It is with joy that we announce that Deaconess Dr. Janine Bolling has accepted the call to serve as our new Senior Director of Educational Services at Bethlehem Lutheran Church. She comes to Bethlehem with a strong background in K-12 education, leadership development, and community ministry. Dr. Bolling is passionate about creating learning environments that nurture academic success and spiritual growth. Her heart for urban ministry and deep commitment to the Lord guides her work as she partners with students, families, and staff to help each child grow in knowledge, faith, and purpose. 

Deaconess Dr. Bolling (Dr. Jay) considers it a true joy and calling to serve the Bethlehem community. She has been a long-time prayer supporter, pew visitor, and BLC extended family member (Sister to Pastor Bolling and sister-in-law to Lorenda Bolling, Pastor Bolling’s wife), and she is excited to be on the ground!

She holds a Doctorate in Education and Leadership (EdD) from Concordia Wisconsin LICI, as well as a Master’s in Public Administration (MPA) from the City University of NY- Baruch College, and is a Commissioned Minister of the LCMS (Deaconess, Concordia University Chicago, ‘11). Her dissertation research was a quantitative study focused on the unique self-identified financial literacy needs of underserved groups (females, urban youth, and minorities). The resulting recommendations centered on community engagement through education. Read her full dissertation HERE.

Dr. Bolling regularly shares on intersectionality, human resources, service learning, experiential learning, generational complexities, and AI integration. Her twelve years of experience include a range of disciplines, including middle school and high school teaching, program and curriculum design, consulting, and course designing and teaching at the university level as an adjunct professor.

Dr. Jay is a talented home chef, a poetry enthusiast, and a big basketball fan #GoBulldogs. Her passion for educational equity and business collaboration shapes the value she seeks to bring and borrow from all spaces God places her in. 

In her role at Bethlehem, she will bring both care and clarity to our growing programs. She will oversee all directors of Bethlehem Lutheran Childcare, Bethlehem Lutheran School, and the Ephrathah Activity Center (EAC) for both summer and after-school programming. Her leadership will enhance team cohesion, ensure regulatory compliance and raise curriculum standards, helping us meet our goal of

increasing parent satisfaction to 80% and beyond. 

We are thrilled that this ministry position at Bethlehem has been filled, and after

an extensive call process, we found Dr. Jay to be a great fit in our ministry.

Additionally, this opens our capability for a new ministry that we will

be announcing soon! 

Join us in welcoming Dr. Jay to our team!