About Us

We are a congregation of Christians open to all, extending Christ’s welcome to everyone. We are individuals who are seeking to grow in our Christian faith, and welcome others to join us in this adventure.

Bethel Church, as a United Church of Christ, believes that we are called to unite believers from diverse backgrounds in a common mission to serve God in Jesus Christ. The foundation of our beliefs was laid by our early church founders, are instilled in our young people through a vital youth ministry, continue to grow through adult Bible study and activities, and spread throughout our local community and the wider world through mission and outreach.

The United Church of Christ

The United Church of Christ (UCC) is a distinct and diverse community of Christians that come together as one church to join faith and action. With over 5,000 churches and nearly one million members across the U.S., the UCC serves God in the co-creation of a just and sustainable world. The UCC is a church of firsts, a church of extravagant welcome, and a church where "…they may all be one" (John 17:21).

The Church of Firsts

Since 1957, the United Church of Christ has been the church of firsts, weaving God’s message of hope and extravagant welcome with action for justice and peace. Together, we live out our faith in ways that effect change in our communities. The UCC's many "firsts" mean that we have inherited a tradition of acting upon the demands of our faith. When we read in Galatians: "There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus"—a demand is made upon us. And so we were the first historically white denomination to ordain an African-American, the first to ordain a woman, the first to ordain an openly gay man, and the first Christian church to affirm the right of same-gender couples to marry. We were in the forefront of the anti-slavery movement and the Civil Rights movement. Our response to the demands of our faith is woven into the history of our country.

A Church of Extravagant Welcome

Today, we continue to change lives throughout the world. We work alongside more than 200 mission partners. We labor ceaselessly to fight injustice, in the United States and abroad. We instill our vision into our youth and young adults, forging leaders who will imagine new dreams. And we sustain and develop church leaders, pastors, and our local churches to live their faith in exciting new ways. We believe in a God that is still speaking, a God that is all-loving and inclusive. We are a church that welcomes and accepts everyone as they are, where your mind is nourished as much as your soul.

We are a church where Jesus the healer meets Jesus the revolutionary, and where together, we grow a just and peaceful world.

REV. PETER HERBRUCK - helped to organize and build the log church

REV. PETER HARRINGTON

In the 1840’s: REV. SAMUEL SEACHRIST

1847-1869: REV. GOTTLIEB ZIEGLER

1869-1872: No Minister

1872-1873: REV. KNADER

1873-1874: REV. HELBISH

1874-1876: REV. WITENWEALER

1876-1878: REV. JOHN C. KLAR

1878-1879: REV. FRANK C. WYTHOFF

1879-1882: Supplied

1882-1886: REV. CARL SCHMIDT

1886-1888: REV. GEORGE HENNING

1899-1890: REV. J. B. ZUMPE

1890-1892: Supplied by REV. WILLIAM ALBERT GONSER

1892-1893: Supplied by a committee of Classis

1893-1894: REV. GEORGE W. HENNING

1894-1895: Supplied by REV. JOHN J. GRUBER

1895-1896: Supplied by CHARLES M. ROHRBAUGH

1896-1900: REV. G. E. METGAR

1900-1903: REV. AMOS CASSELMAN

1903-1904: REV. CALVIN FORSTER

1905-1906: REV. A. ZIMMERMAN

1906-1907: REV. GEORGE CHENOT

1908-1912: REV. JOHN A. SEITZ

1912-1913: Supplied

1913-1930: REV. J. S. KEPPEL

1930-1935: REV. JAMES O. GILBERT

1935-1940: REV. J. KENNETH KOHLER

1940-1945: REV. GEORGE C. WAYMAN

1945-1951: REV. STANLEY R. HARTMAN

1951-1956: REV. JAMES V. INGRAM

1957-1965: REV. RICHARD E. BORNGEN

1966-1969: REV. CALVIN W. KLUMB

1969-1975: REV. GEORGE R. CORBITT

1975-1976: Supplied by REV. KARL KOEPKE

1977-1982: REV. ROY HOWELL

1982-1989: REV. JEFF SIEMS

1990-1991: REV. DICK WIERWILLE (Interim)

1991-1993: REV. DAN THIMELL

1993-1994: REV. DAN HARRY (Interim)

1994-2002: REV SHANE ESTES

2002-2003: REV. DARRELL FILLER (Interim)

2003-2009: REV. JEFF DAVIS

2009-2012: REV. ALECIA SCHROEDEL (Interim)

2012 -2016: REV. HAAN A. PHELPS

2016-2023: REV. ALLEN R. KAHLER

2023-2024: REV. GLENN SWOPE (Interim)

2024-current: REV. MIKE BONE (Interim)

About Us

Who We Are

Our Mission

The Ministry Staff

Previous Pastor Terms