Why We're Unique
Top Ten Reasons Why Bethlehem Church is Unique
10. We welcome women into leadership positions. Bethlehem belongs to the United Church of Christ (UCC). The UCC was the first church to ordain a woman, Antoinette Brown, into the Christian ministry. At Bethlehem Church women serve as Deacons, Elders, and Council Presidents.
9. We embrace technology. We recognize at Bethlehem that our culture has shifted into a visually oriented society. We love to use images on Sunday bulletins and on large screens during our Saturday contemporary service.
8. You don’t get lost in the crowd. Young couples who have had a baby receive handknitted baby booties, a meal when they arrive home from the hospital, and a photograph of their new baby appears in the church newsletter.
7. You get to know the Senior and Associate Pastor. All newcomers to the church are invited to have dinner at the Senior Pastor’s home. The Associate Pastor makes a special effort to learn about the lives of the youth.
6. We love all kinds of music. We cherish classical music expressed through a bell choir and the power of a pipe organ. The rhythm of the drums and the moving sound of the electric guitar stirs our souls at our contemporary worship.
5. We have a non-judgemental theology. We accept all people for where they are on life’s journey. We do weddings, funerals, and baptisms for all. The pastoral staff performs these rituals for non-members.
4. We know how to have fun. Paul the Apostle says, “Be joyful always!” At Bethlehem we follow Paul’s advice. You can play a great game of dominoes with the retired group or dance in your barefeet in the grass at one of our outdoor concerts.
3. Children and youth are given personal attention. We have Christian camp scholarships and piano scholarships available. Youth go on mission trips and children’s chats are done by the Senior Pastor every week. Every child is special and gets to know the pastors.
2. We are diverse. Life is never boring at Bethlehem because we come from many different personal, age, and faith backgrounds, yet we affirm the ideal that we all don’t have to agree on everything to live together in communion.
1. God has blessed us with a wonderful campus. We have a 15 acre campus that is open to all in the community. Play basketball, hit the tennis ball around on our asphalt tennis court, frolic with your children on our playground or go for a prayerful walk through our rolling hills. Our sizeable but intimate sanctuary is the perfect place to worship.
In 1853 Antoinette Brown breaks the precedent that only men can lead the church
