This line from a beloved hymn conveys well our Love in Action focus at Bethesda Presbyterian Church. Contrary to the m.o. of many institutions, what is good for the loveless is considered good for the whole here. Maintaining this focus on the power of love versus the love of power allows us to explore ways the Spirit can employ our full humanity — good, bad, and ugly — for serving God, God’s creation, and our neighbor. And I am forever amazed how this spirit of service and of justice is employed by our number in their daily lives. Come, Worship with Us. Come, Serve with Us. Join us on our journey into Christ’s relational joy! -- Rev. Chuck

We at Bethesda Presbyterian Church understand white supremacy to be a spiritual virus with no simple vaccine.

Our discipleship response to this scourge – our country’s “original sin” -- has been manifold: 

• Efforts by one of our church members, historian Dr. Ronald Grim, to uncover through extensive research how several church members pre-Civil War were enslavers as well. See the videos “Our Congregation’s History: A Racial Reckoning” and “Our Racial Reckoning Continues.”

• Extensive phone banking and writing several thousand postcards to combat voter suppression in 8 states (with Reclaim Our Vote)  

• Our support of our Parish Associate, the Rev. Pat Jackson, and the interracial ministry he has founded: Interwoven Congregations for Racial Justice and Healing. Rev. Chuck serves on Interwoven’s Board of Directors.

• An October 2023 Interwoven Civil Rights Pilgrimage of three Black men and three White men – including Revs. Pat and Chuck – to Atlanta, Birmingham, Selma and Montgomery: Here’s a video overview.

• Our intensive studies of Robin DiAngelo’s White Fragility, Howard Thurman’s Jesus and the Disinherited, and Debby Irving’s Waking Up White.

As the Central Bethesda storehouse for Here2Help, volunteers each Sunday - from the community and from the church - provide for the weekly food needs for aboout a dozen families. Presently, many recent Afghan refugees families depend on the faithful work provided here!

The Del Ray Club, housing 40 (!) 12 Step meetings weekly with an average of 100 participants daily, relocated to our Bethesda Presbyterian Church property in 2012. We are grateful to be perhaps the only faith community in the country housing an entire 12 Step clubhouse!

For over a decade, in our Statement of Welcome at the top of each Sunday’s Worship program, we have boldly stated, “Bethesda Presbyterian Church is a diverse congregation welcoming all persons to serve Christ as full and active participants in our faith community, regardless of race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identification, or any other personal attribute.” We are also proud that our pastor served on the pioneering national More Light Presbyterians board whose witness opened the door for LGBTQ persons to serve in all levels of church governance – including pastoral ordination. (See “Welcome Statement from Our Pastor” for more information.)

Founded by the Rev. Dr. Robert Gamble and his wife, Olya Balaban, TCH has created a network of resilience for mothers and children affected by the war. It has carved out of ordinary places healing spaces, to do art - buy groceries - share tea - make music - and heal.

Each summer Sunday, 11:15 am-12:15 pm, you will find us at the Wilson Lane gate of the Bethesda Central Farmers Market next door to our church distributing 140 bottles of complimentary cold water to the patrons and vendors -with bowls and treats for dogs. Stop by and say hello!

Want to Explore Getting Involved?

Email Us: bpc7611@aol.com
Call or Text Us: 734-646-3550 (Rev. Chuck’s Direct Line)