LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commemorating the 125th Anniversary of the Betha-
ny Evangelical Lutheran Church

WHEREAS, It is the intent of this Legislative Body to honor and commem-
orate the proud and distinguished histories of the people, communities
and organizations which comprise the noble body of this great Empire
State; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commem-
orate the 125th Anniversary of the Bethany Evangelical Lutheran Church;
and
WHEREAS, Bethany Evangelical Lutheran Church has a very rich and long
history, organized under the Augustana Synod on August 27, 1891, as The
Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Bethany Church; in 1907, the church moved
to the corner of West State and South 6th Streets, where it remained
until the new church was built in 1996; and
WHEREAS, During the earlier years, Swedish was used for morning
services and English was spoken for the evening services; by 1937, all
services at Bethany Evangelical Lutheran Church were held in English;
and
WHEREAS, In 1941, the church was reincorporated as Bethany Evangelical
Lutheran Church, and in 1945, R. Edward Carlsom became the first resi-
dent pastor in 38 years; and
WHEREAS, In 1959, the Bethany Lutheran Church purchased the church
house and it was used as an office and for Sunday school; and
WHEREAS, In 1996, the same year the current site was completed, Betha-
ny and St. Stephan's Episcopal Church formed a committee to start a
homeless shelter, and the Genesis House was born; and
WHEREAS, In 2007, at Bethany's annual meeting, it was decided to help
the Olean Food Pantry by providing them with a permanent home, thus the
Sandra Stimson Building was built on Bethany property; the building was
named to honor Sandra Stimson, one of the founding members of the Betha-
ny Food Pantry, which eventually expanded with the assistance of other
area churches and became the Olean Food Pantry; and
WHEREAS, It is the intent of this Legislative Body to publicly recog-
nize and honor milestones in the history of churches large and small in
this great Empire State; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 125th Anniversary of the Bethany Evangelical Lutheran
Church; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the Bethany Evangelical Lutheran Church.