USA > Pennsylvania > Change and challenge: a history of the Church of the Brethren in the southern district of Pennsylvania, 1940-1972 > Part 29
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During the pastorate of John A. Buffenmyer, the Lost Creek member- ship installed memorial windows, new pews and a floor covering in the Bunkertown Church. The interior and the exterior of the church house were redecorated. When John A. Buffenmyer died prematurely in a pas- torate at Newville, he was returned to the Bunkertown Church for me- morial services. He died on July 10, 1943 and services were conducted on July 13, 1943 in the church where he ministered for eight years.
Harvey D. Emmert came to the Bunkertown pastorate in October, 1941, from a pastorate in Cleveland, Ohio. He served the congregation until September 1, 1947. Concerning Bro. Emmert, one of the members of the church said: "Rev. Emmert is a grand man to work with - rather quiet but his words carry meaning."
On August 9, 1942, an Open House was held at the church parsonage. Fifteen beautiful bouquets decorated the home and 125 guests registered for the occasion of the parsonage dedication. It was also the thirtieth
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Bunkertown Church
wedding anniversary of pastor and Mrs. Emmert. The new pastor intro- duced to the congregation the practice of dedicating children at a special service. The first of such services was held on Easter Day in 1943. In May of the same year, Frank Crumpacker, a veteran missionary of the denomination to China, gave a lecture concerning his work on the mission field. The congregation voted later to give support to missionary Anna Warstler, beginning on March 1, 1947. Presently, the Lost Creek congre- gation supports Ralph Royer on the Nigerian mission field.
Free Spring Church
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The Free Spring Church established a tradition of conducting union summer Bible Schools with neighboring churches. The Cedar Grove Brethren in Christ Church joined with the Free Spring Church in con- ducting these schools annually for many years. At the present time (1973), the Free Spring Church conducts its own Bible School, with children being brought in by bus from neighboring churches. The Free Spring Church also began a tradition of observing Homecoming services in September of each year. Late in 1946, the meetinghouse at Free Spring was remodeled.
The St. John United Methodist and the Bunkertown Churches have conducted a joint Bible School for many years. These schools alternate between the two church houses.
With the resignation of Harvey D. Emmert, the congregation voted to secure Martin Scholten as pastor. He assumed his pastoral responsi- bilities on September 1, 1947 and continued to minister until 1952. The congregation established the tradition of conducting Lovefeast and Com- munion services at the Bunkertown Church on Easter Day and holding the fall services at the Free Spring house. At the present time, a one- week evangelistic service precedes the spring Lovefeast service, which is held on Palm Sunday evening. The Free Spring Church holds a one-week revival service in the fall prior to the World-wide Communion Sunday in October. In 1949, the interior of the Bunkertown Church house was redecorated.
For a brief period of time, Luke Buffenmyer, a member of the con- gregation and son of a former pastor, supplied the pulpit at the congre- gation until a new pastor could be found (1952-1953). He also served as a teacher in the public school system at Newport.
The District Ministerial Board assisted the Lost Creek congregation in securing David H. Markey as the new pastor. He came to the congre- gation as a pastor from Western Pennsylvania. Earlier he had been a school principal and a teacher. One of the first responsibilities of Stewart B. Kauffman as the new Regional Secretary was to install his father-in-law, David H. Markey, as pastor of the Bunkertown Church (September 20, 1953). Bro. Markey served the congregation until December, 1958.
In 1967 the congregation adopted the form of congregational organiza- tion recommended by the 1964 Annual Conference. The church govern- ment centers in a moderator and a church board of fifteen members, eight elected from the Bunkertown Church, six from the Free Spring meeting- house and one from the Oriental house. Elders in the past thirty years have been J. A. Buffenmyer (1934-1941), Harvey D. Emmert (1942-1947), Ira D. Brandt (1948-1960), Earl S. Kipp (1960-1968) and Arthur M. Smith (1968- ). During the period from 1958 until 1960, when the congrega- tion was without a pastor, the moderator, Ira D. Brandt, was responsible for pulpit supply and conducted the pastoral visitation to the membership.
The church has also called and ordained a number of men into the ministry in the past three decades. Glenn L. Gingrich, a member of the congregation, was licensed to preach in September, 1943. Ira Brandt was ordained to the eldership in 1944. On June 30, 1960, the congrega- tion voted to call John W. Sellers to the licensed ministry of the Church of the Brethren. A brief service of installation was held for him as he transferred his ministry from the Methodist Church to the Church of the Brethren.
In 1959 and 1960, the church proceeded with plans to erect a new sanctuary annex at Bunkertown. The old sanctuary was converted into an educational unit. During this time, the congregation was also seeking
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Oriental Meetinghouse
for a new pastor. They found Forrest B. Gordon who moved into the parsonage on August 11, 1960, after attending Bethany Training School in Chicago and serving a summer pastorate in Northern California (1959). He came from Middle Pennsylvania out of the Dunnings Creek congrega- tion where he owned a small business.
The church broke ground for their new church on September 4, 1960. Phillip Varner, the oldest member of the congregation, turned the first spadeful of earth. Forrest B. Gordon supported the plow as members of the church joined hands in pulling it across the plot of ground to symbol- ize their united efforts in the project. A service of consecration was con- ducted for the work which lay ahead. This was the third building erected on the site.
In June, 1961, three days of dedication marked the completion of the project. The new Bunkertown sanctuary cost the congregation $91,000. John E. Rowland returned to share in the event with the church.
The Women's Fellowship of the Lost Creek congregation has been very active in the life of the community. In 1962, the women produced more than fifty garments for children. One other year they made 100 com- forters from factory remnants and shipped them to the Brethren Service Center at New Windsor. The women have also produced comforaters for people in the local community.
The Lost Creek congregation has continued to grow and to be in- terested in many district and brotherhood causes. In 1962, Bro. Gordon and members of his family participated in the Peace Walk in Washington, D. C., following the Annual Conference. The women of the church have participated in the District Women's camps at Camp Eder. Tragically, an accident took the life of three members of the church as they returned in 1966 from one of these camps. Mrs. Jay Fulkroad, Mrs. Blain Leonard and Mrs. Forrest B. Gordon lost their lives in an auto accident near the camp. Memorial services for Mrs. Fulkroad and Mrs. Leonard were held at the Bunkertown Church on July 22, 1966. Services were held for Mrs. Gordon at the New Paris Church of the Brethren in Middle Pennsylvania on July 23, 1966.
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The congregation celebrated the tenth anniversary for its new sanctuary on May 1,2, 1971. The occasion was marked by a Saturday evening hymn sing with quartets and solos. On Sunday morning, the pastor delivered the message to the members and friends who had returned to share in the celebration. In the afternoon, former pas- tors, elders and ministers licensed in the church returned to speak of their experi- ences in the congregation. In the evening, members presented a pageant depicting the history of the church.
A Stewardship Workshop was con- ducted by the District in the Bunkertown Church on January 23, 1972. At this time, other area congregations in the Northern section of the District became acquainted Forrest Gordon with the Partners in Mission program of the brotherhood. The youth of the area also met in a fellowship session at the church on this same day.
The present membership of the Lost Creek congregation, including the Free Spring, Bunkertown and Oriental Churches is 276 (1972).
THE MADISON AVENUE CONGREGATION
The Madison Avenue congregation is an outgrowth of the York First Church. It was officially organized on January 21, 1936 with Elders Samuel B. Myers and D. Edward Keeney in charge. The original 175 charter members were once members of the First Church. This new con- gregation purchased a property on Madison Avenue in the west end of the city of York and held services of dedication on February 9, 1936. Marshall Wolfe, of Bridgewater College, was the dedicatory speaker.
Melvin A. Jacobs, former pastor of the First Church, provided pas- toral leadership for the new congregation from January, 1936 until May 23, 1948. In December, 1938, a special committee from the Annual Con- ference visited with the Madison Avenue Church. This committee, com- posed of James M. Moore, Edward Kintner and M. Clyde Horst, was satis- fied with the organization and recommended full recognition for the church. On October 25, 1939, this recognition was finalized by an action of the District Meeting.
The congregation observed its fifth anniversary on February 11, 1941. At this time, some members of the church presented an Orgatron, the first organ in the new church. A piano had been purchased a year earlier for use by the choirs. In 1944, Melvin A. Jacobs participated in a radio quiz program over station WORK on the theme, "Heifers For Relief in the Church of the Brethren". The congregation gathered funds and pur- chased five heifers for overseas shipment. A wheat offering for overseas relief on October 21, 1945 amounted to $463.50.
On the eighth anniversary, February 13, 1944, the church celebrated a mortgage-burning. Prior to this time, a cash rally drive was conducted and sufficient funds were donated to complete the payments on the build- ing. Dr. Ralph W. Schlosser was the guest speaker and assisted in the ceremony of burning the $10,000 note.
At the close of World War II, the membership greeted its returning servicemen with a banquet. The guest speaker for this occasion was David R. Perry, a special deputy Attorney General for the Common-
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wealth of Pennsylvania. Several months later (November 9, 1946), the congregation conducted an anniversary celebration for Bro. Jacob's fortieth year in the Christian ministry. Thirty-five ministers from the community and from the districts entered the church in a body to participate in the service of recognition. A Book of Memories was presented to the pastor by the Planning Committee. Shortly thereafter, the York County Minis- terial Association honored Bro. Jacobs by electing him president of the association for the year 1947.
Bro. Jesse O. Jenkins succeeded Melvin A. Jacobs as pastor. Bro. Jenkins was a minister of the First Church of the Brethren, and served for a period of time as a supply minister to the Madison Avenue Church. On April 12, 1950, he was installed as pastor on a full-time basis. He served ably and efficiently until March 31, 1959, the time of his resignation.
The congregation continued to make improvements to its physical structure. The kitchen was remodeled in 1951 for use in preparing the Lovefeast and Communion services. In 1952, the sanctuary was remodeled in colonial style. New pews were installed; new ceiling and lighting fix- tures were placed; a beautiful chancel area was designed; and the exterior of the building was improved. On Sunday, July 20, 1952, the membership met to dedicate these improvements. Jesse O. Jenkins, Jacob L. Miller and Frank S. Carper conducted the services of dedication. The total cost of these improvements had been $32,922.
MADISON AVE CHURCHY
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Madison Avenue Church
The church also took action to upgrade its educational program. In 1955, it participated in a National Christian Teaching Mission with Robert Knechel as leader. In 1968-1969, the Madison Avenue Church also par- ticipated in a Mission Twelve experience at New Windsor. In 1972, a second group of participants became part of the Mission Twelve experi- ence. The church has been active in community services and other inter- denominational endeavors.
In 1957, the church conducted a Commitment of Life and Steward- ship of Possessions campaign. This was in preparation for the time when
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a new building would be erected on the Madison Avenue site. In prepara- tion for the 250th anniversary year of the denomination, the church coun- cil voted to purchase new hymnals. It also adopted the single church board with its multiple commissions. Nineteen persons were selected to conduct the business affairs of the church. The change to a unified budget was also made in the year 1957.
At the time the denomination observed its anniversary year, the Madison Avenue Church observed its twenty-second anniversary. Dr. Calvert N. Ellis was the guest speaker on February 16, 1958. The congre- gation began to observe the Lovefeast and Communion on World-Wide Communion Sunday on the first Sunday of each October (1958). For many years, the congregation has observed a special Harvest Home ser- vice in the fall. Original designs and unique displays of fruit, flowers and canned goods have been exhibited for the worshipers before they were presented to The Brethren Home or some other agency.
When the pastorate of Jesse O. Jenkins came to a close in March, 1959, Raymon E. Eller was invited to meet with the membership for a fellowship and get-acquainted occasion. The congregation employed Bro. Eller, who moved to York from Dundalk, Maryland in August, 1959. A parsonage was purchased in the Carlisle Court area of Shiloh. Raymon E. Eller was installed as pastor of the church on September 6, 1959 with Harold Z. Bomberger, Regional Executive Secretary, in charge of the installation.
Plans for a new church building were adopted on March 12, 1960. At the same time, the congregation appointed a committee to mark its twenty-fifth anniversary. Chauncey F. Trimmer, chairman, Dorcas Kauff- man, Nettie Wetzel, Reed A. Snyder and Spurgeon H. Gladfelter prepared a brief history of the church and outlined a program of celebration.
The Home Department of the Church has been a part of the congre- gation's life for more than thirty-five years. Chauncey F. Trimmer, a minister of the church, and his wife Ida, have guided this special ministry almost continuously since its beginnings. During a period of time when the Trimmers could not serve, Earl and Esther Lehigh visited the shut-ins and the aged at their homes. The Home Department has ministered to the aged and the ill of the church by visitation, by sharing subscriptions to church and Sunday School literature and by providing The Gospel Messenger for them. In addition, the church periodical has been mailed to The Brethren Home, York College, Martin Memorial Library, the Y.M.C.A., the Y.W.C.A. and the York County Prison.
The pastorate of Raymon Eller came to a close in June, 1962. D. Paul Greene, Director of Admissions at Elizabethtown College, served as the interim-pastor during June, July and August, 1962. Elmer Q. Gleim began to serve the Church as pastor in September, 1962. By February, 1964, new plans for a church building had been submitted and adopted by the church council. On September 13, 1964, ground was broken in a special ceremony following the morning worship service. Andrew Middleton, Halleck Gross, Chauncey F. Trimmer, Robert Schwenk, Donald Brenne- man, John Trimmer, Jesse O. Jenkins and Elmer Q. Gleim participated in this service with the architect and the contractor.
A new single-story educational wing and multi-purpose unit was completed and ready for use in 1965. It was built at a cost of $62,000. Joseph M. Long, the Tri-District Executive, was the guest speaker for the service of dedication on May 2, 1965. The new educational unit added seven classrooms, a new heating unit, lavatories and a serving area for suppers and banquets to the original building.
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A second major improvement was made within a period of three years. A portion of the original church building was removed and class- room spaces, a vestibule, an overhead storage area, A Nursery and a pastor's study were added to the sanctuary. A steeple was added to the exterior of the new addition and a baptistry was placed in the chancel area. The cost of this improvement was $74,860.
A service of dedication was held on November 10, 1968. The original drawings were completed by Paul Reynold Jr., a member of the congre- gation and a member of the staff of Buchart Associates. William L. Gould, pastor of the Codorus congregation, spoke to the church assembly on the dedication Sunday. A Book of Memories was placed in the vesti- bule to honor those who were remembered by special gifts in the new building.
During the pastorate of Elmer Gleim (1962-1969) and continuing into the pastorate of W. Owen Horton (1969- ), the evening services became occasions of informal learning and discussion. Promi- nent district, college and brotherhood per- sonnel were used to assist in such experi- ences as Schools of Missions or Schools of Psychology of Christian Living.
Several Women's Circles have been active in the life of the church. Mrs. Chauncey F. Trimmer has been president of one of these circles for more than thirty years. In 1970 and 1971, this Circle ap- peared in the famous Dutch Days exhibits in a downtown department store. Another Women's Circle is active in bake sales, W. Owen Horton rummage sales and other special projects on behalf of the congregation. These cir- cles regularly contribute their proceeds from sales and quilts to worthy projects.
In June, 1968, John William Lowe Jr., a member of the Hanover con- gregation and a student of Bethany Theological Seminary, began a summer pastoral program at the Madison Avenue Church.
W. Owen Horton succeeded to the pastorate on September 1, 1969. He came from a pastorate at the Blue Ridge Chapel in the Shenandoah District of Virginia (1965-1969). Soon after his arrival, he met in a special planning retreat with the deacons and deaconesses of the congre- gation to assist them to great service in the life of the church. An out- growth of this effort was a Lay Witness Mission in October, 1972.
Since its beginnings, the church has licensed the following men to the ministry: John E. Winter (1944), Maurice Strausbaugh (1947), J. Ronald Mummert and Donald Mummert (1958). Chauncey F. Trimmer was ordained to the eldership on April 20, 1949 and Jesse O. Jenkins was ordained to the eldership on April 25, 1951.
The Madison Avenue congregation has served the needs of people who live in urban and suburban areas. In recent years, it has drawn plans to minister to community needs and has often been used by com- munity organizations.
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THE MARSH CREEK CONGREGATION
The foundations for the Marsh Creek congregations were laid in 1790 by migrating Brethren. David Pfoutz moved northward from Maryland to settle on lands where Scotch-Irish and Germans co-mingled. By 1805, Bro. Pfoutz and twelve others met to form the Marsh Creek con- gregation. Like other churches of the Southern District, the name de- rived from geographical associations. Here in the rich farm lands by the headwaters of the Monocacy, the Brethren found limestone and good farming.
The land on which these early Brethren settled was once a part of York County. In fact, York County in 1790 was more populous than Lancaster County. The Church of the Brethren continued to be small in membership, having only 1500 members in the entire brotherhood (1800). However, the membership in the York-Adams County area was populous enough to host two Annual Conferences in the decade 1790-1800. The growing population in the Gettysburg and Marsh Creek area forced the formation of an independent Adams County by 1800. Many people had found it highly inconvenient to travel the distance to York, Pennsylvania to do their business. An old York newspaper prior to 1800 carried notices of letters which were lying in the York Post Office for people of the Gettysburg area.
Upper Marsh Creek Meetinghouse
Many German settlers, who had been tenant farmers in Europe, were eager to own their own lands in America. They followed the river courses in their migrations to establish stable farm communities and to develop productive fields. The tendency of the Brethren to migrate in groups of twenty or more people had the advantage of sustaining the morale of the group in a new land and of creating groups large enough to form a church. At first the Brethren in Adams County worshiped in homes until they were able to build the first "stone meeting house" in 1830. Till this day, Adams County remains basically an agricultural county with a density of about 100 persons per square mile.
Eventually, the Marsh Creek congregation owned three meetinghouses. The oldest of these, the "stone meeting house", is located three miles to the west of Gettysburg along the Marsh Creek. The congregation also leased the Friends' Grove meetinghouse in Butler Township along Route
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234. This house was leased for a period of fifty years. When the lease expired the Brethren purchased the one-room brick house from the Society of Friends. Lovefeast at Friends' Grove was a notable occasion in the earlier part of the twentieth century. Some Gettysburg people attended services on occasions at the Friends' Grove house. The regular services at the house were not large in number.
A third church house was a rebuilt frame house on Stratton Street in Gettysburg. The home had been moved into the community and had been built on the site of the abandoned Gettysburg reservoir. Late in 1947, extensive remodeling was done on this building. Additional excava- tion was undertaken in the basement and some Sunday School rooms were added.
The Marsh Creek congregation has been served by a multiple, non- salaried ministry. Following an old tradition, the church called persons from its membership to serve the pastoral needs of the church. If these men served well and gained experience in the ministry, they were advanced to the office of elder. Such ordinations occurred in 1942 when W. C. Hanawalt, John G. Miller, John M. Myers, and Walter A. Keeney were advanced to the eldership. In the 1940s, the congregation was also served by other ministers and elders, including Charles G. Flohr, B. F. Lightner, and W. G. Group.
In 1943, the congregation appointed a local Ministerial Committee to investigate the question of the pastoral needs of the church. The com- mittee was composed of Cyrus G. Bucher, Dwight Sites, Rhoda Bosser- man and Ruth Leer. The committee made a thorough study of the pas- toral question and finally recommended that "we put ourselves into the hands of the District Ministerial Board as in need of a pastor". The com- mittee acknowledged that a pastor could not cure all the ills of a parish, but a pastoral program was needed to give more vigor and buoyancy to the present program.1
Early in May, 1944, the Marsh Creek congregation voted to enter into a professional ministry program. Minutes of the church council indicate that "the change from the free ministry to the pastoral ministry was made because there was a dire need for someone to devote full time to the many duties and responsibilities which normally arise in every congrega- tion". The frequent loss of members to congregations already under a pastoral program was one of the forces for change.
These were tension-filled days for the leaders of the church since some people were not convinced that a change in ministerial style should be made. In some portions of the congregation there were open discus- sions about the possibility of forming a new congregation. B. F. Lightner served as moderator of the church in these transition years. In 1944, Walter A. Keeney assumed the office of moderator as the church moved into a pastoral program.
The congregation voted on August 15, 1944 to call Roy Keeny Miller to serve as the first professional pastor. He was acquainted with the Southern District from his youth since he had been a member of the Black Rock congregation. He moved from Brownsville, Maryland into the Marsh Creek community in June, 1945. When he was interviewed con- cerning his personal views, the expressed the opinion that the church must be willing to preach both "an individual and a social gospel."
The new pastor served the needs of the congregation from 1945 until 1948. He continued to enlist the ministers of the congregation in preach- ing and pastoral duties. He established a regular preaching schedule at the Gettysburg Church and at the Friends' Grove meetinghouse. In
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