BETHLEHEM, Pa. - Three Lutheran churches in Bethlehem, plus one of the largest pieces of undeveloped land in the city’s South Side, are on track to be sold to Lehigh University.
St. John’s Windish, St. Peter’s and Light of Christ are merging and selling all three churches, along with St. John’s more-than-1-acre parking lot in a package deal. Lehigh University submitted the high bid for the set: $3.7 million, according to city officials.
On Sunday, the three churches’ congregations will vote on whether to accept Lehigh’s offer.
- St. John's Windish, St. Peter's and Light of Christ Lutheran Churches are merging and selling their real estate in the process
- Lehigh University submitted the high bid for the package of properties, beating out the City of Bethlehem
- Members of the three churches will vote Sunday on whether to accept Lehigh's offer
The sale of St. John’s Windish Church at 617 E. Fourth St. is particularly controversial. At a city council meeting Tuesday night, activists representing four South Side organizations read a statement criticizing plans to sell the church.
“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to embark on a process of responsible development and adaptive reuse,” the statement reads. “But we are facing the loss of this opportunity at the hands of Lehigh University, which is a private institution with a mission that does not necessarily align with the priorities of the South Side community.”
Lehigh University outbid the city, which offered $3.5 million for the package of properties. At the city council meeting, Bethlehem Business Administrator Eric Evans said the city was “not asked to make another offer,” but would match the university’s bid if given the opportunity.
When they bid, city officials thought they would eventually have a chance to work out a counteroffer with the churches' representatives, according to Bethlehem's Director of Community and Economic Development, Laura Collins.
She said such an opportunity hasn't been presented so far.
In Sunday's vote, church members will decide to accept or reject Lehigh's offer, possibly closing the door on negotiations with the city.
Members of St John’s Joint Council said the city would use the site for affordable housing and a proposed new homeless shelter, according to meeting minutes.
Lehigh's plans for the properties weren't immediately clear.
“These are important and historical community spaces within Bethlehem,” a university spokesperson said in a statement. “While it is too early to say what our plans for these parcels might include, any plans would go through appropriate city and county review.
"Lehigh is committed to open communication and active partnership with the community throughout the process.”
“As a South Sider, that was very troubling for me. St. John's has always been part of the community. You can't tell the story of Rachel without telling the story of St. John's."Rachel Leon, Bethlehem city council member
Near the end of Tuesday's council meeting, council member Rachel Leon said, “I started to hear about the sale of St. John's Windish a couple of days ago."
“As a South Sider, that was very troubling for me. St. John's has always been part of the community. You can't tell the story of Rachel without telling the story of St. John's."
“There's just no part of my experiences on South Side that doesn't have St. John's around it, even if it was never my place of worship,” Leon said in an interview. “There are certain things that when you see it, you're like, ‘Oh, I'm home’... St. John’s just kind of feels like that.”
She said that the best case is a use that keeps control over the site and its land in public hands. At worst, she said, “it’s going to feel like a blow that the South Side just can’t take.”
St. Peter's Evangelical Lutheran Church is at 474 Vine St. in South Bethlehem, just off West Packer Avenue; and Light of Christ Lutheran Church is at 2020 Worthington Ave., off Easton Avenue in Northeast Bethlehem.
The three churches will consolidate into a new church called Blessed Trinity Lutheran Church, according to the St. John's website.
