Salisbury
Maryland
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Bethany Lutheran Church Of Salisbury
Mission Statement
Our goal is that everyone will work together in unity with the talents they have received from God; and as a united body we will then share the love of God with others.
A Brief History Of Bethany
The following article is based on Rev. Robert Sorenson's treatise entitled "An Historical Study of Lutherans in Wicomico County, Maryland" written in July of 1973.
The earliest religious groups active on the Eastern Shore of Maryland were the Episcopalians and the Presbyterians. They were followed by the Baptists and the Methodists. Prior to 1931, any Lutherans settling around Salisbury, MD, had to attend a church of another denomination. In 1930, two Lutherans of Quantico, MD, traveled to Preston, MD, to speak to a Lutheran minister about their request to start a congregation in Wicomico County. That same year, after several ministers came to the Salisbury area to survey local needs, the Eastern District of the Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Missouri granted permission to set up a mission church in Salisbury.
The Mission Board sent a student from Concord Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri, to begin the work. The first worship service of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Salisbury was held on October 4, 1931, with the support of numerous congregations from the upper Shore. Throughout that decade, concern was expressed about the location of the regular worship services that were held in the local Odd Fellows' Hall. (The Missouri Synod prohibits lodge membership.) Eventually, around 1940, regular services were held in a house on Powell Avenue where part of the residence was rented by the student-pastors. Between 1931 and 1945, the Bethany congregation was served by eleven different men. The student-pastors, however, were not permitted to administer Holy Communion because of denominational regulations. By 1943, after worship services had declined to bi-weekly evening opportunities, attendance had decreased to two families and, by March, no worship services were held. Lutherans attended other churches until 1946 when a resident of Salisbury sent a letter to the International Lutheran Hour (a Missouri Synod broadcast) requesting that a Lutheran congregation be reestablished. The Rev. Kenneth W. Ernstmeyer was sent to appraise the situation and became the first minister of the newly established mission church.
Under Rev. Ernstmeyer, the small congregation floundered at first. Eventually it purchased a plot of land on the corner of Camden Ave and South Boulevard. The cornerstone was laid on October 1948 and the dedication of the new church was held on May 29, 1949. Following the dedication of the new structure, attendance began to dramatically increase. By 1954, when Rev. Ernstmeyer left the congregation, there were 387 baptized members. By March 1954, Bethany had its second regular ordained minister when Rev. Clayton W. Hammell accepted the call to come to Salisbury from Tennessee.
By 1961, under the guidance of Rev. Hammell, Bethany had become free of its financial dependence on the district. Prior to that, in 1958, a parsonage was built across the street from the front door of the church at a cost of $35,000. In July of 1962, the home, next to the church, where the parking lot is now located, was purchased to provide additional Sunday School space.
Prior to Rev. Hammell's departure, a faction of the parishioners desiring to set up a congregation under the United Lutheran Church of the United States, founded the second Lutheran church in the area, Faith Lutheran Church. Eventually, the two churches were able to set aside their differences and combine efforts for Bible School and confirmation instruction. Also, during Rev. Hammell's tenure, the Bethany congregation provided worship services at the Atlantic Hotel in Ocean City for the seasonal tourists.
In 1964, Rev. Hammell accepted a call to Salt Lake City. After a year of an interim pastor, Rev. Lawrence R. Lineberger was installed as pastor. Rev. Robert Sorenson, Rev. Edwin Thress, and Rev. Kevin Wackett have since followed as ministers of Bethany Lutheran Church. Thanks to the strong men of faith who were called to this congregation over the years, Bethany has been led to become a church of service and compassion for all of God's people.
Our goal is that everyone will work together in unity with the talents they have received from God; and as a united body we will then share the love of God with others.
A Brief History Of Bethany
The following article is based on Rev. Robert Sorenson's treatise entitled "An Historical Study of Lutherans in Wicomico County, Maryland" written in July of 1973.
The earliest religious groups active on the Eastern Shore of Maryland were the Episcopalians and the Presbyterians. They were followed by the Baptists and the Methodists. Prior to 1931, any Lutherans settling around Salisbury, MD, had to attend a church of another denomination. In 1930, two Lutherans of Quantico, MD, traveled to Preston, MD, to speak to a Lutheran minister about their request to start a congregation in Wicomico County. That same year, after several ministers came to the Salisbury area to survey local needs, the Eastern District of the Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Missouri granted permission to set up a mission church in Salisbury.
The Mission Board sent a student from Concord Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri, to begin the work. The first worship service of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Salisbury was held on October 4, 1931, with the support of numerous congregations from the upper Shore. Throughout that decade, concern was expressed about the location of the regular worship services that were held in the local Odd Fellows' Hall. (The Missouri Synod prohibits lodge membership.) Eventually, around 1940, regular services were held in a house on Powell Avenue where part of the residence was rented by the student-pastors. Between 1931 and 1945, the Bethany congregation was served by eleven different men. The student-pastors, however, were not permitted to administer Holy Communion because of denominational regulations. By 1943, after worship services had declined to bi-weekly evening opportunities, attendance had decreased to two families and, by March, no worship services were held. Lutherans attended other churches until 1946 when a resident of Salisbury sent a letter to the International Lutheran Hour (a Missouri Synod broadcast) requesting that a Lutheran congregation be reestablished. The Rev. Kenneth W. Ernstmeyer was sent to appraise the situation and became the first minister of the newly established mission church.
Under Rev. Ernstmeyer, the small congregation floundered at first. Eventually it purchased a plot of land on the corner of Camden Ave and South Boulevard. The cornerstone was laid on October 1948 and the dedication of the new church was held on May 29, 1949. Following the dedication of the new structure, attendance began to dramatically increase. By 1954, when Rev. Ernstmeyer left the congregation, there were 387 baptized members. By March 1954, Bethany had its second regular ordained minister when Rev. Clayton W. Hammell accepted the call to come to Salisbury from Tennessee.
By 1961, under the guidance of Rev. Hammell, Bethany had become free of its financial dependence on the district. Prior to that, in 1958, a parsonage was built across the street from the front door of the church at a cost of $35,000. In July of 1962, the home, next to the church, where the parking lot is now located, was purchased to provide additional Sunday School space.
Prior to Rev. Hammell's departure, a faction of the parishioners desiring to set up a congregation under the United Lutheran Church of the United States, founded the second Lutheran church in the area, Faith Lutheran Church. Eventually, the two churches were able to set aside their differences and combine efforts for Bible School and confirmation instruction. Also, during Rev. Hammell's tenure, the Bethany congregation provided worship services at the Atlantic Hotel in Ocean City for the seasonal tourists.
In 1964, Rev. Hammell accepted a call to Salt Lake City. After a year of an interim pastor, Rev. Lawrence R. Lineberger was installed as pastor. Rev. Robert Sorenson, Rev. Edwin Thress, and Rev. Kevin Wackett have since followed as ministers of Bethany Lutheran Church. Thanks to the strong men of faith who were called to this congregation over the years, Bethany has been led to become a church of service and compassion for all of God's people.