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VOL. 13, NO. 15

Covenant Point created as new church

Following the decision by the Gibbons-Resurrection UMC congregation to close, the Rev. Rodney T. Smothers, former pastor, received an appointment to serve Covenant Point, a new church initiative in Waldorf.

The new congregation is under formation with a core team of 10 people praying together, sharing ideas and identifying a vision for the church.

The first worship service was held July 14 at Clinton UMC. On July 21 there were 145 in worship and the new church is considering leasing the same 5,000 square feet of retail space in Waldorf where Lakeside UMC began a decade ago, said associate council director the Rev. Edwin DeLong.

Ciona Rouse

Gibbons-Resurrection ministers as it closes

BY CIONA ROUSE UMCONNECTION STAFF

On their final Sunday together, members of Gibbons-Resurrection UMC in Brandywine worshiped as if their ministry had no end.

Just because we are leaving this building, we are not abandoning ministry, the Rev. Rodney Smothers reminded more than 300 people who gathered for the last service June 30.

After a three-year struggle for survival, the Gibbons-Resurrection congregation decided to close the churchs doors.

The churchs journey to its final day was often a struggle that included the building of a large worship center, the departure of their former pastor from the denomination and massive debt.

With the assistance of the connectional church, the congregation had paid the propertys debt to the bondholders down to $4.5 million. The church negotiated with the bondholders representative, Colonial Trust, to reduce its debt to a level manageable for the remaining members that reflected the propertys true value. However, late this spring, Colonial turned down the churchs final offer of $2.75 million.

According to the Washington Post, the property was purchased by the Ark of Safety Christian Church, which is pastored by Gibbons former pastor, the Rev. C. Anthony Muse, for an estimated $3.2 million.

This leaving of this property does not diminish our relationship with God in any way, said Smothers who admitted that it might be easy to be bitter and focus on the uncertainty of the future as the church doors closed. Instead, he chose to reflect on promises of God and reassured the congregation that they would be fine if they trusted God.

With prayers, songs and a message of hope, the congregation worshiped by celebrating more than 100 years of ministry in the community. They also collected a special offering for a family who had recently lost its home in a fire.

The celebratory tone of the service helped people deal with the emotions surrounding the loss of the church.

The final time together was also a time for Smothers to share special thoughts with the young people of the congregation. He encouraged them to be proud of the churchs decision to handle the conflict without compromising integrity and to remain steadfast in faith.

Before leaving the sanctuary, the entire congregation joined the young people at the altar. Holding hands, they prayed and listened to Bishop Felton Edwin May deconsecrate the sanctuary. Bishop May said that the building had been used for its purpose and no longer needed to be consecrated.