BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Members of three Lutheran churches in Bethlehem – St. Peter's, Light of Christ and St. John's Windish – voted overwhelmingly on Sunday to sell their buildings to Lehigh University.
- Members of three Lutheran churches in Bethlehem voted to sell their buildings to Lehigh University
- The proposed sale passed 120-9
- Lehigh offered $3.75 million for the package, which includes one of the largest tracts of undeveloped land in the city’s South Side
After Sunday morning services at St. Peter's, members voted 120-9 to accept Lehigh’s $3.75 million offer. Congregants also approved a merger combining the three churches into Blessed Trinity Lutheran Church, along with Blessed Trinity’s new constitution.
The package of properties includes the three churches’ buildings, plus St. John's Windish's parking lot, one of the largest tracts of undeveloped land in the South Side of Bethlehem. Church leaders said they hope to sign a final agreement of sale by Sunday night.
Selling the churches is “just the beginning of our journey forward,” said Kenda Riley, who led the committee organizing the sale. “It feels like maybe I can sleep tonight.”
Carol Henn, a spokesperson for the churches, said it felt like “Christmas morning.”
“I think it would feel good at any time, but especially after so many committee meetings, and so many years of talking about it, to actually be there and hear a resounding yes – that's wonderful,” she said.
“I'm happy that it's a good day for the churches, but it's not a good day for the South Side,” City Council member Rachel Leon said after the results were announced.
A group of activists from the neighborhood, including Leon, hoped church members would instead sell to the City of Bethlehem.
“I just don't understand why you would continue to give that much power to an organization that continues to ignore the most vulnerable people that they call their neighbors,” Leon said.
The City of Bethlehem originally submitted a $3.5 million bid for the package of properties, which church leaders rejected. Officials submitted a higher $3.725 million bid Friday.
“I feel that Lehigh is going to do just as good a job as the city was proposing,” Riley said. “They are going to have meetings with the community and city, and see what they can do with the properties that will be most beneficial for them, and for the community.”
In a letter to the congregations before the vote, Lehigh University President Joseph Helble and Provost Nathan Urban wrote that St. Peter's proximity to campus means they can "envision many short-term and long-term uses" for the site.
University leaders also committed to having "open conversations" with the community to inform their use of St. John's, the letter says, and will not build student housing on any of the newly purchased property.
For now, Blessed Trinity will meet at Light of Christ's building in Northeast Bethlehem. Its future once the congregation finds a new home is not addressed.
“We are pleased with the outcome of the vote and would like to thank the congregations’ leadership and members for their acceptance of Lehigh’s offer, a demonstration of their confidence in the university to be thoughtful owners of the properties,” said Lori Friedman, a Lehigh University spokesperson, in statement.
“We remain committed to our collaboration with community partners and the City to ensure a bright future for all.”
Leon said she still hopes to see the St. John’s lot dedicated to a community use.
Anna Smith, another activist opposed to Lehigh’s purchase, called on the university to sell St. John’s Windish and its parking lot to the City of Bethlehem.
