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The Otterbein Home Church
UPDATED HISTORY 1968 -1977
Campus Center Chapel
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2014
https://archive.org/details/otterbeinhome 19681997irel
THE OTTERBEIN HOME CHURCH
1968 - 1977
Researched and Written by Mrs. Opha W. Ireland
Resident of Otterbein Home and Member of the Church
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Otterbein Home church, in existence since 1914, began to look toward greatly increased membership and new facilities as expansion plans for Otterbein Home itself were initi- ated in 1967. The Home and church are sepa- rate organizations but their interests and goals are interrelated. The church is in the Wilmington district of West Ohio Conference, United Methodist. Its minister is assigned by the bishop and his cabinet.
It was on March 18, 1973 that the new chapel in the Campus Center was used for church services for the first time. Conse- cration of the Campus Center and the village courts did not take place until June 24, 1973.
At the March 18 service, Dr. William Messmer, chairman of the Board of Trustees of Otterbein Home, and administrative assistant to Bishop Gerald Ensley, was the principal speaker . This service preceded the annual Board meeting.
The church bulletin of the day, however, gives no indication that this was the day of the first service in the chapel, except the closing hymn, titled "We Built a Sanctuary Sure. "
We built a sanctuary sure It stands on sacred sod A church erected to endure, The temple of our God. We come to worship in this place With aspiration high. It is the consecrated place Where God Himself draws nigh.
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Hymnals used in that first service were red-backed. They had been purchased in 1967 with a memorial fund given by the family of Rev. John Oehlerking, a resident of the Home. A chalice for the communion table was also purchased from the same fund.
The bulletin does contain a notice of a "State of Otterbein" address to be given at 7:00 P.M. by Charles K. Dilgard, adminis- trator of Otterbein Home. Another source shows that this was an open meeting of the Board of Trustees, to which residents and employees of Otterbein Home were invited.
ALL PURPOSE ROOM
The next evening, March 19, tables were set up in the chapel, and a Recognition Dinner for Home employees was served there. Microphones in the chapel carried music and speeches to the dining room, where the over- flow crowd was seated.
At this dinner four employees, who had given long and faithful service to Otterbein, were given special recognition. Mr. and Mrs. Roger (Grace) Cole, co-managers of the laundry; Mrs. Mamie Lane, housekeeping; and Glenn Kessler, farm crew, were honored. Mrs. Lane and Mr. Kessler were retiring. Mr. Cole retired in January, 1975.
These two occasions, following the first church service, pointed up the fact that the room commonly called the chapel, is actually an all-purpose room in which religious services are held. Provisions of the Hill-
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Burton act, under which Otterbein received $600, 000 toward cost of the Campus Center, required that none of the money could be used for construction of a church only. This is in accord with federal law requiring sepa- ration of church and state.
Numerous entertainments, musicals, films and lectures have been held in the chapel since that first use on March 18 and 19, 1973.
It is appropriate to note here that it was on March 19, 1973 that ground breaking for three new residence halls -- Albright, Asbury and Newcomer -- took place at 4:00 P.M., preceding the dinner of recognition for employees.
HYMNALS
On February 27, 1973, Arza Hall, at a meeting of the Administrative Board, moved that the Board look with favor on the idea of purchase of new hymnals. Seconded by Harry May, the motion was accepted.
A special asking for funds for new hymnals followed. Announcement was made that individuals could make personal donations of $3.75 each for as many hymnals as desired. In recognition of each donation, a bookplate bearing the name of the honoree and the name of the donor could be placed in a hymnal. A hymnal so purchased could be kept by the donor or given to the church.
A total of $224.08 was collected in this fund, according to report of the financial
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secretary for the second quarter of 1973.
More hymnals were needed, however. These were purchased from general church funds. They are still in use in 1977. They were first used May 6, 1973, when they were dedicated in an official ceremony taken from the United Methodist Board of Publication.
These hymnals do not contain the closing hymn used at the first service in the new chapel, "We Built a Sanctuary Sure," but do contain the first hymn of that day, "For the Beauty of the Earth. "
PLANNING THE CHAPEL
Thruout planning for the new Campus Center, a chapel was included in the archi- tect's drawings . Originally the chapel was shown as located in the space now occupied by the library and Marble room. It was soon recognized that much larger space would be required to take care of increased population of the Home, and consequent growth in church needs .
A much larger dining area than was on the original plan also was needed. Therefore, in successive revisions, an addition to the south side of the building was drawn in to provide for both needs. The plan finally accepted called for the folding partition be- tween dining room and chapel, to allow cre- ation of space needed for special events.
In the beginning there was some un- certainty whether the lower (basement) level
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of the Campus Center could be completed. Therefore a folding partition about half way between the front and back of the chapel area, was included. 3 This was to have provided space at the back for certain activities, in- cluding crafts. It would have been an awkward arrangement, necessitating much han- dling of materials, as they would have had to be put out for use and returned to cabinets at the end of the day. Frequent rearrange- ment of furniture to accommodate audiences, was also indicated.
After it was found that the lower level could be completed, with the craft department, beauty and barber shops, therapy room, etc., installed .down there, the folding partition was retained. It is used at times when a small gathering can assemble in the front of the room, making for closer contact with a speaker than if the audience was scattered thruout the larger area. It also conserves energy when heating or cooling is required.
HOUSEKEEPERS MAKE READY
As work on the Campus Center progressed and a date for occupancy was tentatively set, an augmented crew of housekeepers followed close after the construction crew. There were times, however, when the construction crew returned after the cleaning was done, and then a repeat cleaning was necessary.
One vexing problem was leakage of steam from the kitchen thru the wall back of the organ. Several attempts at correction were made before the problem was solved. Each visit of the repair crew meant a return of the housekeepers for another clean-up.
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Carpet for the chapel arrived later than expected, but the housekeeping crew cleaned it as fast as it was laid. Mrs. Warren (Ruth) McMichael, executive housekeeper, directed these operations.
The total clean-up was done by the regu- lar staff of housekeepers, plus numerous part-time workers, and some residents who volunteered. Because of these whirl-wind efforts, it was decided to hold the first service in the new chapel on March 18, in conjunction with the Board meeting, instead of some time in April, as had been anticipat- ed.
Perhaps this accounts for the fact that the bulletin of March 18, 1973 makes no reference to this as the first service in the new chapel. As the weekly bulletin was prepared in advance, decision to hold the first service on that date' may have been made after the bulletin was printed.
FINAL TOUCHES
As the move was made, palms were brought over from Phillippi to grace the platform. These palms had been donated to the church by Mr. and Mrs. Warren McMichael. They had delayed purchase of bases for the palms until a selection could be made in harmony with the new surroundings.
For several years the McMichaels had provided rented palms for Easter services. They made the purchase of a permanent gift about 1972, with the new chapel in mind.
Location of the chapel makes it possible
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for many patients in the Health Center to attend services. Previously some of them had not been able to attend for several years. Volunteers from all over campus push wheel- chairs to and from the chapel, not only for church services, but for other programs.
GIFTS FOR CHAPEL
Gifts for the new chapel came from sever- al sources. The new pulpit was given by Miss Christena Wahl and her sister, Mrs. Lucille Lowry, in memory of their father. The bap- .tismal font was the gift of Mrs. Alice Weimer and her sister, Miss Ida Blaser, in memory of George Weimer. The communion table was pro- vided by Rev. and Mrs. Marvin (Edith) Leist,
honoring their parents. (Rev. Leist was
pastor of the church at the time.) Miss Mary Lou Warner gave the lectern in memory of her parents. Two clergy chairs were the gift of Mr. and Mrs. Homer Scott, in memory of Mr. and Mrs. L. C. Price, relatives of Mrs. Scott. In addition to the palms, Mr. and Mrs. Warren McMichael gave two flower stands in memory of their grandparents.
Mrs. Ina and Mrs. Florence Morris pro- vided brass finish offering plates in memory of their husbands, Otto and Clifford Morris.
New green paraments were dedicated August 28, 1977 in memory of Ray Harvey, a resident of Otterbein Home, who died October 5, 1976.
A special account was set up by the treasurer, Charles Hoffman, to include miscellaneous donations. As of the fourth quarter of 1972 this account showed $665.60.
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The chancel furniture from Phillippi was given to Summerside U. M. Church near Cincinnati.
In minutes of the Council on Ministries meeting of June 22, 1972 there is a note that a new communion service of anodized brass finish with matching chalice and candle- sticks was now in use. The new service had been given by the Friendship Class of Dayton First U. M. Church, who contributed $240. It was used in Phillippi chapel before the new Campus Center chapel was ready. It is still in use in 1977. The superintendent of Wilmington district was asked to select a church to receive the old communion service.
SETTING FOR CROSS
The brick wall at the back of the chancel was designed especially to provide an ef- fective setting for the large rugged cross. The cross was made by William Fisher, then one of the Home maintenance crew. The wood was more than 100 years old. It had been saved from one of the old Shaker buildings that had been demolished, probably Good Samaritan.
Mr. Fisher had come to work January 9, 1967. He made the cross within a few weeks after coming. It was hung over the communion table in Phillippi chapel. Before it was moved to Campus Center chapel, the cross was taken down and refinished by Rodney Miller, a resident of Cedar Court.
Visible as persons enter the main Campus Center entrance, the chapel and cross give
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plain indication that Otterbein Home is a dedicated Christian community.
PIANOS
As the chapel was being furnished, a new Kimball upright piano was purchased with $650 provided by the family of Dr. Daniel Corl, in his memory. Dr. Corl was for many years a member of the Board of Trustees of Otterbein Home, and E. U. B. Sandusky district superin- tendent. This piano was used in the chapel for a time, but is now (1977) in Phillippi meeting room.
The Steinway grand piano presently in use in the chapel (1977) was purchased by the Otterbein Home Auxiliary for $1000, and given to the Home about 1953. According to the memory of a long-time resident of the Home, this piano had been a gift to a young musician by her parents. The young woman died, and the parents made it possible for the Auxiliary to purchase the piano for much less than the original cost. In a bulletin of August 25, 1953 there is a note that "the new piano in the chapel is not to be used for practice." Children were taking music lessons.
In 1975 it was determined that this Steinway could be tuned and used for choir accompaniments. The case was refinished to conform to the new (as of 1973) furnishings in the chapel, by Jack McGuire of Centerville. The cost of $600 was paid by Otterbein Home out of a fund for contracted repair of equip- ment.
ORGAN
Until 1960 the church had only a piano for musical accompaniments. On April 8, 1962,
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however, a new Hammond electric organ was dedicated. It is still in use and bears a plaque "In Memorium: Mrs. Edith Hart, Mrs. Edith Allman, Mrs. Pearl Cole, Women's Auxiliary."
At the time Dr. V. H. Allman was super- intendent of Otterbein Home. His wife, Edith, died while he was here. Mrs. Pearl Cole was the mother of Roger Cole, at that time co-manager of the laundry, now retired but giving much time as a part-time employee.
Mrs. Edith Hart was in charge of the clothing room for many years and did mending of household items. Her children contributed to the organ fund.
The Auxiliary contribution represented funds in that treasury when the Otterbein Home Auxiliary was disbanded, to be succeeded by the Midwest Homes Auxiliary.
ORGANISTS
After the organ was installed in 1960 (it was dedicated almost two years later) Mrs. Gilda Carter continued to play piano for prayer meetings, some church services (when an organist was not available) and for a variety of other gatherings.
She had studied with recognized teachers in her home city of New Orleans and was (and still is) an accomplished musician. By 1964, however, when she was 70 she yielded to her desire to learn to play the organ. Accord- ingly she studied with a professional, and thereafter she played organ regularly for church services until her health failed in 1972.
From the time she came to Otterbein Home
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in 1943, with her husband, Mrs. Carter gave freely of her time and talent. She seldom
missed mid-week prayer meeting. Altho she
was an employee when she first came (house mother for little girls) and later house- keeper at old Bethany, she was never too tired to contribute music for any occasion. At present she lives in Albright Hall. :
Robert Eshleman, one of the first resi- dents to move into Redbud Court, continued as organist at Normandy U. M. Church, near Dayton, for more than a year after coming to Otterbein Home. After Mrs. Carter suffered a severe illness, Mr. Eshleman, who had been listed as assistant organist, became the regu- lar organist at Otterbein as of July 1, 1973. Sometime later he also suffered a severe ill- ness.
During that period Mrs. Thelma Hiers of Mason played regularly for a time. Mrs. Vivian Comfort, a resident of Maple Court, also played for numerous services. In October 1975 James Mills of Lebanon began regular ser- vice as organist until Mr. Eshleman was able to return late that year.
CHOIRS
In minutes of the Council on Ministries of October 18, 1971, there is a note that Howard Longmire was to be asked to organize and rehearse a choir whose members would be both residents and employees. Rehearsals were scheduled to start November 4, 1971. The Council appropriated $300 for cleaning robes and stoles on hand, and for purchase of music.
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At that time Mr. Longmire was a volun- teer. In recent years, however, the church has appropriated money for his and Mrs. (Virginia) Longmire's services as a musical team.' Mrs. Longmire is an accomplished pianist and organist, as well as gifted in arranging programs of considerable variety. The Longmires are employed by Otterbein Home respectively as personnel director and ad- missions counselor.
Over the years several different choirs were formed. After a time each choir was discontinued because of dwindling membership and sometimes because the leader could no longer serve. Such a leader usually had some musical training, but was not a professional musician. Then soloists would provide special music for church services for a while.
Since the Longmires have been leading and with the growth of the campus, however, the choir has grown in membership and musicianship. It presently has about 40 faithful members.
CANTATAS
December 17, 1972 was a notable occasion when the choir wore new red robes with white stoles and presented the cantata, "There'll Always Be A Christmas." Lyrics had been written by Rev. Frank Cross, a resident of Buckeye Court. The original plan had been for the choir to wear the new robes at the first service in the new chapel, but the plan
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was changed to enable their use when Rev. Cross' cantata was given.
"There'll Always Be A Christmas" was re- peated December 21, 1975.
On both occasions Phillippi Chapel was filled to overflowing with admirers of both the writer of the cantata and the choir and leaders.
Rev. Cross' Easter cantata "Now is Christ Risen" was sung by the choir on Good Friday, March 28, 1975 with Rev. Cross doing the narration. He also narrated the Easter cantata "No Greater Love" by another writer, on April 15, 1973.
Rev. Cross was associated for many years with Lorenz Music Publishing Co., Dayton. £ He has written several other cantatas, as well as hymns.
CHAIRS
Pews were used in Phillippi Chapel. They were donated by Fairview E.U. B. church, Dayton, in 1961, when that church was being completely rebuilt. In 1970, however, some of the pews broke down and the Administrative Board and Council on Ministries began looking for replacement. Realizing that the "chapel" in Campus Center would be actually an as- sembly room for general use, a search began for chairs that would allow flexible seating arrangements.
Eight different manufacturers sent sample chairs. Staff members and residents were asked to try each sample chair and ex- press an opinion. Among those persons, some
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were short, some tall, some heavy, some thin, some handicapped by arthritis or other disabilities.
At last a chair offered by the Tri-Par Manufacturing Co., of Chicago, was selected for sturdiness, arms that made rising easier, as well as comfortable padding and construction that made it possible to stack chairs not in use, thus conserving space. These chairs were made one inch lower than the sample.
The very considerable time and thought given to selection has paid off, as the chairs have been accepted by the whole con- gregation as exceptionally comfortable.
Ohio Southeast Conference (U. M., formerly E. U.B. ) provided the greater part of the $6300 cost of 210 chairs at $30 apiece. Residents and workers were given opportunity to contribute to the chair fund, and the fund was further augmented from memorial funds that had been given to Otterbein Home.
The old pews from Phillippi Chapel were given to a small U. M. church near Hillsboro. Dr. Howard Spitnale, district superintendent, suggested this disposition, which both churches accepted cordially.
Enough chairs for seating in Phillippi Chapel were put to use at once, and the rest stored until the move was made to the Campus Center Chapel.
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FINANCES
With increased population, new chapel, and more resources, the Otterbein Home church has enjoyed a much better financial status since 1973 than ever before.
Budget for 1976 church operation, mission and benevolent funds, was $39,974. In 1977 the total budget was $44,297. The operational budget was $28,925. Pastor's salary was shown as $13,400 plus travel, hospital insurance and other fringe benefits. These figures contrast sharply with those for 1967 when the total . budget was shown as $10,621.
The figures also reflect increased con- fidence in ability to meet each year's budget. Example: On February 15, 1974 a memorandum of agreement was drawn in which the Pastor- Parish committee recommended to the Finance committee and the Administrative Board that effective June 16, 1974 the church should as- sume the full cash support of the minister. While the 1974 cash salary for the minister was to be $8,000, with pension, hospitaliza- tion, rent utilities and travel, the effective salary was $11,650.
It was agreed that Otterbein Home would continue to provide a parsonage and its maintenance. Utilities were to be provided on the same basis as for staff personnel. The Home would serve as payroll agent, the church to reimburse the Home for such pay- ments.
This agreement was approved by the Ad- ministrative Board and the Administrator of Otterbein Home. At that time Robert Roose was chairman of the Administrative Board;
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Charles Hoffman, treasurer of the church; and Charles K. Dilgard, administrator of the Home.
CHAPEL FUND
The church bulletin of February 4, 1973 contained this item: "Designated gifts may be given thru the church for the new chapel fund. "
Rev. Marvin Leist had come as pastor July 1, 1972. At meetings of the Adminis- trative Board August 14 and September 26, 1972, Clarence Wentzel, treasurer, pro- posed that the congregation assume responsi- bility for $75,000 of the cost of the new chapel in Campus Center. He pointed out that this amount represented considerably less than the cost of a new church building, and he proposed that it be paid out of regular church collections. "The public cannot be asked to support the Home unless residents are willing to make their own missionary contribution, " Rev. Leist said. The pro- posal was adopted as part of the budget for the coming year.
Payments against this pledge were made in 1973 and have been consistently included in the budget every year since. As of August 1977, $44,505 has been paid on the pledge.
MISSIONARY OUTREACH
For the past decade the Otterbein Home Church has included in its budget $750 to- ward support of a missionary family over- seas. This is sent to the Board of Global
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Ministries of the United Methodist Church. The Roger Burtners, serving in Nigeria, were the first family so supported. They were succeeded by Rev. and Mrs. Duane Dennis, who left Nigeria because of the tense political situation. In 1970, however, the support was designated for Rev. and Mrs. Noel Osborn, in the Phillipines, and this has continued.
At the beginning of a new quadrenium in 1977 the Otterbein Home Church also included a separate local item of $561 for support of Red Bird Mission, in Kentucky. In past years the Conference Advance contribution had in- cluded Red Bird, but Otterbein Home has special interest in that mission because several of its staff formerly worked at Red Bird. In 1974 and 1977 each, a busload of Otterbein residents visited Red Bird. They became aware first hand of the work on behalf of Kentucky young people.
RELATIONSHIP : HOME AND CHURCH
Relationship between the Home and the church is indicated in reports of the suc- cessive treasurers of the church.
In December 1969, for instance, Clarence Wentzel, then treasurer, proposed that a balance of only $2000 be carried over into the new year, and that the remainder of the funds on hand be turned over to the Home. In De- cember 1971 the church refunded $1800 to the Home, representing money that had been ap- propriated in 1970 to help the church.
In 1970 the treasurer reported that all askings had been paid 100%. In 1971 he re- ported that the church had been able to pay
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the pastor's salary and travel expense, and the salary of a janitor for the chapel. In 1972 he suggested that these expenses be in- cluded in the budget and that the church also reimburse the Home for secretarial assistance to the pastor. In 1975 it was reported that the church had given $4000 in benevolent funds beyond the conference quotas, and that $10,044 had been paid on the chapel fund.
REASON FOR PROSPERITY
It is a constant source of amazement to all connected with the church that such size- able budgets can be met each year with oc- casional surpluses.
Charles Hoffman, treasurer since 1970, believes that this achievement is due to the fact that Otterbein Home not only has grown in population, but that this population is largely made up of persons who have been active in their home community churches for many years. They are "givers," having been accustomed to giving to the church as a way of life.
This has been true of Otterbein Home Church since its organization. When the population was not much more than one-fourth what it is now (1977) it was a constant cause for wonderment to the financial secretary and treasurer as they counted the collections, that so much money came in each week. It may not have been sufficient to meet the budget, some years, but it represented dedicated giv- ing by the church members.
The financial picture had been grim on May 7, 1963 when it was reported that "our
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expenses have increased to the amount we can- not see how we can meet our obligations for the coming year." It was voted to have Frank Robinson, vice chairman of the Council of Administration, contact the conference super- intendent "to see if he has any solution to our situation."
For the next several years the Board of Trustees of Otterbein Home paid the difference between what could be raised by the church, and the necessary expenditures. With only about 130 residents of the Home, most of whom had very limited resources, proportion of in- come that many of them gave to the church, was a source of constant amazement. The same was true of the Women's Society of Christian Service, and the E. U. B. Men's group.
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