about THE BETHLEHEM FOUNDATION

Our Mission: The Bethlehem Lutheran Church Foundation exists to gather, invest, and disburse financial resources to further the mission and values of Bethlehem Lutheran Church Twin Cities.

Since its inception in 1957, a volunteer board of directors has managed the assets of the Bethlehem Foundation.

Income of the foundation comes from a variety of sources, including immediate donations as well as legacy gifts. The income is invested with the primary goal being to generate income with principal preservation and growth as secondary priorities.

Interest income and dividends are reinvested in Bethlehem and the wider world through grants. Since the first grants were made in 1963, more than $3.2 million has been distributed to benefit the church through staff and leadership enrichment, programs, and facilities care. In addition, priorities include supporting seminary students from our faith community and outreach to the neighborhood and to the world.

It is the transformational generosity of our donors that makes this radical impact possible.

Board of Directors

  • Smiling older woman with short light brown hair, wearing a blue patterned blazer and pearl necklace, standing against a plain white background.

    Gwenn Branstad

    CHAIR

  • Headshot of a man with glasses, wearing a dark blue collared shirt, smiling in front of a window with curtains.

    Aaron Pearson

    CHAIR ELECT

  • Gold and navy emblem featuring a stylized, symmetrical geometric design inside a circle.

    Tina Ham Peterson

    TREASURER

  • A gold and navy emblem featuring a star inside a circle with ornate design elements.

    Dave Raymond

    SECRETARY

  • A gold and navy circular logo with a geometric star pattern in the center.

    Sandra Anderson

    BOARD MEMBER

  • A gold and navy blue logo with a circular design and geometric shapes in the center.

    Sara Ausman

    BOARD MEMBER

  • A circular logo with a gold star shape inside, surrounded by a gold border, on a dark blue background.

    Dan Engstrand

    BOARD MEMBER

  • A senior woman with short gray hair smiling, wearing a blue and black patterned top and turquoise earrings, against a plain gray background.

    Nan Grube

    BOARD MEMBER

  • A portrait of a smiling man in a suit and tie, with short, neatly combed hair, against a plain background.

    John Helberg

    BOARD MEMBER

  • A logo featuring a gold circular design with a diamond shape in the center on a dark blue background.

    Siri Myhrom

    BOARD MEMBER

  • A woman with curly gray hair, smiling, wearing a sleeveless teal top, large earrings, and a necklace, seated outdoors against a green wooden wall.

    Kelsey Tritabaugh

    BOARD MEMBER

  • A smiling man with a shaved head and beard standing outdoors in a park with green trees in the background.

    Andy Kroll

    EX OFFICIO AS CONGREGATIONAL PRESIDENT

  • A portrait of a woman with curly gray hair, smiling, against a plain gray background, wearing a dark top and a teal blazer.

    Lisa Johnson

    EX OFFICIO AS PAST CONGREGATIONAL PRESIDENT

  • A smiling man wearing glasses and a plaid shirt in a warmly lit indoor setting.

    Chris Enstad

    EX OFFICIO AS LEAD PASTOR

A woman with short blonde hair, glasses, and a wide smile, wearing a black top.

Behind the scenes


  • Business Manager

    Managing the daily operations, Naomi is often the first point of contact with the BLC Foundation. She is also creating infrastructure to ensure the historical records of the foundation live well into the future.

    She has been a BLCTC member for 45+ years with various roles in leadership. From teaching two year old Sunday School to singing in the choir, Naomi is a former BLCTC Congregational President and served two terms as a Foundation Board Member.