Read the title of this post. Repeat it to yourself. Then repeat it again.
Bethel Lutheran Church is NOT closing. Period. End of story.
It’s become apparent to me over the past few weeks that a few rumors are flying around out in the wider community — maybe not all over the place, but at least enough that it’s time to set the record straight. In the interest of time, I’ll cut to the short version:
After years of trying various things to “grow the church,” our congregation took a hard, honest look at itself earlier this year. During a series of house meetings, one-to-ones, small group discussions, and other various opportunities to connect, we spent countless hours mulling ways in which we could break out of the survival mode that has defined much of the past decade or more and instead move into a more mission-driven experience of our ministry. As we often remind ourselves, the gospel is intended to thrive, not just survive!
Once we’d gone though this period of assessment and discernment, we gathered together for a congregational meeting on March 15. During that meeting — and following an additional period of conversation, listening, and discernment — we made the hard decision to “sell the existing facility with the purpose of using the proceeds to reinvent the congregation in a new location and/or form.” THAT is what we decided to do: let go of a building and a piece of land — NOT close down a worshiping community.
In the time since that vote, we have been hard at work exploring our options related to a sale as well as for a new form for Bethel. While nothing is official at this point, a strong possibility has emerged for a sale. Similarly, an exciting opportunity for a new location for Bethel has also been found. Overall, our worshiping community has embraced the process by which they made this decision and is excited for the possibilities that can come from this transition.
I have heard it said — specifically by our own Bishop Kirby Unti during the election which saw him placed in that role — that “too many of our congregations serve as memorials to a ministry that was instead of serving as a place for a ministry that can be.” He was right. But what’s more, there’s a second use of the word “memorial” in communities of faith: resources given in someone (or something’s) honor/memory for the purpose of ministry. In our case, we have made a conscious decision to transform our site from one type of memorial into another, more dynamic one.
Blessings,