Bethany Lutheran Church (Gold Beach, Or.)

In 1947 a group of about ten families met with Circuit Counselor Rev. Henry C. Schultze, LCMS, and formed the first Lutheran congregation in the Gold Beach area. A parsonage was purchased in 1964 and ground was purchased for a church building site in 1965. The parish voted to transfer to the ALC in 1965. The ALC took Bethany as a mission parish with an agreement to start a church building program. A new church was dedicated in 1966. In 1970 Bethany became a dual parish with Zion Lutheran in Port Orford, sharing the same pastor. This arrangement lasted until 1977, when District Advisors worked out a plan under which Bethany is served in a three-fourths “tent-making” pastorate and Zion is to be served by a retired pastor.

From the guide to the Bethany Lutheran Church, Gold Beach, Oregon, Records, 1947-2012, (Pacific Lutheran University)