The Bethany United Methodist Church has a unique tradition not found in any other Fayette County church its "Perlieu Stew," held each fall.

The congregation itself goes back to 1855 and the tradition of the stew goes back to 1908. A dozen men from the area decided to get together one fall, after shooting some wild game. They put rabbit, game, potatoes and onions together in a big pot, cooked it down and had a feast. They called their concoction "Perlieu Stew," from the French meaning of "many things cooked in together."

Bethany Methodist is located on its third site since 1855, at the corner of Rivers Road and Lees Lake Drive. Families donating land through the years include Bustin, Rivers and Ellington.

It is currently pastored by its 22nd preacher, the Rev. Bruce Bunten.

He was born in Long Island, N.Y. and primarily reared in Miami. At Florida Southern he majored in sociology and minored in music and psychology. He graduated from Emory University in 1986, doing his student pastoring in Dalton, Ga.

After graduation Bunten served at Dalton fulltime, then was an associate pastor at Peachtree City United Methodist Church, where he met his wife, Jan. They married in 1988.

He then served churches in Cartersville, Tallapoosa and East Point, coming to Bethany in 1996.

The Buntens have two children Sam, 7, and Emily, 4. A third child is expected this March.

One of Rev. Bunten's goals is to increase visibility. "We have a charming cemetery across the road," he said, "but many folks looking for a church seem to think, 'that's probably an old country church with all old people,' but that's not the case.

"Half of our membership is made up of people, especially young people, who have moved into the community. We encourage everyone in our area seeking a church to become a part of, to come and visit us and discover the love here," he added.

The church offers Disciple Bible Study, tape ministries, a pre-school, Mom's morning out, a van pick-up for those needing transportation, and Sunday School classes including nursery, toddler, pre-school, younger and older elementary, junior and senior high and a number of adult classes.

Services are held Sundays at 10:55 a.m., with Sunday School at 9:45 a.m., and evening worship is at 6 p.m.