History of Bethlehem Lutheran Church

In 1885, a small group of Swedish people gathered together in Traverse City for the first time, holding Swedish-Ianguage services in a Methodist church. It was not until August 10, 1892, that they organized the Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Church, with 20 communing members and 15 children. The first church was built in 1893 on Washington Street and dedicated in 1899.

In the years that followed, the church shrank alarmingly until, in the 1920s, Pastor J.A. Lundin proposed English-language services, a new name, a request for financial support, and a call for a full-time pastor. Thus the church was renamed Bethlehem Lutheran Church, and Pastor C. R. Peterson became the first full-time pastor.

In 1949, the congregation purchased the church site on Washington Street. The church was designed in 1952 by Gordon Cornwell, and ground was broken. When the new building was dedicated in 1954, church membership had reached 325.

In 1962, Bethlehem changed from the Augustana Synod and joined the newly-formed Lutheran Church in America (LCA). That same year, the church purchased a residential lot on Peninsula Court for use as a parsonage. On June 30, 1963, the church mortgage was burned, and the congregation began acquiring property along Peninsula Drive.

In early 1967, ground was broken for a new education wing and choir loft, in 1968 a new pipe organ was installed, and in 1970 the kitchen was remodeled using volunteer labor. In 1976, work began on a new administrative area and nursery. During the 1970s women were first elected to church council.

In 1988, Bethlehem became part of the new Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). In April of that year, Pastor David Gabel was installed as senior pastor at Bethlehem, and in August, Pastor Phil Nordstrand, who had come in 1984 to start a ministry to single and single-again members of the community, left to accept a call to a church in South Haven. In May of 1989, the congregation extended a call to the Rev. Richard Stieve to become the associate pastor.

In 1992, Pastor Stieve moved to Trinity Lutheran Church in Frankfort, Michigan. The Rev. Bradley Will became the associate pastor in 1993. An extensive remodeling and building program began in 1997. Under the direction of Jim Leibenguth (Chair of the building committee) and architect Jim Elkins, the narthex was remodeled, a large gathering area, new kitchen and fellowship hall created. The offices were moved into a remodeled area of the building. The dedication of the new, remodeled building took place on April 26, 1998.

We remind ourselves that the mission of Christ is to be carried out in his world, not just within this building. The church building is used almost every day of the week by various community groups.

A committee is being formed to obtain more infornmation about Bethlehem Lutheran Church. A list of the pastors who served the Church from 1892 is here. Another addition will be biographies of persons who were prominent members of the community and members of Bethlehem. The first person we have selected to recognize is John Parsons.

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