I\u2019m So Thankful We\u2019re \u2018In This\u2019 Together

BY GENE PFEIFER • PRESIDENT, BETHANY LUTHERAN COLLEGE

The very existence of Bethany Lutheran College is perhaps something just short of a miracle. When the Norwegian Synod, now the Evangelical Lutheran Synod (ELS) wasn’t yet ten years old, the collection of congregations and members numbering about 5,000 made the decision to own and operate the College. It wasn’t an easy process.

Synod pastors and laymen debated for over two years whether the $90,000 asking price for the property, started as an all-girls institution atop the hill overlooking the City of Mankato, was something the small church body could truly support and operate.

The talks and banter began in 1925. A committee looking into the question met on the Bethany campus in April 1926 to discuss a potential purchase of the property. After no clear decision could be reached at the meeting, it was suggested that each member of the committee go back to their own congregations and find willing people to support the purchase of the school. If the number reached 50 persons, the group would undertake operation of Bethany. The committee not only found the 50 willing partners, but the numbers grew to 74, and eventually 100. They collectively made the decision to move forward, and named their group the Bethany Lutheran College Association. This group of pastors and laymen became the legal owners of Bethany Lutheran College.

The College as it appeared around the time is was purchased by the Bethany Lutheran College Association.

This Association would eventually present an offer to the Synod Convention in 1927 that the church body take over ownership and operation of the College.

During the ensuing debate about Synod ownership of the school on the convention floor, members of the Association collectively made this bold and memorable statement, “Once we are convinced that the school is a necessity, we will discover that we can afford it. We can do a lot of things that we think are absolutely impossible once they have become a matter of life and death to us.”

But, after two days of deliberation at the Convention, it looked like the topic of the Synod owning Bethany Lutheran College would be referred back to the congregations for more debate, that is until Reverend George Gullixson was recognized on the floor, and he boldly said, “I move we take over the school.” Gullixson Hall, a men’s residence on campus, is named for the supportive pastor who made the assertive, but historic motion of Synod ownership paving the path for Bethany Lutheran College.

And so, the journey of Bethany Lutheran College, and ownership by the Norwegian/Evangelical Lutheran Synod began. Now, ninety-two years later, through God’s blessing and the collective support of so many, Bethany continues to adhere to God’s Word as the basis for the school’s existence and its approach to higher education.

Our Board of Regents, as it has been since the school was founded in 1927, is elected by the convention body of the Evangelical Lutheran Synod. The Regents meet on the Bethany campus four times per year. After each of these meetings, I present a summary of the proceedings to our faculty and staff. Following the most recent Regents meeting in February 2019, the review I presented began with these words, “I’m So Thankful We’re ‘In This’ Together. We need to continue to rally around our unity in Bethany’s mission, purpose, and vision.”

I’ll admit that I really wasn’t thinking about the unity that existed in our Synod which led to the College’s founding in 1927 while I put together the presentation, but it’s significance might have been in the back of my mind. It’s a blessing that Bethany is a college of the Evangelical Lutheran Synod.

Scripture says, “… there are many parts, yet one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I don’t need you!’ And the head cannot say to the feet, ‘I don’t need you!’ On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor … God has combined the members of the body … so there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other … you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it” (1 Cor. 12:20-27 selected verses). This College is your College. You, the alumni, friends, and ELS members who generously give of your time, your money, and offer your prayers are truly what sustains the ongoing operation of Bethany Lutheran College. You are part of the body that is Bethany.

Our Board of Regents continues to set priorities for Bethany, and we continue to need your support to make these priorities a reality. While Bethany Lutheran College has been blessed with recent growth, we do need to keep that momentum going. Today, our critical needs and priorities as outlined by the Board of Regents include: 1. Continuing to grow first-year enrollment;

2. Maintaining a first to second year retention rate of 80%;

3. Humbly asking for the support of our alumni and friends to sustain Bethany’s mission and programs, both for annual operations and through estate plans.

And just like in 1927, Bethany continues to need additional and ongoing support from the ELS. The Synod assists the College with both spiritual guidance and monetary assistance. Many of our ELS congregations have helped organize efforts to support the College recently. There have been special fund drives, and even special events to raise funds and awareness for Bethany. We are also thankful for the consistent, ongoing support from the Bethany Lutheran College National Auxiliary. For these efforts, we offer a warm “thank you." And for our part, the College will continually look to efficiency measures in order to control costs associated with higher education. And while

the landscape of higher education changes, we cannot, and will not, sit still. Bethany has recently added several programs that are providing tremendous opportunity for students, while helping the College to serve new and more diverse audiences. We’ll look to continue to add new programs where it is feasible and shows a good return on our investment.

God-Willing, BLC will continue to be an instrument used by Him for His purpose for the generations yet to come.

“My word … will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” (Isaiah 55:11)

Bethany Chaplain Don Moldstad (top right) was among those in attendance at the Bethany Lutheran College Chili Cook-Off Fundraiser sponsored by Our Savior’s Lutheran Church and Rock Dell Lutheran Church of Belview, Minnesota, held on February 2, 2019.