First United Methodist Church
in the 21st
Century
Stillwater, Oklahoma
A Brief History by Theodore Agnew
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First United Methodist Church in the 21st
Century! to know what
happened through each decade of our church history!
The members of First United Methodist Church, Stillwater, Oklahoma, are poised to do great deeds as they move further in the 21st century. They have committed themselves by a campaign, “Building Together, In Faith,” to raise funds that will help them expand their Christian mission.
Members of FUMC enthusiastically accept United Methodism’s mission state (Book of Discipline 200, Paragraph 120): “The mission of the Church is to make disciples of Jesus Christ. Local churches provide the most significant arena through which disciple-making occurs.” This mission begins in Stillwater, with persons who attend our two Sunday worship services. We worship God—we pray, we sing, we hear God’s word preached. We study the Bible, interpreting through tradition, reason, and experience. We receive the sacraments – baptism and holy communion. We care for each other, through all the years from birth to death. And we spread our mission beyond Stillwater – to persons at the OSU campus, elsewhere in Oklahoma, at places throughout our nation, to locations worldwide.
We center our activities in the building located at Seventh and Duck, Stillwater. This structure was built more than eighty years ago – dark red brick exterior, tile roof, stained-glass windows, a white-walled sanctuary shaped like a cross, raised pulpit, choir loft with organ, and rows of wooden pews. These stained-glass windows, plus more in the narthex (entryway) and the magnificent rose window above the balcony, enabled church members to give special gifts in memory of person they loved. Other spaces in the building were for Sunday School classes while still others (yes, there had to be a kitchen and dining room!) enabled the women’s organization (“Ladies Aid”) to serve dinners to church members and Stillwater civic groups – another money-raising ministry. One proposed feature, in doubt because of cost, was the tower. It was saved when Treasurer George Dollinger insisted: “We need that tower; we’ve got to be seen from the campus!” And shortly Wesley Foundation and Wesley Players (a drama group led by Gladys Burris) were using spaces at Seventh and Duck. Rounding out the church’s property was a frame parsonage on the large lot immediately north of the sanctuary.
....... Find out what happen through all the decades from the 20's to 2003 by following the link First United Methodist Church in the 21st Century!...
Today First United Methodist Church, through its ordained and professional staff persons, and also through its talented and devoted lay members, performs a host of ministries. It claims nearly 1400 local church members; 540 persons on average attend its worship services each Sunday. Its organized units of United Methodist Women, United Methodist Men, and United Methodist Youth, carry out linkages with denominational agencies in Oklahoma and the nation – and the world. In the most recent year for which these statistics are readily available (Oklahoma Annual Conference Journal, 2002, pages 366-371), First United Methodist Church, Stillwater, reported:
- Property evaluation $4,165,400
- Parsonages and furniture $387,100
- Other assets $2,831,732
- Indebtedness $31,144
- Paid for all causes $727,288
On Sunday, September 28, 2003, First United Methodist Church broke ground for our next phase of development – the new Family Life Center and a new parking lot. Led by Pastor Stan Warfield, we offer this brief historical sketch, in review of the past and evaluation of the present – and in hope for the future. To God be the glory!
Theodore Agnew
October 1, 2003