Bethany had its beginning in the summer of 1932 when the Rev. Mark Steege was called to Cedar Rapids by the Iowa District of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod. Bethany received its name from this pastor, who, with his wife and three children, organized the congregation. The name Bethany was chosen because the pastor's father had just died and the father had been a pastor at a Bethany Lutheran Church in Milwaukee for a great many years... a church where the young pastor had been baptized and confirmed.

Original Parsonage and First Church Building

In September of 1932, the congregation acquired its first property, a residence on First Avenue East. The house was remodeled to provide a chapel as well as housing for the pastor. The chapel's furnishings, which cost $82, included an altar fashioned from a library table, a pulpit hand-crafted by one of the members, hymnals, collection plates and used folding chairs acquired from a dealer in beer parlor equipment. The little chapel served the congregation until 1938, when a white frame church was erected at 2044 First Ave. NE.

Rev. Steege served Bethany from 1932 through 1942. He was followed by Rev. E. W. Wuggazer who served from 1942 through 1964. It was during Wuggazer's service that the church building and parsonage on Forest Drive was built. Rev. A. C. Hornbostel served the congregation from 1965 to 1976. Rev. Ronald Pfluger served Bethany from 1977 to 1999. In 1987, the congregation undertook a $600,000 building project to expand the church facilities to what they are today. Bethany added Preschool and Mom's Morning Out in the early 80's and renovated its sanctuary with Wood Carvings and Furnishings in the chancel in 1997. Rev. Joseph Polzin has served as the Senior Pastor since 2002.