USA > Pennsylvania > Change and challenge: a history of the Church of the Brethren in the southern district of Pennsylvania, 1940-1972 > Part 36
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47
The Waynesboro congregation joined with the brotherhood on October 4, 1944 in observing the India Golden Jubilee. The church had organized a Missionary Association as early as 1893. This association, known as the Missionary Reading Circle, had pledged $800 toward the support of a missionary in India, and so made possible the Meyersdale Conference (1894) decision to send Wilbur Brenner Stover, Mary Emmert Stover, and Bertha Ryan as missionaries to the India field.
Since that eventful decision to support missions, the Waynesboro people have been host to many missionaries who came to share their experiences with the congregation. In addition, the church has provided mission workers for mission fields at home and abroad. Earl Snader Jr. was consecrated for the mission service in 1945. Olive Widdowson at- tended the congregation's services for a period of time after her retirement from the India mission field. On July 6, 1947, the church observed "Faith of our Fathers" day with Walter H. Judd, former missionary and United States Congressman, as the guest speaker. On July 21, 1950, members of the congregation greeted Premchand G. Bhagat, one of the strong leaders of the Church of the Brethren in India, as he toured America. In 1952, the congregation voted to give support to Mary Elizabeth Hoover who was serving with her husband in medical missions in India.
The congregation has had the privilege of assisting in the training of many leaders of brotherhood work. Donald Mitchell Snider spent many of his early years in the Waynesboro fellowship as an active youth worker,
two hundred eighty-two
a Sunday School teacher, and a choir member. He had been licensed to preach by the congregation on December 27, 1938, and was installed into the ministry on September 6, 1939. He served for a period of time as the associate minister of the congregation.
Donald M. Snider served as the regional secretary for the Juniata territory of Pennsylvania (1942-1944), and was chosen youth director for the brotherhood (1944-1951). He has been involved in Brethren Service work at home and abroad. He shared his experiences with the Waynesboro congregation after he returned from a tour of duty in Germany as director of Brethren Service Service work (1951-1954).
The Waynesboro congregation early developed a summer pastoral program in cooperation with the Bethany Biblical Seminary. The follow- ing ministers have served the congregation in this cooperative relation- ship: John Weaver (1942), Glenn H. Bowlby (1943), Earl E. Snader Jr. (1944), and Donald H. Shank (1952). Earl Snader and Donald Shank were both former members of the congregation. Earl Snader, the son of Earl E. and Mary G. Snader, was licensed to the ministry at the age of nineteen. Donald H. Shank, the son of D. L. Shank, graduated from Bethany Biblical Seminary in 1953 and went into full-time pastoral work. At the time of this writing he was serving as pastor of the Highland Avenue Church in Elgin, Illinois.
An interim-pastoral program was also fostered by the congregation to give young men the experience of a year of pastoral responsibilities. The following men have served the Waynesboro church in this capacity: Theodore E. Whitacre (1959-1960), Willard E. Dulabaum (1960-1961), Beverly B. Good (1961-1962), and G. Forrest Collier (1962-1963).
On August 26, 1950, George and Zola Detweiler left for a three months' tour to Europe and Palestine. George L. Detweiler spent one month at Kassel, Germany as the first exchange pastor of the Church of the Brethren. The Detweilers continued their travels into the Holy Lands. When they returned to the states, they shared their experiences with many congregations by lectures and pictures. During the absence of their pastor, the Waynesboro people were served by Paul H. Bowman Sr. of Virginia.
Pastor Carl Pabst, with whom the Detweilers served while in Ger- many, returned the visit in 1952. He was guest of the Waynesboro con- gregation on May 11, 1952 at the worship service. The German pastor toured the district and was the guest of the Annual Conference at Rich- mond, Virginia. In 1952, Fritz Schmidt lived as an exchange student from Germany in the home of a member of the congregation. In addition, in 1956-1957, five Europeans found a church home with the Waynesboro Church. One was a refugee from Germany and the others were a family of four from The Hague, Holland.
Important improvements were made to the church's physical plant during the pastorate of George L. Detweiler. A property south of the church was purchased by the congregation in 1947 and was converted into the caretaker's home. In 1950, a voice amplifying system was in- stalled in the sanctuary. The youth of the church purchased a tape recorder in 1954 to record services for use with the sick and the shut-ins of the congregation.
In 1956, the congregation entered into an extensive remodeling pro- gram for the church and the educational unit. In preparation for these changes, the church became the first in the brotherhood to use a profes- sionally directed fund raising campaign (May, 1953). This campaign made possible a remodeled sanctuary, remodeled educational facilities, a fellow-
two hundred eighty-three
ship hall, and the Widdowson Chapel. Members of the Widdowson family joined to contribute to the memorial chapel. All of these improvements were made at a cost of $335,000.
The congregation has been keenly aware of its ties with the founders of the denomination. Some of these ties were severed with the passing of H. Mitchell Stover (1870-1951) on April 21, 1951. He had served the district, the Antietam congregation and the Waynesboro congregation in many ways over a fifty year period. He and his brother Wilbur were great-great-grandsons of William Stover, the first resident elder of the Antietam congregation. They were also descendants of John Jacob Price, a co-laborer of John Naas in Germany and an immigrant with Peter Becker in 1719.
Whenever the Church of the Brethren observed its 250th anniversary, the Waynesboro congregation invited surrounding congregations to a spe- cial service at Wayne Heights. Here, on a plot of ground to the east of Waynesboro, is a cemetery which contains the remains of John Mack, the son of the founder of the Church of the Brethren. On June 8, 1958, the congregation placed a monument to mark his grave. He rests on land which had once been owned by the Macks.
George L. Detweiler brought vigorous and skilful leadership to the congregation. The church was active with numerous musical, programs, radio broadcasts, scouting programs, Men's and Women's Work groups. On July 13, 1952, the church conducted a summer musical festival. This program was broadcast over radio station WCHA. The church cooperated with many community ventures. Members of the congregation have sub- scribed in good numbers to The Gospel Messenger, the denominational periodical. A note in this paper said under May 13, 1950,
"Elder and Sister C. R. Oellig have been regular subscribers to The Gospel Messenger for more than sixty years, beginning with their marriage on January 23, 1890."
Waynesboro Church
two hundred eighty-four
In 1961, George L. Detweiler assumed the pastorate of a congregation in Indianapolis (1961), and then returned to Western Pennsylvania to hold the pastorate of the Somerset Church (1962). The Waynesboro congre- gation met in council on August 20, 1961 to take the vote on accepting Harry M. Gardner as pastor. He moved from Massachusetts, where he had been completing his work on a doctoral degree, and began his work as pastor of the Waynesboro Church.
Beverly B. Good served as the pastor of the church from September, 1961 until the time of Dr. Gardner's arrival. A service of installation was conducted on January 7, 1962 for the new pastor by members of the Dis- trict Ministerial Committee. Beverly B. Good continued to serve as the Bethany Biblical Seminary intern until the middle of 1962, at which time he returned to Bethany Biblical Seminary to complete his work.
Harry M. Gardner led the Waynesboro congregation in a church reorganization. At this time the general board plan under the commis- sion system was established in the denomination. The new pastor also served as the pastoral advisor to the Men's Work Council of the Southern District in 1962. In 1963, Dr. Gardner decided to return to Virginia. There he assumed pastoral responsibilities at Arlington, Virginia and has con- tinued to serve until the time of this writing.
On June 9, 1963, the Waynesboro con- gregation gave the pastoral call to Samuel H. Flora Jr. The new pastor served the Second District of Virginia as the District Executive and made his home at Bridge- water, Virginia. He assumed the pastoral responsibilities at the Waynesboro Church on September 1, 1963, and has served the congregation to the present.
During Samuel H. Flora's pastorate, the congregation renovated the church par- sonage (1964). This home was purchased in 1923 and had been used continuously since that time as a parsonage for all of the pastors. The older section of the edu- cation building was also renovated at a cost of $17,000 in 1971.
Samuel H. Flora Jr. has brought in- Samuel H. Flora Jr. novative leadership to the congregation. He involved the church in numerous small study groups meeting in various homes of the congregation. Many of the participants have found these useful and exhilirating experiences. He has continued a tradition which began early in the life of this church, for it was in 1872 that the Waynesboro house organized the first Bible study groups as a part of the Antietam congregation.
Ben Simmons served the church as the first full-time pastoral assis- tant. He ministered for a period of two years (1964-1966) before return- ing to Bethany Theological Seminary to complete his work.
Samuel H. Flora Jr. also introduced another program which he has designated "Twelve Disciples" (March, 1970). Under this unique program, eleven selected individuals from the congregation gather to speak with the pastor concerning the work and the life of the church. Each group meets for four consecutive Monday evenings for study and for questions. The basic pattern has been to center the discussion around several ques-
two hundred eighty-five
tions: What are the strengths of the church? What are the weaknesses? What new directions should we undertake? Each month a new group is selected. The program is designed to involve the entire congregation in such discussions over a period of years.
The Waynesboro congregation was a century old in October, 1971. The occasion was marked by a 100th anniversary dinner and the viewing of a pageant which was specially prepared for the occasion. Forty-four living charter members of the 1922 organization were recognized at the dinner. Dr. George L. Detweiler and Dr. Harry M. Gardner returned to assist the congregation in celebrating the occasion.
The Waynesboro Church has been noted for its strength in providing leadership for the district and for the brotherhood. In 1971, Samuel H. Flora Jr. became a member of the general brotherhood board of the denomination. The church has frequently been recognized as one of the top twenty congregations in the brotherhood to excel in giving to outreach ministries. The church continues to show evidence of growth. In 1971, land adjacent to the south boundary was acquired for additional parking space for the members.
THE WELTY CONGREGATION
The Welty membership was a part of the Antietam congregation until 1934. A request for a division came before the Southern district on April 14, 1934.1 Since there were no serious objections, the division was made and the new congregation was formed with 170 charter members. This organization was effected in the Price's church house on June 22, 1934. Levi K. Ziegler and C. R. Oellig assisted the people in the division and in the reorganization. At the time the new congregation was formed, Maryland's Middle district had no interest in claiming the congregation in its enumeration.2
The original meeting house at Welty had been erected by John Welty, a Mennonite who, in 1836, had been disfellowshipped by his denomination. He had served as a member of the state legislature against the principles of his denomination. He built a large stone structure which was divided in the center by folding doors. One part was used as a church and the other part as a schoolroom. The church portion was used as a union meeting house. The German Baptist Brethren, the Winebrennerian Church of God and the Brethren in Christ conducted their services alter- nately or by satisfactory mutual arrangements. Mr. Welty was baptized into the German Baptist Brethren group two years after the church house was erected. At his death, the property was willed to the family maid. At the death of the maid, the church and its grounds was granted to the German Baptist Brethren.3
In 1898, the crumbling stone church building was removed and a brick edifice was erected on the site. Six hundred persons attended the services of dedication for the new building. An offering was lifted and the total indebtedness was liquidated. A Lovefeast service was conducted in No- vember, 1898, and H. Mitchell Stover was called to the ministry at this time by the Antietam congregation.
In November, 1933, a building fund was begun by the congregation. The brick church was remodeled in the years from 1946 to 1949. The indebtedness was completely liquidated by 1952. An oil furnace was in- stalled, and the south end of the building was partitioned for three class- rooms. The interior was remodeled to provide a vestibule, a new bap- tistry, and the pews were refinished and rearranged. The pulpit was re- cessed into the north end of the building, and the kitchen was modernized.
two hundred-eighty-six
The dedication speaker on May 22, 1949 was Dr. Desmond W. Bit- tinger, editor of The Gospel Messenger. Much of the labor for the project was volunteered by members of the congregation. A religious drama and an old-fashioned hymn sing marked the program during the week of dedication. Many objects used by the Welty congregation in its earlier Lovefeast and communion services were placed on display. These objects included several earthenware objects, four silver communion goblets, three bottles inscribed with the words, "Unfermented Grape Juice, Luke 22nd 18th", and such items of tinware as candleholders, dippers and cups.
J. Irwin Thomas began to serve the church as a pastor as early as 1926 on a part-time basis. He became the presiding elder of the congrega- tion in 1934. The church called him to serve as the full-time pastor in 1941. During his pastorate, he introduced a quarterly church paper for the membership (1941-1942). J. Irwin Thomas served the church until his resignation on April 11, 1950.
John E. Rowland, who resided at Greencastle, became the pastor of the congregation (1950-1957). He has been remembered for his enthusi- asm and his evangelistic endeavors. During many of his services he con- ducted periods of illustrated story-telling for the children. John E. Row- land served in the Christian ministry since 1907 and witnessed the church as it changed from the free ministry to the salaried ministry program. Those who remember him recall his energetic preaching, his persistent program of pastoral visitation, and his meaningful prayers.
In 1953, the Welty congregation purchased "the little white church across the road." This was the Old Order Brethren church house. In 1957, the congregation moved this building to its present location in back of the Welty Church and began to use it as a classroom center and as a fellowship hall.4 In the spring of 1956, the C.B.Y.F. and the Men's Work Organization cooperated in growing a field of corn to sell in order to established an organ fund.5
The church has called several men to the ministry since 1940. On July 11, 1955, the congregation licensed LeRoy E. Wastler and ordained him to the full ministry on December 3, 1961. He served the Ringgold Union Church and the Welty Church in a joint pastoral program from 1955 to 1971. In 1971, he was called to serve three congregations in the Mid-Atlantic District in a shared pastoral arrangement.
Galen A. Heckman, son of Glenn A. Heckman, was licensed by the congregation on August 14, 1961. When he graduated from Bethany Theological Seminary (1964) he entered Brethren Volunteer Service. He served overseas in Greece in cooperation with a Greek Orthodox Church's community betterment program. In 1965, James Carl Strite was also licensed to the ministry in the Welty congregation.
Glenn A. Heckman served as pastor of the congregation from 1957 until 1968. He and his family moved into a renovated parsonage on Octo- ber 15, 1957. The services of installation for the new pastor were con- ducted by Robert L. Cocklin of the Southern District Ministerial Board. Glenn A. Heckman was a native of Southern Pennsylvania, and had served in the free ministry in the Back Creek congregation (1949-1953). Prior to his call to serve as pastor of the Welty church, he was pastor in Western Pennsylvania at the Ligonier congregation (1953-1957).
Glenn A. Heckman arrived in time to assist the congregation in its observance of the 250th anniversary of the Church of the Brethren. The church made use of the devotional booklet which had been prepared for the anniversary year. It also made use of the filmstrip, Come Up Higher, as part of the services of remembrance. A program of congregational renewal was inaugurated in association with the Call Program of the
two hundred eighty-seven
Church of the Brethren. In 1959, Gareth Lease, a member of the congre- gation, and a former Brethren Volunteer worker in India, shared his experiences with the church.
At its own request in 1962, the congregation was granted the right to transfer its membership to the Mid-Atlantic district of Maryland. This decision was granted by the Southern district in the Annual District Con- ference in the Waynesboro congregation.
As early as 1959, the church secured the architectural services of Arthur Dean to plan for a remodeling program. An Every Member enlist- ment program was conducted in 1966 under the leadership of Dale Hess, a financial consultant. A general contract was awarded to construct seven classrooms, a library, a pastor's study, a lobby and rest rooms. A new steeple, new pews, and a stone-faced entrance was also part of the general remodeling program. The cost of these renovations was $49,201.
When Glenn A. Heckman moved to another pastorate, the congrega- tion employed Norman R. Cain, who had been serving as pastor of the New- ville congregation. Norman Cain had pastoral experience in Indiana and in Pennsylvania prior to his services in the Welty congregation. He worked in Alternative Service (1955-1957) in California and at the Pilot House in Baltimore, Maryland. He has had clinical training as a preparation for a counseling ministry.
The Welty congregation stands in a rural setting and provides services to a people who farm and work in the industries centering at Hagerstown. The congregation has reasons to be proud of an historic past. It continues to preserve among its people the resourcefulness and steady dependability known to the earlier history of the denomination.
THE WEST YORK CONGREGATION
When the First Church of the Brethren of York decided to relocate in the Haines Acres section of the city, many of the original members pre- ferred to remain in a house of worship nearer their homes in the West End of the city. These people also were convinced that a new congregation would serve the interests of church extension in a developing Greater West York area. In the light of these conditions, a few members took the initiative to request a division of the York First Church.
West York Church
These concerns were expressed to the Annual District Conference in 1965 as it met in the Prices' Church. The query stated in part:
"Whereas a sufficiently large number of members of the York First Church of the Brethren desire to maintain a congregation in the western part of the city, and,
"Whereas establishing and maintaining such a congregation will, we believe, increase good-will and understanding in the present mem-
two hundred eighty-eight
bership, and also provide a continuing Brethren ministry in the im- mediate area of the present location,
"We, the undersigned, acting for and representing the above men- tioned members, petition District Meeting to grant a committee to investigate organizing and establishing such a congregation. Signed, Joseph M. Baugher, Oscar L. Hostetter, Harold R. Lefever, Paul E. Ritchey."
The District Conference granted the request and appointed a com- mittee to determine a division. The committee was composed of Glenn Kinsel, convener, Jacob L. Miller, William L. Gould, Robert L. Cocklin, James V. D'Amico and Earl K. Ziegler.
When the committee on division consulted with the District Board, the Board tried to determine the need for church extension in the Greater West York Area. It appointed a committee to study the question. This committee was composed of Elmer Q. Gleim, chairman, Glenn E. Kinsel, Robert Schlegel, Charles Hash, Oscar L. Hostetter and Joseph M. Long, advisor. The committee prepared a thoroughly documented report to the District Board. This report stated in part:
"we unanimously agree that a Church of the Brethren needs to be established in the general area of the Five Mile House on route 30 in West Manchester Township."
The recommendation was made on the basis of the presence of Church of the Brethren members residing in the area, the projected population growth for the area and on the grounds the area was under-churched.
During the winter and spring of 1968, many meetings were conducted to effect the new West York Fellowship. In the meantime, services were begun on a temporary basis in the Lincolnway Fire Company social hall at 2601 West Market Street in West York. The first services were con- ducted on July 31, 1966. By October 1, 1966, the District Conference at the Brandt's Church approved a new church extension project in the West York area.
A public meeting was announced by the District Church Extension Committee for November 13, 1966 at the Lincolnway Fire Company hall. The invitation said:
"Any member of the Church of the Brethren, interested in being part of this new fellowship, is invited to attend and will be eligible to vote and to be elected to serve as officer" of the new congregation to be formed.
A basic organization was effected at this meeting at which more than 100 persons attended. During the period from 1966 to 1968, John Krape pro- vided a pastoral ministry to these people. The membership continued to meet in the Lincolnway Fire Company hall.
Even as the new fellowship continued to meet, plans were under way to discover a new site for a church structure. A local church committee made field trips into the West York area to find possible sites. When the committee reported to the congregation, the West York Fellowship decided to acquire land on the Darlington Road close to Thomasville. The 1968 District Conference in session at Carlisle approved the purchase of the site and authorized the local church committee to proceed with plans for the new church building.
The District Commission on Missions and Church Extension reported to the 1969 conference:
"The commission has carried out the decision of the 1968 confer- ence in making a $20,000 grant to this congregation and has assisted in negotiating a $50,000 loan from the Brotherhood General Board for construction purposes, and in making application for supplemental pastoral support in the amount of $2,000. The combined brotherhood and district pastoral support, beginning on September 1, 1969, is $6,000."
two hundred eighty-nine
In 1967, part of the new group withdrew from the West End fellow- ship to form the Belvidere Fellowship, returning to the original property at Belvidere and King Streets. The West York Fellowship proceeded to construct a new and beautiful facility in a new development southwest of York. The cornerstone-laying ceremony was conducted on December 8, 1969. The first worship service in the new structure was held on May 4, 1969. This day was climaxed with the observance of the first Lovefeast and Communion service for the new congregation.
Much of the work on the new church building was done by members. Oscar Hostetter provided the grading for the new site and the adjoining parking lot. Harold Lefever and Oscar Hostetter placed the heating into the new building. Many members contributed liberally to the support of various projects to assure a successful, swift building program.
On July 17, 1969, the West York Fellowship approved the construc- tion of a church parsonage. The parsonage was completed early in Octo- ber, 1969 at a cost of $25,000. The new sanctuary and the parsonage were dedicated on Sunday, October 12, 1969. J. Stanley Earhart, moderator, John Krape, the former pastor, and Joseph M. Long, the Tri-District Executive Secretary, participated in these services of dedication.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.