The History of Bethlehem Lutheran Church

Bethlehem Lutheran began in 1885 as a mission church of the Swedish Augustana Synod. Initially established in Cleveland and using a chapel building owned by a Congregational church, the Bethlehem congregation went on to build three edifices including the current one in Cleveland Heights that was completed in 1954.

The Swedish Augustana Synod initially was formed under the Scandinavian Evangelical Lutheran Augustana Synod and through the years its churches have reorganized. The name “Augustana” is derived from “Confessio Augustana” which is the Latin title for the Augsburg Confession. The Scandinavian Synod was formed in 1860 when its member churches withdrew from the Synod of Northern Illinois of the Lutheran General Synod and organized as an independent group. By 1868 these churches had divided into the Norwegian-Danish Augustana Synod and the Swedish Augustana Synod. The Swedish Synod consisted of five conferences – the Illinois, the Minnesota, the Iowa, the Kansas, and the New York conferences. The latter included Ohio churches of the synod, thus Bethlehem was founded within the Cleveland District of the New York Conference of the Swedish Augustana Synod. Over time the synod became the Augustana Evangelical Lutheran Church and was commonly referred to as the Swedish Lutheran Church. In 1962 the Augustana Evangelical Lutheran Church joined with the United Lutheran Church in America (German, Slovak and Icelandic), the Finnish Evangelical Lutheran Church and the American Evangelical Lutheran Church (Danish) to form the Lutheran Church in America (LCA). In 1988, the American Lutheran Church (ALC), the Association of Evangelical Lutheran Churches (AELC), and the LCA joined together as the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). Prior to the formation of the LCA, nearly one in three pastors who served Augustana churches were born in Sweden. Prior to World War I, the seven pastors to serve Bethlehem were born in Sweden, while all those serving since 1917 were born in the United States.

Now in its second century as a congregation, and recently celebrating its 125th anniversary, Bethlehem has reached several milestones. After more than a half century in Cleveland Heights, the current church seeks to serve its members and its community.
The following timeline is a summary of the congregation’s history.

Bethlehem Timeline:
1885, June 1: The congregation is organized and Mr. G. Hammarskjold, a theological student, is elected chairman.

1888, Nov. 11: Dr. Gustav Nelsenius is installed as the first pastor.

1889, Jan. 24: The congregation is legally incorporated as the Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Bethlehem Church.

1890, Sep. 1: The cornerstone is laid for the first new church building at 434 Central Avenue (near East 24th Street.)

1891-1900: Three pastors serve Bethlehem during a decade of some turmoil for the church: Rev. E.F. Alfson (1891-94), Rev. Carl T. Sandstrom (1894-95), and Rev. J.W. Swanbeck (1896-99).

1900-1905: Years of encouraging growth under Rev. John Johnson. On October 8, 1901, the cornerstone was laid for the second church building at 7505 Wade Park Avenue and the new church building was dedicated in November 1903.

1906-1916: Continued growth under the leadership of Rev. Emil T. Anderson.

1917-1947: Rev. J. Alfred Lundgren served as pastor of Bethlehem for three decades, which encompassed two World Wars and economic depression.

1948-1954: Rev. Axel V. Beckman’s years of service to Bethlehem.

1953, July 12: The cornerstone is laid for the present church building.

1954, Jan. 24: The dedication of the current church building.

1954-1958: Rev. Roger Boraas' years of service to Bethlehem.

1958-1988: Rev. Jack L. Sersig serves as senior pastor at Bethlehem.

1988-1992: Rev. Sersig serves as visitation pastor at Bethlehem.

During these decades, the Lutheran church and the Cleveland Heights area both undergo transitions. Pastor Sersig was a stable voice for the congregation and the community during those years, encouraging Bethlehem to share the Word and grace of God in the church and in the neighborhoods.

1987-2006: Rev David A. Genszler’s years of service to Bethlehem.

2002-2010: Rev. Robert E. Hanson's years as visitation pastor at Bethlehem.

2006-2007: Rev. Kenneth Anderson serves as interim pastor.

2007- : Rev. Jessica L. Shields (nee Fertig) serves at Bethlehem.

Additional history about Bethlehem may be found in:

Carlson, Einar G., The Bethlehem Saga: A History of the Bethlehem Lutheran Church of Cleveland Heights, Ohio from 1885-1975. Cleveland: 1975.

Nelson, Paul A., Now Thank We All Our God. Cleveland: The Cobham and Hatherton Press, 1988.

Bethlehem Lutheran Church Archives – (please contact the church office).

Additional history about the Lutheran church and its roots in America may be found at:

http://www.elca.org/Who-We-Are/History/Lutheran-Roots-in-America.aspx