What We Believe
OUR MISSION IS TO INSPIRE PEOPLE TO FOLLOW JESUS
Our Core Values
At Bethany, we believe you are uniquely created and called to make a difference in the world for God. God will always abide with you as you seek His Kingdom first in your life.
We celebrate God’s activity in our everyday life by following Jesus in these ways:
CONNECT AUTHENTICALLY – Am I part of a group where I can be my true self?
You need others in your journey because faith grows best where opinions, regrets, and dreams can be expressed in safe environments. We value the capacity for people to communicate with honesty and grace.
James 5:16, Proverbs 27:17, Galatians 6:2
WALK EXPECTANTLY – Do I actively seek Jesus every day?
The Holy Spirit is always doing something new in our midst, leading and equipping us for new mission and ministry direction. We set aside time to invest in our relationship with Jesus Christ to hear God’s promptings.
Psalm 5:3, Philippians 4:6, Matthew 6:33-34
LEAD HUMBLY – Do I use my influence to point others to Jesus?
Leadership requires a servant heart. We are willing to give others credit, receive constructive feedback, and share our faith story with others.
John 13:12-15, 2 Timothy 2:24-25, 1 Corinthians 10:31, 11:1
LOVE ABUNDANTLY – Do I sacrifice things I love for things Jesus loves?
Aligning our priorities with the mission of the church fulfills our highest call. We believe the church is God’s people, so we prioritize people over our traditions.
John 13:34, Matthew 22:37, Mark 8:35
GIVE FEARLESSLY – Do I trust God with all my resources?
Because we love God more than material things, we give back a percentage of what God has first given to us. We celebrate when people selflessly share time, resources, and energy without expecting anything in return.
Matthew 6:25, Romans 12:4-8, 2 Corinthians 9:11-12
ENGAGE IMPACTFULLY – Do I use my gifts and talents to advance God’s kingdom?
Partnering with the church in creating environments where people hear the gospel multiplies the Kingdom. We believe everyone has an important role and is needed for the church to be at her best.
Matthew 5:16, Ephesians 2:10, Romans 12:3-8
Our Teaching
Bethany is a faith community of 2,000+ members and is a part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA). The ELCA has approximately 10,000 congregations across the United States and nearly five million members.
Bethany Pastoral Responses to Social Issues
To more fully explain how we wish to engage as a faith community and respond to the important intersection between faith and social issues in our culture, Bethany Pastors will from time to time contribute social statements which reflect values that center our life together in Bethany.