"A Brief History"
By Henry M. Swanay, October 1978
Taken from Bethlehem Lutheran Church's 50th Anniversary Booklet

While the focus of our efforts here is to recount some of the highlights of the fifty year history of Bethlehem Lutheran Church on the occasion of this, its Golden Anniversary, we feel we would be remiss if we did not include in our account some background to the beginnings of Lutheranism in Upper East Tennessee in general and Johnson City in particular. For to be sure, Bethlehem Lutheran Church, when it was established in 1928, did not suddenly spring full-blown from out of nowhere. Indeed, over three quarters of a century separates the building of our first church from the time of the arrival of the first Lutherans in this area.
It was in 1845 that a small group of German settlers, very likely seeking a climate and geographical environment similar to that which they had left behind in their homeland, came to the untamed wilderness of Upper East Tennessee and established a town, promptly naming it Wartburg, a name of no small significance to the followers of Martin Luther. A devout group of Lutherans, one of their first community efforts was the establishment of a church, to which they called a minister in 1847.
The Wartburg church banded together with other Lutheran churches in East Tennessee to form the Holston Synod, out of which communal effort resulted the founding of a small college at Mosheim, Tennessee, originally known as Wagner College. While the school was to be short-lived due to financial difficulties and dissension arising from some internal grievances, its brief existence is significant because it was from this institution of higher learning that one of its professors, Rev. Ed Koehler, finding little there to challenge his abilities - upon his arrival at the college he found only six students there, and these not of college grade - sought and received instructions from the Mission Board to look for openings where mission work could be begun. Thus it was that Rev. Koehler selected Johnson City, then a thriving metropolis of some 15,000 population about 45 miles distant from Mosheim, as a promising field for his endeavors.
Consequent to his decision, Rev. Koehler came to Johnson City sometime in 1902, secured permission to use a room in the Town Courthouse for services, then set about canvassing the city encouraging people to attend. One can imagine his deep disappointment when, at his first scheduled service, not one single person showed up. After a second try on the following week one man appeared , whether as a result of Rev. Koehler's canvassing or by mere chance we cannot know, but be that as it may, Rev. Koehler felt that further effort here would be a waste of time and so returned to his duties at Mosheim.
One might say that such a small beginning deserves hardly more than a footnote in our church history, but the significance of Rev. Koehler's humble enterprise lies in the fact that his was the very earliest recorded attempt to establish a beachhead for Lutheranism in the city of Johnson City, and, in the end, may not have been an entirely wasted effort at all, for, as one earlier observer of our church history wrote, " ... wherever the 'Gospel Seed' is planted it will grow."
Over twenty years were to pass before another attempt would be made to establish a Lutheran congregation in Johnson City. It is worth noting, however, that also in the year 1902 the Silver Grove Lutheran Church near Bluff City called a pastor from Concordia Seminary, the Rev. William F. Arndt being sent in response to that call. Although Rev. Arndt worked there and in the surrounding area until about 1905 and did not extend his efforts to Johnson City, we would be doing him a disservice not to count his labors as another beginning step for the establishment of a Missouri-Synod church here in the fullness of time. Too, we are indebted to Rev. Arndt for his strict adherence to the true doctrine, for it is a matter of record that he had to do battle with a liberal faction in the Silver Grove Church and that he did not yield, but held fast to the Word of God.
What might well be termed as the "Modern Era" of Lutheranism in Johnson City began with the arrival of Rev. Claire P. Schulz in the summer of 1924, whose missionary efforts over the ensuing five years were to culminate in the establishing of Bethlehem Lutheran Church , which he was to serve until his untimely death in 1939.
Whether he arrived in town by train or by means of his trusty Model "T" Ford, which was to become his trademark in years to come, we do not know, but the records reveal that Rev. Schulz, only twenty-four years of age, as yet unmarried, newly graduated from Concordia Seminary and freshly ordained as a Missouri-Synod minister, was eager to "roll up his sleeves" and get to work in Johnson City and its environs as a missionary of the Lutheran Church to Upper East Tennessee. While his assignment included the entire area, Johnson City, at that time having a population of approximately 20,000, was deemed by the young minister to be the logical distribution point from which to establish his base of operations and work, so he took up residence here.
Since Rev. Schulz was a man of impeccable scholastic and theological credentials - in his day a student could not even so much as enroll at Concordia Seminary without at least a working knowledge of English, German, Latin, Greek and Hebrew - and was a sensitive man of letters who loved poetry, a musician as well (when one was available, he played piano for the congregational singing in the early days), one can only begin to imagine the frustrations he must have suffered during those lean years when he literally had to "scurry about town" trying to locate a room in which to hold services, deeming himself lucky to have as many as a dozen people attend a service. If the room turned out to be heated he considered himself especially blessed.
Rev. Schulz held his first Lutheran service in Johnson City on September 21, 1924, in a small courtroom in the Municipal Building, which was located at the corner of Boone and Market Streets where the Johnson City Press Chronicle Building now stands. As a result of news articles in the local paper, a paid advertisement in the paper, a listing in the Church Announcements section of the paper, coupled with the strategic placement of window cards about town, he was rewarded by the appearance of nine people, who attended in spite of a heavy rain on that day. There was no piano or organ accompaniment to the singing, and although expenses for the day came to $15.88, Rev. Schulz declined to take up an offering, a portion of his services he was to omit on many future occasions when he felt that it might prove an imposition or an embarrassment to those present.
(We are indebted to Rev. Schulz for his keeping of a personal journal in which he carefully noted the experience of the first forty-five services he conducted in Johnson City. While it is much too lengthy for inclusion here in its entirety we are able to glean from it an exceptionally accurate account of these first services, along with many personal observations which he set to paper in a neat precise hand.)
The youthful Missionary lost no time in announcing to those in attendance at his first service that "This Court Room serves only as a very temporary place of worship", that his endeavor was to "find some well-located hall, suited to church services," and that "a Lutheran Sunday School would be organized as soon as a more permanent location could be found." Such was the faith and confidence of Rev. Schulz from the very outset of his ministry here.
Seventeen people attended Rev. Schulz's second service the following week at the same location, again in spite of a steady rain. His journal entry of that day reads, "I preached with wet feet. " Perhaps he would have had an even larger turnout that week had it not bean for a rather spirited revival being conducted in town at which "a 16 year old Son of Thunder was the preacher, going through the country making money to pay his way thru college." Once again Rev. Schulz did not take up an offering, this time, one suspects, to make certain that his intentions would not be misunderstood.
The first seven Lutheran services held in Johnson City were conducted at five different places, including the court house , a United Brethren Chapel, a Seventh Day Adventist Chapel, and a lodge hall on the third floor over the Savoy Drug Store at the corner of Main and Fountain Square. Rev. Schulz was particularly delighted to have the use of the United Brethren Church for fourth service, because it was "the first time we had occasion to use a piano for singing accompaniment." "I played, preached and prayed," he noted triumphantly in his journal.
Finally, a room was rented on the second floor of the Keys Building at 234 1/2 East Main Street, which served both as chapel and a pastor's office for more than five years. The first service in this hall was conducted on November 9, 1924, and from that day on Sunday School and Divine Services were conducted regularly. Mrs. Ollie Propst, widow of Mr. C. B. Propst, one of Bethlehem's founders, who is now approaching her 85th birthday and attends services regularly to this day, recalls that this room "was next to Beckner's Jewelry Store and was upstairs over a poolroom." Mrs. Propst's memory is correct, for Rev. Schulz's journal contains a number of references to this poolroom.
Rev. Schulz's work as a pioneer missionary in Upper East Tennessee, where the Lutheran Church was little known, was often quite discouraging. During the first six months of his work he had an average attendance of seven in Sunday Services. It often happened that no one showed up for scheduled services. For quite some time there were only five enrolled in Sunday School. Yet he persisted, and as a result of his faithful, patient work the Lord added His blessing to his efforts, and by 1928 a rather fine group of people met regularly for services.
On December 23 , 1928, the congregation was organized as "The Bethlehem Evangelical Lutheran Church of Johnson City." A constitution was adopted, and a resolution was made to join the Western District of The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod. The original handwritten copy of that constitution rests in our church archives to this day, showing its first four signatories to be J. E. Cloninger, C. B. Propst, P. Guthrie and Albert M. Winebarger.
Construction of the first Lutheran Church in Johnson City was begun June 17, 1929, on a site which had been purchased in November, 1928, with the assistance of a loan from the Church Extension Fund of the Western District. The site was at the corner at Lamont Street and West Watauga Avenue, a lot of approximately one acre, purchased at a cost of $2,800.00. Plans for a humble chapel were drawn by Mr. G. Gade of Knoxville, who was also in charge of construction, assisted by Mr. J. E. Cloninger and Pastor Schulz as members of the Building Committee.
That chapel was dedicated on October 6, 1929. The structure was a brick veneer, 24' x 50', built in the rear of a large lot. This new building not only provided a fine chapel, but Sunday School rooms in a half basement as well. The total cost of this building was slightly in excess of $3,000.00 It served the congregation well until February of 1950.
Rev. Schulz opened a Christian Day School in the basement rooms of the new church in 1933. There being very little help from others available to him, he pressed himself to his physical limit, using whatever meager and humble resources he could muster. It was a most primitive schoolroom, yet unchurched people in the neighborhood sent their children to it and appreciated the work that was being done.
But serving as pastor of Bethlehem Church and conducting a school, together with his missionary duties, which led him to Bristol, Erwin and Elizabethton, proved to be too much for Rev. Schulz. His health began to fail and to his great sorrow the school had to be closed.
Quite suddenly, on February 20th, 1939, while on a mission of mercy in Elizabethton, Pastor Schulz was stricken with a cerebral hemorrhage, to which he succumbed two days later. He was only 39 years of age when called to his Heavenly Home.
At the time of Pastor Schulz's death Bethlehem Lutheran Church numbered 21 communicant members, yet at an earlier date there had been as many as 35. The Sunday School numbered 14, while at one time there had been upwards of 35 on the rolls. The average church attendance for 1939 was 28, the highest it had ever been.
Upon the death of Pastor Schulz, Albert R. Stutz, writing in the "Dixie Leaguer" said of him: "His kind and genial way, his friendly manner, his deep sincerity, his great musical talent, his eminent scholarship, had endeared him to all with whom he came in contact."
After the sudden death of Rev. Schulz, the Field Secretary of the Mission Board of the Western District, Rev. Martin Schaefer, took charge of the congregation for three weeks, after which Rev. George Beiderwieden, Jr., formerly assistant pastor of Messian Lutheran Church, St. Louis, Missouri, assumed the pastorate of the congregation. Rev. Beiderwieden was installed by Rev. W. Krueger of Knoxville on May 28, 1939.
Under Pastor Beiderwieden's leadership the congregation continued its growth and progress. Several notable improvements were made on the church property: colored glass windows were installed, the interior was completely redecorated, and a large neon cross was erected over the entrance on the outside of the church.
Pastor Beiderwieden, during his nine and a half years (1939-1948) in what he has described in his own words as God's Country, was known as a sincere worker, a fine missionary, an able preacher and a man of prayer. He, with his pleasant personality, made many friends for Bethlehem Lutheran Church and his influence in the community soon manifested itself in the growth of Bethlehem congregation. During the first five years of his ministry there was an average of five adults accepted by confirmation every year, and during the last four years of his ministry an average of seventeen adult converts were gained annually. At the close of 1946 Bethlehem Church had 93 communicant members. Typifying Pastor Beiderwieden's faith in the future he set a goal of 130 for 1947, and while this goal was not reached the records show a healthy increase.
While busy at Johnson City, Pastor Beiderwieden was instrumental in establishing congregations in the neighboring towns of Elizabethton, where the Redeemer Lutheran Church was dedicated in 1944, and in Erwin, where Bethany Lutheran Church was dedicated in 1947.
Under Rev. Beiderwieden's leadership plans were made for a new church edifice as early as 1945. Due to excessive building costs, however, they were withdrawn a number of times and actual construction postponed but it was during his pastorate that our present church was planned and designed. So strongly did Pastor Beiderwieden feel that a beautiful and lasting cathedral-like church should be built, he staunchly resisted suggestions to the contrary. His patient determination was reflected in a letter to the Mission Board of the Western District in which he wrote:
Looking into the future we feel that we will need a seating capacity of at least two hundred and fifty members. We would prefer that the building be of stone. The Church we wish to build would, according to our estimation, cost forty-five or fifty thousand dollars. We realize that this is a large sum for a congregation of our size and we are willing to postpone the building for another year or so rather than build a church of lesser quality.
Late in 1948 Rev. Beiderwieden accepted a call to St. John's Lutheran Church in Decatur, Illinois. During the last full year of his ministry in Johnson City the average church attendance at Bethlehem was 109, the Sunday School had an enrollment of 128, and there were 112 communicant members.
Upon the departure of Rev. Beiderwieden in November, 1948, the Voters' Assembly of Bethlehem Lutheran Church decided to let the Mission Board call a pastor and it was not until a period of over three months had passed that our next pastor, Rev. Elmer G. Neunaber arrived to take over the reins of leadership. Our records do not reveal who served as interim pastor(s) during this period, but the minutes show that before leaving Pastor Beiderwieden had made arrangements for pastors from Knoxville and Oak Ridge to come on Sundays until such time as a regular pastor could be obtained.
Early in 1949 Rev. Elmer G. Neunaber, pastor of Faith Lutheran Church, Oak Ridge, was sent to Johnson City by the Mission Board of the Western District and was installed as pastor of Bethlehem on February 20 of that year. Soon after he assumed his duties it was resolved by the church body to proceed with the erection of both a new church and parsonage, for by the late forties the congregation had outgrown its facilities at the Lamont Street-Watauga Avenue chapel which it has used for two decades. There was common agreement that a more adequate structure was needed. The Mission Board of the Western District placed its blessing upon plans to procure a larger church in Johnson City, agreeing that the old church was unfavorable to growth both in terms of capacity and location. Thus the old church was sold to the Johnson City Brethren and a new site, a very prominent corner in a fine residential district near the heart of Johnson City was purchased, where now our present edifice stands. The need for a parsonage was recognized throughout the planning process and provisions for it were included in the overall building program.
Construction on the church and parsonage began simultaneously on May 5, 1949. The parsonage, being completed first, was occupied by Pastor Neunaber and his family in December, 1949.
Members of the Building Committee for our present church were Herbert W. Cox, Henry Frick, Ralph Propst, Albert Winebarger and J . W. Johnson, all of whom not only bore the heavy burden of their responsibility on their shoulders but, along with all other able-bodied members, contributed their physical labors, working tirelessly for long hours to bring the project to its completion.
The building which we now occupy, a church of Old English Gothic design, "A vest pocket cathedral with the warmth of a chapel," as it was so eloquently described by one observer, stands as a monument to the labors of Rev. Beiderwieden, under whom the planning began, Rev. Neunaber, who was pastor when the actual construction started and was completed, the Building Committee, and the congregation, whose sacrifices and faith in the future of Bethlehem Lutheran Church made it possible for us to worship in this lovely structure today.
When the church was dedicated in 1950 the dedicatory booklet printed for the occasion contained a beautifully written description which is worthy of repetition here. It read as follows:
Bethlehem Lutheran Church is located in the heart of Johnson City in a fine residential district. The site is a prominent corner on Watauga Avenue, one block from Roan Street.
The exterior of the church presents a churchly yet intimate edifice, preserving under the masterful skill of the architect, Thomas West Gardner, much of the traditional charm and elegance of Gothic architecture. The church, 100 feet long by 24 feet wide is intersected by transepts which serve as private chapel and baptistry. It is built of Hermitage Colonial brick in mingled colors and enhanced by an eighty foot tower. All windows are set in stone to make for greater beauty and performance. In the nave the windows are of leaded art glass, highly decorative, with richly colored slender windows above the altar. All other windows are of antique glass in pleasing shades and set in steel casements.
The main entrance is through the tower which leads to the narthex, the basement auditorium and Sunday School rooms, and to the balcony. The nave is 22 feet by 67 feet and is spanned by exposed trusses. Antique bronze lanterns light the nave, which will seat 210. Including the balcony and the private chapel the total seating capacity is in excess of 260. All the interior is plastered in a texture finish with woodwork and furniture of Honduras mahogany finished in a pleasing brown.
In the deep, arched chancel is the usual furniture specially designed by the architect to enhance the reverent, dignified atmosphere of the nave. Adjoining the chancel is the pastor's study and church office. The building is heated by oil-fired hot water, thermostatically controlled.
Bethlehem congregation now has an adequate and beautiful plant to carry on its God-given task of reaching, winning, and keeping souls for the Kingdom of God.
In September, 1951 , Rev. Neunaber accepted a call to San Antonio, Texas. After his departure, Rev. H. C. Harting was sent to Johnson City by the Mission Director of the Western District to serve as interim pastor, which he capably did from September, 1951 until February, 1952, when Rev. Paul R. Martens, former missionary to China, accepted the call of Bethlehem congregation. Rev. Martens was installed on February 17, 1952 and served as pastor until August, 1957.
The congregation was richly blessed through the untiring efforts of Pastor Martens, whose first year of work resulted in ten adult converts being accepted into membership. During the span of his ministry he baptized 91 children and received into the communicant membership of the church 142 adults, either by instruction or transfer from other congregations.
During the course of Pastor Martens' ministry here a fine opportunity was afforded our church's missionary outreach when he was requested to serve as a part-time Chaplain at the Veterans Administration Hospital at Mountain Home, Tennessee. As a result of his ministry there several members were gained for Bethlehem Lutheran Church.
It was under Rev. Martens' pastorate that the congregation observed the 30th anniversary of the beginning of the little Bethlehem mission established by Rev. Claire R. Schulz in 1924.
Bethlehem Church prospered financially as well as spiritually under the warm and compassionate leadership of Pastor Martens. In the first year of his pastorate the church was able to make its first payment in the amount of $1,000.00 on its indebtedness to the Western District Church Extension Fund and a plan was adopted to liquidate its entire indebtedness in 15 years.
Pastor Martens is remembered for his cordial smile and ready handshake. Bethlehem congregation was richly blessed through his consecrated and devoted efforts as a Shepherd of the Flock and his energetic and untiring missionary work in bringing others into the fold.
When Pastor Martens accepted another call in 1957, Rev. Norman Groteluschen, who was then serving Trinity Lutheran Church in Bristol, Tennessee, and is currently Executive Secretary of the Mid-South District, served as interim pastor from August, 1957, until January, 1958.
Bethlehem Lutheran Church entered into an unprecedented era of spiritual growth, fiscal soundness and community-wide participation in civic affairs when Rev. Roland P. Gabbert accepted its call to become its new pastor. Rev. Gabbert and his family arrived in Johnson City on January 22, 1958 and was installed the following Sunday. Under his leadership and with his guidance the congregation accomplished much work and received many blessings.
A native of Steelville, Illinois, Pastor Gabbert came to Bethlehem Church from Otto, New York. He was graduated from St. John's College, Winfield, Kansas, and Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, where he earned his Master of Divinity Degree. Active throughout his ministry with the Veteran's Hospital at Mountain Home, he served Bethlehem congregation faithfully and fruitfully until late 1970, when he resigned to become Head Chaplain at the Veteran's installation (just recently re-named the VA Medical Center at Mountain Home), where he is presently situated.
Chaplain Gabbert and his wife, Norma, still reside in Johnson City and have faithfully maintained their membership at Bethlehem, being ever ready to offer his services on those occasions for which he is especially equipped by virtue of his former position as pastor.
During Rev. Gabbert's twelve years as pastor of Bethlehem his eyes were always open to the needs of the congregation and its potential for reaching out into the community. His easy manner, his firm handshake and conversational style of preaching endeared him to all. A man of wisdom, always exuding an aura of hope and promise for the future of Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Pastor Gabbert's diligent tilling of the soil for new souls to be added to the Kingdom resulted in an average of fifteen families per year being brought into the congregation by instruction or transfer.
A highlight of Pastor Gabbert's pastorate was the celebration of Bethlehem Church's Fortieth Anniversary on April 21, 1968, an occasion which itself was highlighted by a ceremonial Burning of the Mortgage, signifying the satisfaction of the indebtedness against the building of our present church, and was the final fruits of the plan adopted under the pastorage of Rev. Martens to liquidate that obligation in 15 years.
At the encouragement of Pastor Gabbert the church acquired the property just adjacent to the church itself for the purpose of establishing a day school for grades one and two. While the plans for the school did not come to fruition, the value of the property increased over the years, allowing the church to sell only a portion of it to the Johnson City Eye Hospital in 1977 for a desperately needed expansion of its facilities for an amount well in excess of the original acquisition price for the entire property, thus enabling the church to pay off all its financial obligations, enter into a program of renovation and redecoration for both the church and parsonage buildings, and leaving the balance in the church's checking and savings accounts representing the healthiest financial picture in the entire history of Bethlehem Lutheran Church.
Standing as monuments to Rev. Gabbert's peripatetic energies are Concordia Lutheran Church in Kingsport (est. 1959) , Our Savior Lutheran Church in Morristown (est. 1962), and Immanuel Lutheran Church in Greeneville (est. 1965) , all of which came into being as the result of his dedication to the fulfillment of the "Great Commission."
During his pastorate, Pastor Gabbert had 157 confirmations, performed 106 baptisms, 29 marriages and conducted 38 burials. When he stepped down the church had approximately 225 communicant members, with an average attendance of 150 per Sunday. The Sunday School had an enrollment of 150, with an average attendance of 120 per Sunday.
Rev. Gabbert was truly a humble and loving pastoral leader during his years in the pulpit. Upon his resignation there followed a period of nearly six months duration during which Bethlehem Church was served primarily by Rev. Marvin Otto out of Kingsport, Tennessee, as interim pastor, although others ministered as well during that time.
In the Spring of 1971 the call was extended to Rev. Fred Cutler Greninger, who accepted and was installed as pastor of Bethlehem Church on Sunday, June 6, 1971, with Rev. John P. Drush serving as the Officiant and Rev. Kenneth Haskell serving as The Preacher and installing Pastor.
Rev. Greninger, accompanied by his lovely wife Rose Mary and their five children, came to Johnson City from Corning, New York, where he had been serving since 1962. In order to accomodate this rather large family it was necessary to add a new wing to the parsonage, the architectural plans being drawn by Mr. Glen W. Stecker, a member of Bethlehem Church.
A native of Altoona, Pennsylvania, Pastor Greninger graduated from the University of Pittsburg, and later received a Master of Divinity degree from Northwestern Lutheran Theological Seminary in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Pastor Greninger is remembered as a scholarly man, impeccable in his performance of the Liturgy, who always stood in stout defense of the Missouri-Synod doctrinal position with vigor and intensity. While here he was very active with our youth program and the East Tennessee State University outreach program. He showed a particular interest in stewardship and LWML activities on the circuit and district levels. He exhibited a keen awareness and sensitivity to the needs of the sick and sorrowing, always at the ready to lend his prayerful and kind attention.
Pastor Greninger's speaking style from the pulpit reflected thorough study and preparation, and his sermons were always instructional as well as inspirational. Wishing to share his unique talents as a preacher with the community, an outpouring of voluntary donations from various members made it possible for him to deliver a series of sermonettes by means of tape recordings over radio station WETS during the final months of his ministry here. These broadcasts met with an excellent response from listeners and they most surely would have continued had he stayed.
In August, 1976, Bethlehem Church made newspaper headlines after being vandalized by a young man who, under the influence of alcohol and drugs, entered the church and wreaked destruction to the furnishings in the altar area. Typical of his forgiving nature, Pastor Greninger worked kindly and patiently with the young man's family and police authorities to see that he was given the proper institutional care and was not unduly punished, exhibiting in this matter the brand of Christian charity which seemed to characterize his approach to life and his ministry.
According to church records, Rev. Greninger conducted 28 confirmations, 24 baptisms, 17 marriages and 20 burials. In July, 1977, he accepted a call to become pastor of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Tuscola, Illinois. His last sermon at Bethlehem, delivered on July 17, was entitled: Be faithful to the Lord, bear one another's burdens, obey your leaders, patiently await the Lord's salvation.
Upon the departure of Rev. Greninger, Congregational President A. R. McCartt arranged that Bethlehem Church be served by Rev. Dr. Carl J. Stapf, pastor of Immanuel Lutheran Church, Greeneville, Tennessee, for such time as a new pastor could be found. It was the sixth time in his career that Dr. Stapf had been called upon to serve as an interim pastor, causing him to remark in smiling good humor that "Sometimes I get the feeling that the Lord meant for me to be a full-time vacancy pastor."
From July 31, 1977, the date of Dr. Stapf's first sermon here, to the time of this writing, October, 1978, the Call Committee, consisting of Ralph Propst, Chairman, Ralph Talbert, Dr. Paul Walwick and Glen Stecker, has diligently sought a new pastor, but to no avail.
But while this interim period has been long and may yet become longer, it becomes increasingly clear that our Lord, in His infinite wisdom, is pouring out His blessings upon Bethlehem Lutheran Church to overflowing during this interim period under the leadership of Dr. Stapf, a pastor's Pastor, whose wise and prayful counsel in respect to every facet of the internal mechanism of the church, together with his spirit-filled sermons from the pulpit, has not merely carried Bethlehem through troubled waters, but has thrust it forward into a new and refreshed hope. Indeed, while we cannot know who the Lord has in store as our next pastor, it is an inescapable fact that Bethlehem Church is experiencing a renaissance of faith, brotherhood and purpose of mission as he remains at the helm at this time of its 50th "Golden" Anniversary celebration.
To those pastors, lay-workers and congregational members, and especially to our Blessed Lord, we are grateful beyond measure for the blessings of the fruits of labor of which we are the inheritors today. The small flickering flame which in the beginning glowed dimly in a room over a pool hall, has grown into a strong beacon. With the help of God, it will become yet even brighter until He comes.
It was in 1845 that a small group of German settlers, very likely seeking a climate and geographical environment similar to that which they had left behind in their homeland, came to the untamed wilderness of Upper East Tennessee and established a town, promptly naming it Wartburg, a name of no small significance to the followers of Martin Luther. A devout group of Lutherans, one of their first community efforts was the establishment of a church, to which they called a minister in 1847.
The Wartburg church banded together with other Lutheran churches in East Tennessee to form the Holston Synod, out of which communal effort resulted the founding of a small college at Mosheim, Tennessee, originally known as Wagner College. While the school was to be short-lived due to financial difficulties and dissension arising from some internal grievances, its brief existence is significant because it was from this institution of higher learning that one of its professors, Rev. Ed Koehler, finding little there to challenge his abilities - upon his arrival at the college he found only six students there, and these not of college grade - sought and received instructions from the Mission Board to look for openings where mission work could be begun. Thus it was that Rev. Koehler selected Johnson City, then a thriving metropolis of some 15,000 population about 45 miles distant from Mosheim, as a promising field for his endeavors.
Consequent to his decision, Rev. Koehler came to Johnson City sometime in 1902, secured permission to use a room in the Town Courthouse for services, then set about canvassing the city encouraging people to attend. One can imagine his deep disappointment when, at his first scheduled service, not one single person showed up. After a second try on the following week one man appeared , whether as a result of Rev. Koehler's canvassing or by mere chance we cannot know, but be that as it may, Rev. Koehler felt that further effort here would be a waste of time and so returned to his duties at Mosheim.
One might say that such a small beginning deserves hardly more than a footnote in our church history, but the significance of Rev. Koehler's humble enterprise lies in the fact that his was the very earliest recorded attempt to establish a beachhead for Lutheranism in the city of Johnson City, and, in the end, may not have been an entirely wasted effort at all, for, as one earlier observer of our church history wrote, " ... wherever the 'Gospel Seed' is planted it will grow."
Over twenty years were to pass before another attempt would be made to establish a Lutheran congregation in Johnson City. It is worth noting, however, that also in the year 1902 the Silver Grove Lutheran Church near Bluff City called a pastor from Concordia Seminary, the Rev. William F. Arndt being sent in response to that call. Although Rev. Arndt worked there and in the surrounding area until about 1905 and did not extend his efforts to Johnson City, we would be doing him a disservice not to count his labors as another beginning step for the establishment of a Missouri-Synod church here in the fullness of time. Too, we are indebted to Rev. Arndt for his strict adherence to the true doctrine, for it is a matter of record that he had to do battle with a liberal faction in the Silver Grove Church and that he did not yield, but held fast to the Word of God.
What might well be termed as the "Modern Era" of Lutheranism in Johnson City began with the arrival of Rev. Claire P. Schulz in the summer of 1924, whose missionary efforts over the ensuing five years were to culminate in the establishing of Bethlehem Lutheran Church , which he was to serve until his untimely death in 1939.
Whether he arrived in town by train or by means of his trusty Model "T" Ford, which was to become his trademark in years to come, we do not know, but the records reveal that Rev. Schulz, only twenty-four years of age, as yet unmarried, newly graduated from Concordia Seminary and freshly ordained as a Missouri-Synod minister, was eager to "roll up his sleeves" and get to work in Johnson City and its environs as a missionary of the Lutheran Church to Upper East Tennessee. While his assignment included the entire area, Johnson City, at that time having a population of approximately 20,000, was deemed by the young minister to be the logical distribution point from which to establish his base of operations and work, so he took up residence here.
Since Rev. Schulz was a man of impeccable scholastic and theological credentials - in his day a student could not even so much as enroll at Concordia Seminary without at least a working knowledge of English, German, Latin, Greek and Hebrew - and was a sensitive man of letters who loved poetry, a musician as well (when one was available, he played piano for the congregational singing in the early days), one can only begin to imagine the frustrations he must have suffered during those lean years when he literally had to "scurry about town" trying to locate a room in which to hold services, deeming himself lucky to have as many as a dozen people attend a service. If the room turned out to be heated he considered himself especially blessed.
Rev. Schulz held his first Lutheran service in Johnson City on September 21, 1924, in a small courtroom in the Municipal Building, which was located at the corner of Boone and Market Streets where the Johnson City Press Chronicle Building now stands. As a result of news articles in the local paper, a paid advertisement in the paper, a listing in the Church Announcements section of the paper, coupled with the strategic placement of window cards about town, he was rewarded by the appearance of nine people, who attended in spite of a heavy rain on that day. There was no piano or organ accompaniment to the singing, and although expenses for the day came to $15.88, Rev. Schulz declined to take up an offering, a portion of his services he was to omit on many future occasions when he felt that it might prove an imposition or an embarrassment to those present.
(We are indebted to Rev. Schulz for his keeping of a personal journal in which he carefully noted the experience of the first forty-five services he conducted in Johnson City. While it is much too lengthy for inclusion here in its entirety we are able to glean from it an exceptionally accurate account of these first services, along with many personal observations which he set to paper in a neat precise hand.)
The youthful Missionary lost no time in announcing to those in attendance at his first service that "This Court Room serves only as a very temporary place of worship", that his endeavor was to "find some well-located hall, suited to church services," and that "a Lutheran Sunday School would be organized as soon as a more permanent location could be found." Such was the faith and confidence of Rev. Schulz from the very outset of his ministry here.
Seventeen people attended Rev. Schulz's second service the following week at the same location, again in spite of a steady rain. His journal entry of that day reads, "I preached with wet feet. " Perhaps he would have had an even larger turnout that week had it not bean for a rather spirited revival being conducted in town at which "a 16 year old Son of Thunder was the preacher, going through the country making money to pay his way thru college." Once again Rev. Schulz did not take up an offering, this time, one suspects, to make certain that his intentions would not be misunderstood.
The first seven Lutheran services held in Johnson City were conducted at five different places, including the court house , a United Brethren Chapel, a Seventh Day Adventist Chapel, and a lodge hall on the third floor over the Savoy Drug Store at the corner of Main and Fountain Square. Rev. Schulz was particularly delighted to have the use of the United Brethren Church for fourth service, because it was "the first time we had occasion to use a piano for singing accompaniment." "I played, preached and prayed," he noted triumphantly in his journal.
Finally, a room was rented on the second floor of the Keys Building at 234 1/2 East Main Street, which served both as chapel and a pastor's office for more than five years. The first service in this hall was conducted on November 9, 1924, and from that day on Sunday School and Divine Services were conducted regularly. Mrs. Ollie Propst, widow of Mr. C. B. Propst, one of Bethlehem's founders, who is now approaching her 85th birthday and attends services regularly to this day, recalls that this room "was next to Beckner's Jewelry Store and was upstairs over a poolroom." Mrs. Propst's memory is correct, for Rev. Schulz's journal contains a number of references to this poolroom.
Rev. Schulz's work as a pioneer missionary in Upper East Tennessee, where the Lutheran Church was little known, was often quite discouraging. During the first six months of his work he had an average attendance of seven in Sunday Services. It often happened that no one showed up for scheduled services. For quite some time there were only five enrolled in Sunday School. Yet he persisted, and as a result of his faithful, patient work the Lord added His blessing to his efforts, and by 1928 a rather fine group of people met regularly for services.
On December 23 , 1928, the congregation was organized as "The Bethlehem Evangelical Lutheran Church of Johnson City." A constitution was adopted, and a resolution was made to join the Western District of The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod. The original handwritten copy of that constitution rests in our church archives to this day, showing its first four signatories to be J. E. Cloninger, C. B. Propst, P. Guthrie and Albert M. Winebarger.
Construction of the first Lutheran Church in Johnson City was begun June 17, 1929, on a site which had been purchased in November, 1928, with the assistance of a loan from the Church Extension Fund of the Western District. The site was at the corner at Lamont Street and West Watauga Avenue, a lot of approximately one acre, purchased at a cost of $2,800.00. Plans for a humble chapel were drawn by Mr. G. Gade of Knoxville, who was also in charge of construction, assisted by Mr. J. E. Cloninger and Pastor Schulz as members of the Building Committee.
That chapel was dedicated on October 6, 1929. The structure was a brick veneer, 24' x 50', built in the rear of a large lot. This new building not only provided a fine chapel, but Sunday School rooms in a half basement as well. The total cost of this building was slightly in excess of $3,000.00 It served the congregation well until February of 1950.
Rev. Schulz opened a Christian Day School in the basement rooms of the new church in 1933. There being very little help from others available to him, he pressed himself to his physical limit, using whatever meager and humble resources he could muster. It was a most primitive schoolroom, yet unchurched people in the neighborhood sent their children to it and appreciated the work that was being done.
But serving as pastor of Bethlehem Church and conducting a school, together with his missionary duties, which led him to Bristol, Erwin and Elizabethton, proved to be too much for Rev. Schulz. His health began to fail and to his great sorrow the school had to be closed.
Quite suddenly, on February 20th, 1939, while on a mission of mercy in Elizabethton, Pastor Schulz was stricken with a cerebral hemorrhage, to which he succumbed two days later. He was only 39 years of age when called to his Heavenly Home.
At the time of Pastor Schulz's death Bethlehem Lutheran Church numbered 21 communicant members, yet at an earlier date there had been as many as 35. The Sunday School numbered 14, while at one time there had been upwards of 35 on the rolls. The average church attendance for 1939 was 28, the highest it had ever been.
Upon the death of Pastor Schulz, Albert R. Stutz, writing in the "Dixie Leaguer" said of him: "His kind and genial way, his friendly manner, his deep sincerity, his great musical talent, his eminent scholarship, had endeared him to all with whom he came in contact."
After the sudden death of Rev. Schulz, the Field Secretary of the Mission Board of the Western District, Rev. Martin Schaefer, took charge of the congregation for three weeks, after which Rev. George Beiderwieden, Jr., formerly assistant pastor of Messian Lutheran Church, St. Louis, Missouri, assumed the pastorate of the congregation. Rev. Beiderwieden was installed by Rev. W. Krueger of Knoxville on May 28, 1939.
Under Pastor Beiderwieden's leadership the congregation continued its growth and progress. Several notable improvements were made on the church property: colored glass windows were installed, the interior was completely redecorated, and a large neon cross was erected over the entrance on the outside of the church.
Pastor Beiderwieden, during his nine and a half years (1939-1948) in what he has described in his own words as God's Country, was known as a sincere worker, a fine missionary, an able preacher and a man of prayer. He, with his pleasant personality, made many friends for Bethlehem Lutheran Church and his influence in the community soon manifested itself in the growth of Bethlehem congregation. During the first five years of his ministry there was an average of five adults accepted by confirmation every year, and during the last four years of his ministry an average of seventeen adult converts were gained annually. At the close of 1946 Bethlehem Church had 93 communicant members. Typifying Pastor Beiderwieden's faith in the future he set a goal of 130 for 1947, and while this goal was not reached the records show a healthy increase.
While busy at Johnson City, Pastor Beiderwieden was instrumental in establishing congregations in the neighboring towns of Elizabethton, where the Redeemer Lutheran Church was dedicated in 1944, and in Erwin, where Bethany Lutheran Church was dedicated in 1947.
Under Rev. Beiderwieden's leadership plans were made for a new church edifice as early as 1945. Due to excessive building costs, however, they were withdrawn a number of times and actual construction postponed but it was during his pastorate that our present church was planned and designed. So strongly did Pastor Beiderwieden feel that a beautiful and lasting cathedral-like church should be built, he staunchly resisted suggestions to the contrary. His patient determination was reflected in a letter to the Mission Board of the Western District in which he wrote:
Looking into the future we feel that we will need a seating capacity of at least two hundred and fifty members. We would prefer that the building be of stone. The Church we wish to build would, according to our estimation, cost forty-five or fifty thousand dollars. We realize that this is a large sum for a congregation of our size and we are willing to postpone the building for another year or so rather than build a church of lesser quality.
Late in 1948 Rev. Beiderwieden accepted a call to St. John's Lutheran Church in Decatur, Illinois. During the last full year of his ministry in Johnson City the average church attendance at Bethlehem was 109, the Sunday School had an enrollment of 128, and there were 112 communicant members.
Upon the departure of Rev. Beiderwieden in November, 1948, the Voters' Assembly of Bethlehem Lutheran Church decided to let the Mission Board call a pastor and it was not until a period of over three months had passed that our next pastor, Rev. Elmer G. Neunaber arrived to take over the reins of leadership. Our records do not reveal who served as interim pastor(s) during this period, but the minutes show that before leaving Pastor Beiderwieden had made arrangements for pastors from Knoxville and Oak Ridge to come on Sundays until such time as a regular pastor could be obtained.
Early in 1949 Rev. Elmer G. Neunaber, pastor of Faith Lutheran Church, Oak Ridge, was sent to Johnson City by the Mission Board of the Western District and was installed as pastor of Bethlehem on February 20 of that year. Soon after he assumed his duties it was resolved by the church body to proceed with the erection of both a new church and parsonage, for by the late forties the congregation had outgrown its facilities at the Lamont Street-Watauga Avenue chapel which it has used for two decades. There was common agreement that a more adequate structure was needed. The Mission Board of the Western District placed its blessing upon plans to procure a larger church in Johnson City, agreeing that the old church was unfavorable to growth both in terms of capacity and location. Thus the old church was sold to the Johnson City Brethren and a new site, a very prominent corner in a fine residential district near the heart of Johnson City was purchased, where now our present edifice stands. The need for a parsonage was recognized throughout the planning process and provisions for it were included in the overall building program.
Construction on the church and parsonage began simultaneously on May 5, 1949. The parsonage, being completed first, was occupied by Pastor Neunaber and his family in December, 1949.
Members of the Building Committee for our present church were Herbert W. Cox, Henry Frick, Ralph Propst, Albert Winebarger and J . W. Johnson, all of whom not only bore the heavy burden of their responsibility on their shoulders but, along with all other able-bodied members, contributed their physical labors, working tirelessly for long hours to bring the project to its completion.
The building which we now occupy, a church of Old English Gothic design, "A vest pocket cathedral with the warmth of a chapel," as it was so eloquently described by one observer, stands as a monument to the labors of Rev. Beiderwieden, under whom the planning began, Rev. Neunaber, who was pastor when the actual construction started and was completed, the Building Committee, and the congregation, whose sacrifices and faith in the future of Bethlehem Lutheran Church made it possible for us to worship in this lovely structure today.
When the church was dedicated in 1950 the dedicatory booklet printed for the occasion contained a beautifully written description which is worthy of repetition here. It read as follows:
Bethlehem Lutheran Church is located in the heart of Johnson City in a fine residential district. The site is a prominent corner on Watauga Avenue, one block from Roan Street.
The exterior of the church presents a churchly yet intimate edifice, preserving under the masterful skill of the architect, Thomas West Gardner, much of the traditional charm and elegance of Gothic architecture. The church, 100 feet long by 24 feet wide is intersected by transepts which serve as private chapel and baptistry. It is built of Hermitage Colonial brick in mingled colors and enhanced by an eighty foot tower. All windows are set in stone to make for greater beauty and performance. In the nave the windows are of leaded art glass, highly decorative, with richly colored slender windows above the altar. All other windows are of antique glass in pleasing shades and set in steel casements.
The main entrance is through the tower which leads to the narthex, the basement auditorium and Sunday School rooms, and to the balcony. The nave is 22 feet by 67 feet and is spanned by exposed trusses. Antique bronze lanterns light the nave, which will seat 210. Including the balcony and the private chapel the total seating capacity is in excess of 260. All the interior is plastered in a texture finish with woodwork and furniture of Honduras mahogany finished in a pleasing brown.
In the deep, arched chancel is the usual furniture specially designed by the architect to enhance the reverent, dignified atmosphere of the nave. Adjoining the chancel is the pastor's study and church office. The building is heated by oil-fired hot water, thermostatically controlled.
Bethlehem congregation now has an adequate and beautiful plant to carry on its God-given task of reaching, winning, and keeping souls for the Kingdom of God.
In September, 1951 , Rev. Neunaber accepted a call to San Antonio, Texas. After his departure, Rev. H. C. Harting was sent to Johnson City by the Mission Director of the Western District to serve as interim pastor, which he capably did from September, 1951 until February, 1952, when Rev. Paul R. Martens, former missionary to China, accepted the call of Bethlehem congregation. Rev. Martens was installed on February 17, 1952 and served as pastor until August, 1957.
The congregation was richly blessed through the untiring efforts of Pastor Martens, whose first year of work resulted in ten adult converts being accepted into membership. During the span of his ministry he baptized 91 children and received into the communicant membership of the church 142 adults, either by instruction or transfer from other congregations.
During the course of Pastor Martens' ministry here a fine opportunity was afforded our church's missionary outreach when he was requested to serve as a part-time Chaplain at the Veterans Administration Hospital at Mountain Home, Tennessee. As a result of his ministry there several members were gained for Bethlehem Lutheran Church.
It was under Rev. Martens' pastorate that the congregation observed the 30th anniversary of the beginning of the little Bethlehem mission established by Rev. Claire R. Schulz in 1924.
Bethlehem Church prospered financially as well as spiritually under the warm and compassionate leadership of Pastor Martens. In the first year of his pastorate the church was able to make its first payment in the amount of $1,000.00 on its indebtedness to the Western District Church Extension Fund and a plan was adopted to liquidate its entire indebtedness in 15 years.
Pastor Martens is remembered for his cordial smile and ready handshake. Bethlehem congregation was richly blessed through his consecrated and devoted efforts as a Shepherd of the Flock and his energetic and untiring missionary work in bringing others into the fold.
When Pastor Martens accepted another call in 1957, Rev. Norman Groteluschen, who was then serving Trinity Lutheran Church in Bristol, Tennessee, and is currently Executive Secretary of the Mid-South District, served as interim pastor from August, 1957, until January, 1958.
Bethlehem Lutheran Church entered into an unprecedented era of spiritual growth, fiscal soundness and community-wide participation in civic affairs when Rev. Roland P. Gabbert accepted its call to become its new pastor. Rev. Gabbert and his family arrived in Johnson City on January 22, 1958 and was installed the following Sunday. Under his leadership and with his guidance the congregation accomplished much work and received many blessings.
A native of Steelville, Illinois, Pastor Gabbert came to Bethlehem Church from Otto, New York. He was graduated from St. John's College, Winfield, Kansas, and Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, where he earned his Master of Divinity Degree. Active throughout his ministry with the Veteran's Hospital at Mountain Home, he served Bethlehem congregation faithfully and fruitfully until late 1970, when he resigned to become Head Chaplain at the Veteran's installation (just recently re-named the VA Medical Center at Mountain Home), where he is presently situated.
Chaplain Gabbert and his wife, Norma, still reside in Johnson City and have faithfully maintained their membership at Bethlehem, being ever ready to offer his services on those occasions for which he is especially equipped by virtue of his former position as pastor.
During Rev. Gabbert's twelve years as pastor of Bethlehem his eyes were always open to the needs of the congregation and its potential for reaching out into the community. His easy manner, his firm handshake and conversational style of preaching endeared him to all. A man of wisdom, always exuding an aura of hope and promise for the future of Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Pastor Gabbert's diligent tilling of the soil for new souls to be added to the Kingdom resulted in an average of fifteen families per year being brought into the congregation by instruction or transfer.
A highlight of Pastor Gabbert's pastorate was the celebration of Bethlehem Church's Fortieth Anniversary on April 21, 1968, an occasion which itself was highlighted by a ceremonial Burning of the Mortgage, signifying the satisfaction of the indebtedness against the building of our present church, and was the final fruits of the plan adopted under the pastorage of Rev. Martens to liquidate that obligation in 15 years.
At the encouragement of Pastor Gabbert the church acquired the property just adjacent to the church itself for the purpose of establishing a day school for grades one and two. While the plans for the school did not come to fruition, the value of the property increased over the years, allowing the church to sell only a portion of it to the Johnson City Eye Hospital in 1977 for a desperately needed expansion of its facilities for an amount well in excess of the original acquisition price for the entire property, thus enabling the church to pay off all its financial obligations, enter into a program of renovation and redecoration for both the church and parsonage buildings, and leaving the balance in the church's checking and savings accounts representing the healthiest financial picture in the entire history of Bethlehem Lutheran Church.
Standing as monuments to Rev. Gabbert's peripatetic energies are Concordia Lutheran Church in Kingsport (est. 1959) , Our Savior Lutheran Church in Morristown (est. 1962), and Immanuel Lutheran Church in Greeneville (est. 1965) , all of which came into being as the result of his dedication to the fulfillment of the "Great Commission."
During his pastorate, Pastor Gabbert had 157 confirmations, performed 106 baptisms, 29 marriages and conducted 38 burials. When he stepped down the church had approximately 225 communicant members, with an average attendance of 150 per Sunday. The Sunday School had an enrollment of 150, with an average attendance of 120 per Sunday.
Rev. Gabbert was truly a humble and loving pastoral leader during his years in the pulpit. Upon his resignation there followed a period of nearly six months duration during which Bethlehem Church was served primarily by Rev. Marvin Otto out of Kingsport, Tennessee, as interim pastor, although others ministered as well during that time.
In the Spring of 1971 the call was extended to Rev. Fred Cutler Greninger, who accepted and was installed as pastor of Bethlehem Church on Sunday, June 6, 1971, with Rev. John P. Drush serving as the Officiant and Rev. Kenneth Haskell serving as The Preacher and installing Pastor.
Rev. Greninger, accompanied by his lovely wife Rose Mary and their five children, came to Johnson City from Corning, New York, where he had been serving since 1962. In order to accomodate this rather large family it was necessary to add a new wing to the parsonage, the architectural plans being drawn by Mr. Glen W. Stecker, a member of Bethlehem Church.
A native of Altoona, Pennsylvania, Pastor Greninger graduated from the University of Pittsburg, and later received a Master of Divinity degree from Northwestern Lutheran Theological Seminary in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Pastor Greninger is remembered as a scholarly man, impeccable in his performance of the Liturgy, who always stood in stout defense of the Missouri-Synod doctrinal position with vigor and intensity. While here he was very active with our youth program and the East Tennessee State University outreach program. He showed a particular interest in stewardship and LWML activities on the circuit and district levels. He exhibited a keen awareness and sensitivity to the needs of the sick and sorrowing, always at the ready to lend his prayerful and kind attention.
Pastor Greninger's speaking style from the pulpit reflected thorough study and preparation, and his sermons were always instructional as well as inspirational. Wishing to share his unique talents as a preacher with the community, an outpouring of voluntary donations from various members made it possible for him to deliver a series of sermonettes by means of tape recordings over radio station WETS during the final months of his ministry here. These broadcasts met with an excellent response from listeners and they most surely would have continued had he stayed.
In August, 1976, Bethlehem Church made newspaper headlines after being vandalized by a young man who, under the influence of alcohol and drugs, entered the church and wreaked destruction to the furnishings in the altar area. Typical of his forgiving nature, Pastor Greninger worked kindly and patiently with the young man's family and police authorities to see that he was given the proper institutional care and was not unduly punished, exhibiting in this matter the brand of Christian charity which seemed to characterize his approach to life and his ministry.
According to church records, Rev. Greninger conducted 28 confirmations, 24 baptisms, 17 marriages and 20 burials. In July, 1977, he accepted a call to become pastor of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Tuscola, Illinois. His last sermon at Bethlehem, delivered on July 17, was entitled: Be faithful to the Lord, bear one another's burdens, obey your leaders, patiently await the Lord's salvation.
Upon the departure of Rev. Greninger, Congregational President A. R. McCartt arranged that Bethlehem Church be served by Rev. Dr. Carl J. Stapf, pastor of Immanuel Lutheran Church, Greeneville, Tennessee, for such time as a new pastor could be found. It was the sixth time in his career that Dr. Stapf had been called upon to serve as an interim pastor, causing him to remark in smiling good humor that "Sometimes I get the feeling that the Lord meant for me to be a full-time vacancy pastor."
From July 31, 1977, the date of Dr. Stapf's first sermon here, to the time of this writing, October, 1978, the Call Committee, consisting of Ralph Propst, Chairman, Ralph Talbert, Dr. Paul Walwick and Glen Stecker, has diligently sought a new pastor, but to no avail.
But while this interim period has been long and may yet become longer, it becomes increasingly clear that our Lord, in His infinite wisdom, is pouring out His blessings upon Bethlehem Lutheran Church to overflowing during this interim period under the leadership of Dr. Stapf, a pastor's Pastor, whose wise and prayful counsel in respect to every facet of the internal mechanism of the church, together with his spirit-filled sermons from the pulpit, has not merely carried Bethlehem through troubled waters, but has thrust it forward into a new and refreshed hope. Indeed, while we cannot know who the Lord has in store as our next pastor, it is an inescapable fact that Bethlehem Church is experiencing a renaissance of faith, brotherhood and purpose of mission as he remains at the helm at this time of its 50th "Golden" Anniversary celebration.
To those pastors, lay-workers and congregational members, and especially to our Blessed Lord, we are grateful beyond measure for the blessings of the fruits of labor of which we are the inheritors today. The small flickering flame which in the beginning glowed dimly in a room over a pool hall, has grown into a strong beacon. With the help of God, it will become yet even brighter until He comes.