St. James Evangelical Lutheran Church sits on South Lake Drive in the Red Bank community just outside Lexington, South Carolina. An ELCA congregation shaped by the Lutheran confessions and a deep tradition of sung liturgy, the church has made itself known locally for a monthly food pantry that draws volunteers and neighbors from across the area, and for a congregation life that pairs weekly Holy Communion with Bible study, scouting, and an active food bank ministry.
Sunday Worship with Holy Communion
The congregation gathers for worship at 10:30 AM on Sundays, with Holy Communion celebrated at that service. The liturgy comes from Sundays and Seasons, an annual set of worship resources published by Augsburg Fortress, and music in the service is covered under a CCLI license and a ONE LICENSE agreement. The Lutheran Church embraces its identity as 'a singing church with a historically beautiful worship service.' Recorded sermons are available, and services can be followed through the church's Facebook group.
Visitors arriving for the monthly food pantry are asked to park on the side of the building with the ramp. The fellowship hall entrance is where the pantry operates, while the sanctuary is used for Sunday worship. Weddings and baptisms are held in a traditional setting.
What Lutherans Believe at St. James
The congregation identifies as 'a congregation of believers in Jesus Christ, a people set apart by God for His purposes.' It holds the Confession of Faith of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America in full, which affirms that the Triune God is confessed, that Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior, and that the canonical Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the inspired Word of God. The congregation accepts the Apostles', Nicene, and Athanasian Creeds and recognizes the Unaltered Augsburg Confession as a true witness to the Gospel, along with the other writings in the Book of Concord.
Membership is offered to all who are baptized or who desire to be baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Lutheran Church stands as the Body of Christ, neither 'radical nor ultra conservative,' serving as an instrument of love, mercy, peace, and forgiveness in the world.
Mission, Vision, and Life Together
The mission statement reads: 'Serving and Trusting Jesus by Abiding, Ministering, Embracing and sharing.' The longer vision statement lays out seven commitments of the congregation: worship God, learn and teach, receive through Word and Sacrament, share time and talents, forgive as Christ forgives, minister to the needy of spirit, and witness to the Gospel in word and deed. Together as one body in Christ, members pledge to provide facilities, resources, and manpower to accomplish what the Lord has commanded.
Pastor Fred teaches that the church is a community that requires ongoing commitment, citing Acts 2 and the early church's practice of sharing resources and meeting daily. He encourages members to follow through on time, talent, and treasure commitments, with pledges and Time and Talent forms dedicated in worship each October and the new council reaching out to volunteers after the December meeting.
Pastor Fred Bartelt
The Reverend Frederick Bartelt serves as pastor. Born and raised in St. Petersburg, Florida, he holds a BA in Mathematics from the University of South Florida and first heard the call to ministry while working at Luther Springs camp. He attended Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary of Lenoir-Rhyne University in Columbia and was ordained after seminary, serving his first call at Ascension Lutheran in Brookings, South Dakota, where he began a luncheon Bible study, taught confirmation classes, and helped the congregation navigate the early months of the pandemic. Before coming to St. James he served as a supply preacher for the synod of South Carolina while helping care for his young daughter, and he completed a Spiritual Director Certification through the seminary. He and his wife Christianne, who holds graduate degrees in history from the University of East Anglia, live in the Lexington area with their two daughters.
The Community Food Pantry
The most visible outreach ministry at St. James is the community food pantry, held in the fellowship hall on the third Thursday of every month from 10:00 to 11:00 AM. Volunteers are needed each month to help set up, distribute food, and clean up, and anyone interested can speak with Rebecca Koch. The pantry is one of several ways the congregation supports the Red Bank area. In 2019 the church joined with local businesses Aldi's, Popeye's Chicken, and Little Caesars to provide a free lunch to the Lexington County Sheriff's Department on Police Officer's Memorial Day, and the church has hosted fundraisers such as Riders Remembered to assist families in the wider community.
Bible Study, Scouts, Vacation Bible School, and Confirmation
Education and fellowship ministries at St. James include a regular Bible study led by members, a Scout Pack 332 sponsored by the church, and an annual Vacation Bible School. Confirmation classes prepare youth for affirmation of baptism, and recent confirmands and high school graduates are recognized in worship. Members gather for fellowship events such as a Blowfish baseball game in Lexington, an outdoor spring service held in the church pavilion, and a Scout-led project that repainted parking lot bumpers as a service to the church.
Joining St. James
Anyone interested in joining St. James is invited to speak with the pastor or a member of the Evangelism Committee. Members from a Lutheran background may join by Letter of Transfer. Those from other Christian traditions are invited to attend a four-to-five week Pastor's Class that ends in an Affirmation of Baptism. Those who have not been part of a church may attend the Pastor's Class and be received through the Sacrament of Holy Baptism.
Giving, Contact, and Office Hours
Online giving is available through a secure giving portal. The church office is open Monday through Thursday from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM. The mailing address is 1358 South Lake Drive, Lexington, SC 29073, and the main phone number is (803) 359-2122. Pastor Bartelt can be reached at pastor.fred@stjameslex.com, and the office at office@stjameslex.com.