One hundred years ago, during the reorganization convention of the ELS, the Rev. Bjug Harstad, who was the first president of the newly formed church body, encouraged the small gathering. He referenced words from the book of Jeremiah: “Stand in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, where the good way is, and walk in…

The ELS has always had a commitment to Lutheran elementary education. It has been questioned if our present synod would ever have been organized if it had not been for the support of those who had been educated in Christian day schools. We may properly say that we owe our present existence as a Biblical-teaching synod in large…

The Evangelical Lutheran Synod and Bethany Lutheran College are intimately united. The college gives a visibility and identity to the synod. In turn, the synod gives moorings to the college and elects both the Board of Regents and Board of Trustees for the college. Since 1928, most conventions of the synod have been conducted on the college campus.

The Bethany Lutheran College Choir was established in 1929, two years after the synod took over the operation of the school. In early years, concerts concluded with “The Benediction” by P. Lutkin. Since the 1940s, concerts have concluded with a time-honored tradition of singing the hymn “On My Heart Imprint Thine Image” written by T.…

Bethany Lutheran College became a co-educational junior college in 1927 when it was purchased by the ELS. At that time a high school department also was established which shared both the faculty and the dormitories. The high school was discontinued in 1969. Today, Bethany Lutheran College offers twenty-four majors, twenty-four minors, and eight pre-professional programs…