Bethel Mennonite Church (Odon, Indiana, USA)
The Bethel Mennonite Church, Odon, Indiana, began as a church plant of the Berea Mennonite Church. Henry Miller donated land on the Odon-Cannelburg Road. On 5 April 1964, it dedicated a new building. In 1965, it became an independent congregation in the Indiana-Michigan Mennonite Conference.
Since then, the church has undergone two major building projects, the latest of which took place in 1998.
In 2001, Bethel Mennonite Church withdrew from the Indiana-Michigan Mennonite Conference of the Mennonite Church (MC). It opposed the denomination's direction on same-sex relationships and the prospective merger of the Mennonite Church (MC) and the General Conference Mennonite Church. Bethel became an independent Mennonite congregation.
Bibliography
"In a special service...." Gospel Herald 58, no. 13 (6 April 1965): 303.
Overton, Kelly. "Bethel to celebrate 50 years." Washington Times Herald 12 September 2014. Web. 19 April 2024. https://www.washtimesherald.com/news/local_news/bethel-to-celebrate-50-years/article_42572113-f5ed-5a56-a89d-9cc293d1c7fb.html.
Preheim, Rich. In Pursuit of Faithfulness: Conviction, Conflict, and Compromise in Indiana-Michigan Mennonite Conference. Harrisonburg, Va.: Herald Press, 2016: 300, 307.
Additional Information
Address: 14670 N 900 E Odon, Indiana 47562
Phone: 812-636-8240
Website:
Denominational Affiliations: Indiana-Michigan Mennonite Conference (Until 2001)
Mennonite Church (MC) (Until 2001)
Pastoral Leaders at Bethel Mennonite Church
| Name | Years of Service |
|---|---|
| James Knepp (1926-2004) | 1964-1976 |
| Melvin R. Paulus (1935-2022) | 1977-2008? |
| Don Swartz | 2001-2010? |
| Carmen D. Detweiler | 2007-? |
| Kevin Swartzentruber | 2007-2010s? |
| Lonnie Raber | 2010s?-? |
Bethel Mennonite Church Membership
| Year | Members |
|---|---|
| 1966 | 106 |
| 1970 | 170 |
| 1980 | 226 |
| 1990 | 244 |
| 2000 | 268 |
| 2009 | 300 |
| Author(s) | Samuel J Steiner |
|---|---|
| Date Published | April 2024 |
Cite This Article
MLA style
Steiner, Samuel J. "Bethel Mennonite Church (Odon, Indiana, USA)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. April 2024. Web. 12 Feb 2026. https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Bethel_Mennonite_Church_(Odon,_Indiana,_USA)&oldid=178689.
APA style
Steiner, Samuel J. (April 2024). Bethel Mennonite Church (Odon, Indiana, USA). Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 12 February 2026, from https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Bethel_Mennonite_Church_(Odon,_Indiana,_USA)&oldid=178689.
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