About First Presbyterian Church of Wooster, OH
Who We Were--A Brief History
The origins of First Presbyterian Church, Wooster Ohio, go back to 1815 when fifteen Scottish and Irish settlers gathered in a home on West Liberty Street to form a Presbyterian Congregation. A small brick building was erected there for worship. As the congregation grew, land for the second church building at the corner of North Walnut and West North Streets was donated by John and Elizabeth Christmas in 1848. In 1927, the cornerstone for a neo-gothic building was laid at the corner of College Ave and East Bowman Street, where the present sanctuary and related structures were erected. In 2005, the congregation undertook another major addition to better equip this historic congregation for ministry in the 21st century.
While in the Walnut Street building, during the pastoral leadership of the Rev. James Reed, the congregation organized the College of Wooster under the auspices of the Ohio Synod of the Presbyterian Church. Church member Ephraim Quinby gave twenty acres on the hill above the present building for the college seat, becoming one of the first trustees. Another church member, John Kauke, also a college trustee, provided funds for an early classroom building which now bears his name. During the same years, twenty-five First Presbyterian Church members formed and chartered Westminister Church to provide a campus congregation for college students. First Presbyterian Church has always focused on the needs of the community through a variety of educational and mission outreach ministries that continue to this day.
Who We Are Today
First Presbyterian Church is deeply involved with numerous community programs and has been instrumental in founding many of them. Some of our partnerships are with the Viola Startzman Free Clinic, Habitat for Humanity, and People to People Ministries. We have a Day Care Center for senior citizens as well as Wee Care Day Care for children.
Less well known are some of the activities in which our congregants participate, although those activities are as important as the better known ones. We have members involved with children’s sports, Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, political groups, educational clubs, to name but a very few.
The First Presbyterian Church congregation reflects the diversity of the Wooster community, including traditional and non-traditional families, single people, college students, and many people of seminary experience. This church family strives to be multicultural, intergenerational, and inclusive, welcoming all who seek to follow Jesus Christ. Won't you consider joining us for Sunday worship or one of our many activities?
WHAT WE BELIEVE
A good summary of Presbyterian beliefs and information about our denomination, The Presbyterian Church (USA), may be found at http://www.pcusa.org/navigation/whoweare.htm
Sunday worship: 8:30 a.m. and 10:45 a.m.
Christian education for all ages: 9:15 a.m.
First Presbyterian Church Goals for 2010-2011
Worship
1. Add a contemporary service or begin to blend contemporary music and/or elements into existing services
Date to accomplish: By June 1, 2011
Responsibility: Session, working with clergy, music director, and Creative Worship Team
Measured by: Session
2. Form a creative worship team
Date to accomplish: By October 1, 2010
Responsibility: Faith and Nurture Coordinating Team and clergy
Measured by: Faith and Nurture Coordinating Team and clergy
Evangelism/Hospitality
1. Form an evangelism/hospitality team to attract and assimilate new members into the church and to provide hospitality for members and the community
Date to accomplish: By October 1, 2010
Responsibility: Faith and Nurture Coordinating Team and clergy
Measured by: Faith and Nurture Coordinating Team and clergy
2. Design, purchase, and install new outdoor signage in several locations
Date to accomplish: By June 1, 2011
Responsibility: Faith and Structure Coordinating Team and clergy
Measured by: Faith and Structure Coordinating Team and clergy
3. Have a new expanded church website purchased and maintained at a reasonable cost
Date to accomplish: By September 1, 2010
Responsibility: Faith and Practice Coordinating Team and clergy, including the Evangelism and Hospitality Team
Measured by: Faith and Practice Coordinating Team, Faith and Nurture Coordinating Team and clergy, including the Evangelism and Hospitality Team
4. In order to form relationships and partnership with those not presently engaged in a faith community, we will establish up to five support groups in various areas of need such as post-divorce support for adults as well as for children/youth in families experiencing divorce, financial counseling, etc.
Date to accomplish: By May 1, 2011
Responsibility: a task force under the care of the Faith and Nurture Team
Measured by: Faith and Nurture Team
5. We will recruit some volunteer(s) to write brief articles periodically on our church activities and ask the Daily Record to include on the religious page as well as beefing up our weekly announcements.
Date to accomplish: September 1, 2010
Responsibility: Evangelism and Hospitality Team and ordained staff will oversee this.
Measured by: Evangelism and Hospitality Team and ordained staff
6. Form a task force to prepare a brochure listing and explaining all existing small groups, list other possibilities and invite people to suggest possibilities which might interest them. The task force would oversee formation and maintenance of these groups and report to Faith and Nurture. The brochures would be available at all times in the pews.
Date to accomplish: September 1, 2010
Responsibility: Faith and Nurture Team and the task force
Measured by: Faith and Nurture Team and the task force
Outreach/Peacemaking
1. Offer and participate in an international mission trip for adults and youth
Date to accomplish: By September 1, 2011
Responsibility: Faith and Practice Coordinating Team and clergy
Measured by: Faith and Practice Coordinating Team and clergy
2. Host several nationally-known social justice speakers, beginning with David L. Bartlett on September 25, 2010
Date to accomplish: 2010-2013
Responsibility: Social Justice Team
Measured by: Social Justice Team
3. We will contact people of other faith persuasions in our community to form a task force which will create opportunities for ecumenical dialogue which will be open to the public. (We will contact Chaplain Linda Morgan-Clement, as well as the Honoring Our Differences group, for help.)
Date to accomplish: December 1, 2010
Responsibility: Task force under the care of Faith and Practice Team
Measured by: Faith and Practice Team
4. We will have an energy audit of our church buildings with a report to the Environmental Justice Task Force that will suggest to the Session a plan for implementing suggested improvements to be done as we can afford them.
Date to accomplish: September 30, 2010
Responsibility: Faith and Structure Team and Environmental Justice Task Force
Measured by: Faith and Practice Team and Environmental Justice Task Force
Membership Transformation
1. Take on the Worship Plus 3 Program
Date to accomplish: By January 1, 2011 (institute the program)
Responsibility: Goal-setting group, Session, and clergy, and liaison from Faith and Practice Team
Measured by: Session
2. Form one additional church group that focuses on spiritual practices, e.g., prayer, Bible study, mission, etc. and covenant to meet regularly with quarterly opportunities 2010-2011
Date to accomplish: By September 1, 2010
Responsibility: Goal-setting group, Faith and Nurture Team, and clergy
Measured by: Faith and Nurture Team and clergy
3. Establish a stewardship task force that would develop goals and strategies for long-term stewardship growth in the congregation
Date to accomplish: By September 1, 2010
Responsibility: Faith and Structure Team, assisted by Faith and Practice Team, and clergy
Measured by: Faith and Structure Team, Faith and Practice Team, and clergy
4. Launch a group that works with the Children’s Ministry Director, Associate Pastor, and Pastor to establish age-based benchmarks of knowledge and experience for children and youth
Date to accomplish: By September 1, 2010
Responsibility: Faith and Nurture Team, CMD, and clergy
Measured by: Faith and Nurture Team, CMD, and clergy
