INTERVIEW WITH REV. BETH BENSON
   By Caroline Snyder

“Pastor Beth”

“Der Heir ist mein Hirte” (The Lord is my Shepherd) are the words printed on a wood plaque that is hung anonymously on the bulletin board beside the events and activities of the church.  On the back of the plaque is a name and a city in Switzerland and the year is 1956.  Swiss and German immigrants were the makeup of the original congregation. A mission church originally, the first structure was built of clapboard in the 1880s.   In 1912 it was replaced with a brick structure.  An educational wing was added in the 1950s. 

In 1912 the church was called the German Evangelical Reformed Peace Church.  In 1957 it became the United Church of Christ.  The 2 different traditions blended well.  The congregational autonomy of the individual church is stressed.  The United Church of Christ emerged out of the Ecumenical Movement with the hope that the conflicts and divisions within American Protestantism would be resolved.  “Friedens” is the German word for peace.   On May 21, 2000 the parishioners celebrated their 120th birthday.  A member of the congregation blessed with artistic and historical talents created an array of banners and three women of the church presented a play with voices of the past, present and the future.  The event was topped off with traditional Pioneer Pot Luck consisting of rhubarb pie, wild rice and sweet potato pie casseroles. 
A gentle smile and a warm welcome were awaiting me as I approached the double blue doors of Peace United Church of Christ on the corner of Reaney and Forest Street and met Reverend Beth Benson.  Seated in her office we enjoyed the soothing sound of a waterfall cascading over a lighted rock formation and the warm comforting aroma of candles. “This is a singing congregation” she relates to me immediately and being a member of the choir was one of the pastoral rewards for Pastor Beth.  There are 2 choir directors and both the organ and piano are enjoyed by the 198 members.  A church school for 3 year olds up to 14 years of age for young people is available to families. There are Peace Church volunteers who work at the Merrick Community Services and the food shelf collections are made on the first Sunday of each month. 

Rev. Beth Benson
 
The congregation is a blend of the traditional families in the neighborhood of German and Swiss heritage and the inclusion of the young families of diversity who have settled in Dayton’s Bluff over the last ten years.  They are active within the St. Paul Council of Churches and a church community organization called “Concerned Circle” that the women of the congregation organized themselves through their own intuition and efforts.  The mission of this group is to provide spiritual support for members who are hurting or experiencing a change in lifestyle as well as those who feel isolated from their families.  “Giving as well as receiving is a daily commitment and dedication by this congregation,” Pastor Beth reiterates.   Collections are made for “Habitat for Humanity” and seminary funding.   Concerned Circle is “alive and prospering.”

Beth has a degree in social work and a master’s degree in public administration and counseling and has spent 20 years with youth and family counseling.  Her husband is a social worker.  They both have experience in child protection advocacy and domestic violence.   Washington State (near Puget Sound) was her birthplace but North Dakota was the place of her upbringing. “Being the daughter of a pastor was a mixed blessing,” relates Beth.  The daughter of a clergy person, she was expected to be perfect and become a model for other children. Just being a normal child was fun, and mischief was a strong component in her personality as well as wanting to be accepted by other children.

The immediate family made a bold decision when they uprooted and moved to Minnesota 4 years ago.  Beth entered the seminary and when Peace United was in search of a new pastor to replace the retiring pastor, the doors opened wide to welcome Beth.  She will celebrate her first year in July 2000 and it has been a remarkable year for her.  Being the first woman pastor at Peace United was a challenge in itself but keeping the congregation intact was a bigger responsibility.  The former pastor had been there for many years and the concerns and anxieties, which naturally occur with change, was evident from the beginning.

Ironic as it may seem, the first woman in the Congregational Church was ordained in 1853.  This is one of the denominations that merged to form the United Church of Christ.  In the Reformed tradition of peace there were no women involved in ministry.  Open communication must always be the stalwart of the church and equality between men and women and differences in theology will work themselves out during a transitional period over the passage of time.  Pastoral emergencies and traditional functions like weddings and funerals were integral in the development of trust and the new pastor was eager to give of herself. 

Beth and her husband have a blended family.  One son 19, 2 sons 16 years of age and a 15-year-old daughter comprise this family.  Balancing her priorities between family and pastoral service is key to her success in both endeavors.   She realizes that our youth may get lost in the shuffle with the changing demographics of our day and age.  That is why she is very committed to “invite our kids into the conversation of the church.”   There will always be a common thread that binds our youth with caring adults as long as we are willing to acknowledge their questions and empathize with their concerns and fears.   It is her mission at Peace United to have a place for the youth to feel comfortable in expressing their needs without the recrimination or harsh judgment they may have previously experienced.  “Faith is work and faith involves questions.”  Pastor Beth is a shining example of this revelation. 

The sanctuary presents an intimacy where one feels immediate acceptance.  The sometimes overwhelming grandeur and opulence of some churches may be intimidating for some.  A pure and simple friendliness is exalted with the presence of warm rich mahogany woods and stained glass windows engraved with the names of the deceased of the congregation giving honor to their memories.  The altar itself has been rebuilt and personifies the tradition of the original character and charm of the early 1900s.

I said good-bye to Pastor Beth and a feeling of peace and serenity engulfed my being with a secret wish that I may return someday to replenish this “faith of acceptance” which deeply touched me.