Biography

Rev. Ben Groth is a PhD Student researching the relationship between white supremacy and Christianity in the US in the Tulane University History Department and is the pastor of Bethlehem Lutheran Church, a 135-year-old historically black congregation in New Orleans. He is also involved with Voces Unidas: Louisiana Immigrants’ Rights Coalition. Previously, Ben served as a College Chaplain at Berea College in Berea, KY, the Associate Pastor at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Menomonee Falls, WI, and has worked as a Director of Music in Lutheran and Episcopal congregations in Wisconsin and Connecticut.

 

Ben earned a Th.M. in Lutheran Ministry Studies from the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago with a thesis titled Muddy Waters: The Struggle for Freedom through Baptism, Slavery, and Race in Colonial America and the Early Christian ChurchesHe completed his M.Div. from Yale Divinity School along with a Certificate from the Yale Institute of Sacred Music. At Oberlin College Ben studied Piano Performance, English, and Religion. Ben is married to Chloe Helene Groth, a violinist and Suzuki Violin Teacher who is the founder of the Streetcar Suzuki Violin Studio and a member of the Versipel New Music Ensemble in New Orleans.