The President's Corner

Bethany Lutheran Church

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This month’s column is a return to my series on Parma’s numerous and splendid places of worship. As such, I recently traveled to Bethany Lutheran Church and School located at 6041 Ridge Road to meet with Associate Pastor Rick Sweney and School Principal Bill Moses. As in my many past visits to Bethany, I felt welcomed to this gem in the heart of Parma.

Bethany Lutheran Church was founded in 1922 in a small room in a building at the corner of Ridge and Pearl Roads by a congregation of 24 souls. In 1926, the worshippers purchased a lot at 5994 Ridge Road, the current location of Christ Gospel Church. By the next year, they built their house of worship, adding a one-room school in 1935.  “Education has always been an important part of our mission,” stated Mr. Moses in our talk.  During the Depression, a generous parishioner purchased the lot where the current church and school are located. The original church was moved to this location, while the school remained at its previous location.

By the 1950s, like Parma itself, Bethany’s congregation was burgeoning. Soon they outgrew their environs and throughout the 50s and 60s, the parish experienced several expansions, including the building of the current place of worship in 1967. The school went through several expansions, as well, including 1967, 1992 and 2001. However, before construction in 2001, vandals set fire to the school and damaged the entire structure. During that time Bethany persevered, worshipping and holding classes at off-campus sites. “We are especially thankful to Fr. Carlin and the congregation of St. Charles Borromeo Parish for sharing their facilities with us,” Pastor Sweney mentioned.  Finally, in 2003, Bethany dedicated the renovated and expanded facility. Today 2,446 people call Bethany their spiritual home.

Bethany Lutheran School celebrated 80 years of educating the youth of the Parma area in 2015. They are very proud to have been honored in 2012 as an Exemplary School by the National Lutheran School Association – the only Lutheran school in Ohio to have been honored as such. The school serves students in preschool 3 through eighth grade, has a before and after school extended care program and daily religious instruction, among many other excellent programs.

Bethany Lutheran Church is part of the Missouri Synod, headquartered in St. Louis. The Synod consists of 2.6 million Christians in more than 6,000 congregations throughout the country. Founded by Martin Luther during the Protestant Reformation, Lutheranism grew out of the Catholic Church and has many similarities and differences to that faith.  For instance, the liturgical ceremonies are relatively similar. However, Lutherans believe in being made right with God through faith alone. Two sacraments are key to Lutheran believers, including Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Interestingly, “Lutherans believe that, in Holy Communion, they receive four elements. They believe that they receive the true body and blood of Christ in, with, and under the bread and wine,” Pastor Sweney added.

Pastor Sweney also mentioned that, “We are a very Biblical-based church, where the word of God is the sole norm of faith and life.” In fact, a brochure he provided states that, “The Bible is the inspiring, infallible, and authoritative Word of God, without error in its original writings." Therefore, Lutherans are committed to reading, studying and living the written Word of God.

“Bethany is a very warm congregation. Testament to that is the fact that our servant employees stay with us for long periods of time,” according to Pastor Sweney. Proof of his words are the facts that prior to Mr. Moses taking the helm as principal in 2012, he had served as a teacher there since 2004. Further, the previous principal, Ken Boerger, served as a teacher at Bethany for 25 years, then 14 as main administrator. Also, Rev. Gary Hill, who will soon be retiring, has been the Senior Pastor since 2002. In fact, the congregation will soon begin the search for a new Senior Pastor.

If you would like to learn more about Bethany Luther Church and School, visit their website at www.bethanyparma.org or call 440-884-1230. In closing, I want to thank Pastor Sweney and Mr. Moses for taking the time to help me prepare this piece on their fine place of worship and institution of learning. Best wishes to all Observer readers for a happy and healthy spring!