Rev. Diana Thompson
PASTOR
The Rev. Diana Thompson is excited to grow in faith with the members, guests, and visitors at Bethany English Lutheran Church.
Rev. Diana has been serving as a Pastor for over 20 years and will celebrate her 25th Anniversary of Ordination in September 2026. She joined our ministry at Bethany English in March of 2026.
Her greatest passion is teaching and watching as new insight and wisdom grow in the learners and herself. She believes that preaching is an extension of teaching as Scripture becomes applicable to life.
Her spiritual gifts and passions include: Pastoral Care, Teaching, Preaching, Worship Leadership, and Stewardship.
The Rev. Diana Thompson is married to another ELCA pastor, the Rev. Timothy Muse. They have one adult daughter. She studied history and secondary education at Capital University in Columbus, Ohio, and earned her Master of Divinity from The Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago in Chicago, Illinois.
MELISSA TODD
CHRISTIAN EDUCATION DIRECTOR & CHURCH SECRETARY
Melissa was baptized and grew up at Bethany English Lutheran and is happy to serve as Christian Education Director and Church Secretary. She graduated with honors from Ohio University with a degree in Telecommunications with minors in Women’s Studies and German. In her free time she likes to cheer on the Cleveland Guardians and explore the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo.
SARAH TODD
FINANCIAL SECRETARY
Sarah was baptized at Bethany English Lutheran Church when she was in the first grade and has been an active member her whole life – volunteering as a Sunday School teacher and serving on Church Council. She began working as the Financial Secretary in the summer of 2014. She has a degree in English from Miami University where she did a focus in Journalism and minored in Women’s Studies. In her free time she enjoys cheering on the local Cleveland sports teams, going to movies, reading, playing Scrabble and debating Harry Potter fan theories.
JESSE LANGE
MUSIC DIRECTOR
Jesse, the director of our Chancel and Hand Bell choirs, is a lifelong Lutheran who grew up in Michigan. He is also the vocal music director at Cleveland Heights High School. He earned both his Bachelor of Music Education and Master in Choral Conducting Performance degrees from the University of Akron. Jesse is an active member of the Cleveland Chamber Chorus, and he is past associate conductor of the Singers Companye. He served as vocal music director of Faith Lutheran Church in Kent, Ohio for several years, and as the tenor soloist for First Congregational Church in Akron. Jesse and his wife, Marissa, also a musician, reside in Akron with their daughters, Wilhelmina and Matilda and, new addition to their family, Cordelia!
Jason Aquila
Organist
In addition to being the Organist at Bethany, Jason is the Music Director of the Voice Performance program at the Baldwin Wallace Conservatory of Music. He holds a Master of Music degree from the Cleveland Institute of Music. Jason has performed as a pianist with many internationally acclaimed singers and instrumentalists, including Metropolitan Opera soprano Jennifer Rowley, and Chicago Symphony Orchestra Principal Flute Emeritus Donald Peck. He currently lives in North Olmsted with his wife, Emily, her son Carter, and their dogs and cat. In his spare time, Jason enjoys reading and playing board games.