we wish we could make. God truly blessed us in the planning process.
   
In addition to the present arwork and the exterior cross - a gift from AAL (now Thrivent) - plans call for archival displays of historic pictures, mementos from St. John's College, Winfield (closed in 1986), and a wall with plaques dedicated to every Kansas congregation which has been a part of the Kansas District.
   The building has about 5,500 square feet on each floor for a total of 16,500 square feet. At today's construction costs of approximately $140 per square foot for a building of this quality, the replacement cost would be about $2,310,000. Approximately $625,000 went into the renovation and represents about $38 per square foot--quite a bargain!
 
Recognition must be given to the many hours of volunteer time given by Laborers for Christ who helped keep the renovation costs as low as they were.
 
 
Kansas District Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod
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