In December 1904, representatives of 20 families, members of St. Paul’s Church in Tess Corners, met to form a new congregation. An old church building in Union Church served as their meeting place until they could build their own church. The cornerstone of “Evangelical Bethlehem Church” was laid on August 5, 1906 in the hamlet of Durham Hill, in Waukesha County.

            Because the founding members chose not to affiliate with a denomination, they asked Rev. H. Thomas, pastor of an independent congregation in Hales Corners, to help them organize and incorporate. He served the church for just over a year. As it turned out, Bethlehem congregation became and remained a “preaching point” for larger congregations that shared their pastors with Bethlehem during the next 36 years.

            The church was built, a cemetery established, Sunday School conducted, sacraments administered and, most importantly, the Word of God was preached. In 1922, English was substituted on alternate Sundays, and the last German service was on Good Friday in 1940. That’s when the congregation re-incorporated to become a member of the United Lutheran Church in America.

            In 1949, the Board of American Missions proposed a program to help the church become self-supporting in 10 years. Soon Bethlehem built a parsonage, called its first full-time pastor, and gained financial stability. The church thrived under the leadership of Rev. George Crist. However, after his suspension due to the synod’s charges of heresy, the congregation struggled.

            During the 1950s and early 1960s, the church held together and grew. In 1963, the ULCA merged with four other church bodies to form the Lutheran Church in America.

            In 1969, Bethlehem received assistance from the Division for Mission of the Lutheran Church in America and called Pastor Richard Zimmerman. Under his leadership, the congregation steadily grew. Physical improvements were made to the property. 

            Pastor Zimmerman was followed by Pastor Myron Deschaine in 1979.  He introduced the new Lutheran Book of Worship. In 1983, Pastor Dennis Keip accepted the call to Bethlehem, and the congregation thrived. In 1987, Pastor Jim McCammon was called to serve Bethlehem. The church grew and prospered with expanded outreach programs and youth ministry.  During the latter part of the 1990s, Bethlehem suffered membership losses and financial problems.

          In 2004, the congregation’s centennial year, Rev. Richard Heins came to serve Bethlehem as interim pastor. Despite Bethlehem’s history (that included both prosperity and struggles, growth and declining numbers, joys and sorrows), for more than 100 years, by the power of the Holy Spirit, the people of this little country congregation continued to serve God and His people, to administer the sacraments, to love one another, and most importantly, to preach the gospel of the loving Savior, Jesus Christ.

            Late in 2004, members completed a congregational study and sought a full-time pastor. In January 2005, Ingrid Huebner, a seminary graduate, accepted the call to Bethlehem. Despite efforts of hosting a variety of events, and although the neighboring community rediscovered Bethlehem, the congregation did not see the hoped for growth. Pastor Ingrid resigned in April 2007.

          For the next six months, Pastor Cheri Johnson served as a three-quarter-time interim pastor who took the church through a shortened congregational study process. Then Pastor Steve Kuhl served as a supply preacher and performed ministerial duties on a very part-time basis. He helped people see their strength as a welcoming, family-oriented congregation.

             In November 2008, Bethlehem called Rev. Ron Bachman as pastor, serving in a half-time position. The congregation has a vision of the church growing while continuing to serve the Lord and share the gospel of Jesus Christ.