The Historic Bethany Union Church of Chicago

About Our Church

"To Change the World By Allowing God to Change Us!"

Jesus says, "Be compassionate, as your Heavenly Father is compassionate." Luke 6:36

 At Bethany Union Church of Chicago we intentionally Cultivate Compassion.
Cultivating Compassion is our Mission driven by the Vision we have received from Christ in His words to us to be like our Heavenly Father: compassionate!
Cultivating Compassion is what we measure our energy, time, financial and material resources against. We ask, "How is what we are doing cultivating compassion in this world?" 
We seek to Cultivate Compassion in our learning and development at every faith stage, our services, our worship, and all that we support at Bethany Union Church of Chicago must be in-line, tuned-in, relevant and spot-on for Cultivating Compassion. This is the Community Church of Christ Jesus we call home.
On May 5, 1872, necessity made "denominations" a secondary consideration to the Worship of God and the care of His people. Bethany Union was born!
Bethany Union Church began with no denominational ties or strings; almost 150 years later we maintain the same lineage of being nothing but a people of God devoted to Worship, Religious Education and the Fellowship of Believers. There is room for everyone at Bethany Union Church and we guard each persons dignity. We are a people with multiple ethnic backgrounds, traditions and religious affiliations. We set everything aside except Christ and we strive to love and be agents of peace and understanding. We welcome anyone who comes in peace and seeks understanding - both being understood and choosing to
try and understand ourselves and others better. Come and See! You can know what it is like to be in a place
where understanding and acceptance are esteemed and where hope is ever-growing.

Additional Services

TEECH Recovery Ministry

TEECH Recovery Ministry 
We are home to the Transforming, Educating a Empowering Children and Humanity (TEECH) Recovery Ministries and the TEECH Foundation. This ministry is all about Recovery and in addition it provides for the training of persons in the art and science of Green Cleaning. This is an amazing Federally Funded Grant Program through AIR and helps people recover and remain clean, sober and sain. Contact the Director Dr. Karen White at 224-406-3798 or the Founding President Dr. Linda Abington at 773-928-3933 

Boy Scout Troop #607

Boy Scout Troop #607 has been with us for over 99 years.  We have produced almost 300 Eagle Scouts during that time. The Troop is active and meets every Wednesday evening here at the Church.

The Music Scene & Petite Artists

The Music Scene & Petite Artists 
All of your musical needs and desires in one place under the leadership of director Soprano Extradinair Anisha Hill-McFarland. Class for young and old in voice, piano and hand bells. Contact Anisha directly 773-206-9986 or email her at

My Crafty Table & Sewing

My Crafty Table & Sewing 
Crafts, Sewing and Creativity with DIY projects offered each month on the 2nd Saturday at Noon. Felicia Alston is our Craft Guru and is able to help or each you many wonderful arts and crafts tricks and projects. She is a CPS teacher and certified sewing instructor. 

Destiny Rescue

We serve as the location for the Region of this International Slave and Sex Trafficking group.  Destiny Rescue's Regional Office is located here and under the direction of Michael Manning who informs, teaches, briefs, educates and advocates for the children of the world who are trapped in the aweful crime of child sex trafficking.

Matthew 25 Clothing Shoppe

In response to our Lord's call to feed the hungry, clothe the naked and visit those in prison, we have joined forces with the TEECH foundation to offer free, clean clothing to anyone who is in need.. have a drop off box in our Fellowship HM and anyone can bring in clean, wearable clothing, shoes and coats for men, women and children. Many of our guests have recently been freed from prison and only have the clothing that is on their backs.. have over 1,000 souls coming to our doors and it is great to be able to love them in this tangible way. No one should be cold in Chicago or America for that matter.

iSTEM Girls Summer Inventor's Camp

Each July, Bethany Union Church is pleased to hold iSTEM Girls 2-week summer camp! Girls, aged 6 to 12 are invited to apply. Full and partial scholarships are available. Look for more information beginning in March.

Meet Our Team

FAQ

What time are your worship services?

Sunday mornings beginning at 10:30am.

Do you have a Sunday School?

YES!  Our Educational hour begins at 9:30 a.m. with classes for every age and stage of faith.  We believe we are all called into a life-long commitment and privilege to study, grow and learn aspects and instructions of the Way.  So we have classes for children, youth and adults.

Where do we park?

Those coming by car may park in our Church parking lot for free. The lot is well maintained, lighted and safe and directly across from the church building at the Southeast corner of 103rd and Wood Streets. Both 103rd and Wood streets have entrances and exits to our lot.

What about Public Transportation?

We are right on the CTA bus line and it stops right in front of the Church Building.

We are just one block East of the Beverly Train stop for 103rd Street.

What kind of music will we hear during worship?

Pastor says the only "kind" of music we should have is "Excellent" since it is for the Worship of our God.  You will find we will use various styles of music but always done in the best we can offer way.

Our typical Sunday morning worship is filled with music.  We have a Choir with professional section leads that offers up a choral Anthem and helps lead our singing of hymns from our hymnal.  We typically will sing two to three hymns each service.  We also sing the Doxology (Praise God from whom all blessings flow...) and the Gloria Patri (Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and ...). We begin our service with a Prelude of organ and/or piano music and we close our service with a choral benediction and a Postlude of music.  Also we have a special piece of music we someone will offer during our Offertory.  

What about the children?

We worship as a family of faith.  Every age and stage of maturity and faith worships all together in the Lord's Sanctuary.  Children, babies and Service animals are all welcome as is young, middle-aged and older adults.  We worship as a family of faith and as one.

Where do we go once we get there?

If you are coming at 9:30 am for Sunday School you will come to our Fellowship Hall (place closest to Wood Street).

If you are coming for Worship you will need to come to our beautiful Sanctuary which is located in the place furthest away from Wood Street. We have Greeters stationed to help give directions but it is really easy to catch the flow.

If you are entering the Worship Service before 10:30 a.m. please sit anywhere you like.  If you happen to come into the service late (at or after 10:30 a.m.) also please sit anywhere you like, but do know we will all be watching you. It's just human nature.  Don't let that inhibit you in any way.  We are glad even if you come late.  

What is Bethany Union all about?

Since we are human we are a hot mess.  We don't pretend to be anything else.  We do agree that being human is a great gift and we seek to honor the giver of that gift by hearing well the Word of Messiah Jesus who says, "Be compassionate, as your Heavenly Father is compassionate." Luke 6:36

Our Heavenly Father is compassionate according to Exodus 34:6, Deut. 4:31, as well as the Prophets whom call God compassionate in Joel 2:31, Jonah 4:2 and 2 Samuel 24:14.  Our King Messiah affirms what the Scriptures had already revealed and that is COMPASSION is what God is all about and wants us also to be all about it like God is.  At Bethany Union Church of Chicago we intentionally Cultivate Compassion and we do so with gusto and flare.

Cultivating Compassion is our Mission driven by the Vision we have received from Christ in His words to us to be like our Heavenly Father: compassionate!

Cultivating Compassion is what we measure our energy, time, financial and material resources against.  We ask, "How is what we are doing cultivating compassion in this world?"  If we don't have any sense that what we are doing is cultivating compassion we stop doing it and explore other ways that will and do.

We seek to Cultivate Compassion in our learning and development at every faith stage, our services, our worship, and all that we support at Bethany Union Church of Chicago must be in-line, tuned-in, relevant and on spot for Cultivating Compassion.  This is the Community Church of Christ Jesus we call home.

How do I contact Bethany Union Church?

For Pastoral Emergencies, go right to the top, Pastor Lawrence Cameron at 734-652-1471. For other questions regarding, church calendar, benevolence, facility usage, or something else, contact the church office at 773-779-0123, or email office@bethanyunion.com. The office is generally open from 9:00a – 5:00p, Monday-Saturday. If there is no answer, leave a detailed message with your name and contact information, and someone will get back to you as soon as possible.