Do you hear that distant hymn? It whispers tales of faith, community, and change at Bethany Lutheran Church. This church once stood as a beacon of hope in the Seward neighborhood. Bethany Lutheran Church’s story is one of evolution. It is about embracing the new while honoring the old.
Bethany Lutheran Church was founded in 1902. It quickly became the oldest church in Seward. From its very beginning, Bethany Lutheran Church never avoided controversy. M. Falk Gjertsen of Trinity Lutheran Church became Bethany’s first pastor.
Over the years, Bethany Lutheran Church saw many changes. A fire destroyed the first church and a second was built. The Norwegian language faded away. The iconic F. Melius Christiansen was not the organist forever. Bethany Lutheran Church faithfully built bridges between unlikely parties.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations had its offices in the church building. Bethany hosted the first community Iftar. Reverend Steve Benson reminded people not to be negative about Muslims after 9/11. Bethany installed Jay Wiesner, a gay pastor, in 2001 before it was acceptable.
Joe Shelton joined Bethany in 2013. He was attracted by its diversity and openness. Pastor Jeffrey Schulz called it a quirky little congregation. He said they were totally OK with him as a gay pastor.
In the fall of 2020, Bethany held its last worship service in its own building. The church gifted the building to Augsburg University. The pandemic changed everything. On September 12, 2021, the Bethany Lutheran Church congregation ceased to exist as an entity.
Bethany leaves behind a legacy of engagement with the community. Augsburg University continues this legacy. For many years, Bethany put on a community health fair. It prepared a free Thanksgiving meal. It also operated a food shelf.
In 2010, when three people were killed in the Somali grocery store Bethany Lutheran Church opened its doors. All of the occupants of Bethany’s very large building were either missions or renters with aligned values. Soup for You Cafe continues to operate.
Bethany Lutheran Church may be gone. Its spirit lives on in the community it served. It stands as a reminder of faith. It represents service and unwavering commitment to inclusivity.