TRANSFORMATION and CONTRIBUTIONS of BENTON HARBOR FIRST CONGREGATIONAL UCC

This posting is prompted by an article in the Benton Spirit Newspaper as, in part, a letter to the editor.
I was lucky enough to have encountered Reverend Richard H. Taylor (Rick) when organizing NISE Youth Support Task Force's "YOUTH DAY" I invited Rick Taylor to give an invocation and blessing as part of the opening ceremony of a day long celebration of sports, arts and fun activities as culmination of weeks of fun in the parks. Rev Taylor thanked God for fingers and toes we could all use for playing games and having fun...

I became a member of the First Congregational Church in the early 90s as a result of my involvement with Pastor Taylor and highly committed volunteers from that congregation at work in the neighborhoods repairing housing, working with youth through its summer program. My weeks of teaching Sunday School became vital to my understanding of the state of education in Benton Harbor- St Joseph. Teaching 4,5,6th graders from various backgrounds with everyone at different levels of skill and development was a huge challenge providing a small glimpse into the world of grammar school teachers. Serving on the Board of Trustees was a glimpse into financial planning and facility management, and capital fundraising on a close and intimate level. We raised enough to restore stonework, interior spaces, and artglass windows through the grace of God and the support of the greater community...

The First Church I joined was a special place made up of a small group of grey hairs and a few young families neighborhood kids and suburbanites. We all were blessed with a fantastic 1927 English Gothic Building with a few Art Deco flourishes. The Building was a large for the small group of us who met there, (aprox 125) but it was home to many who had been members all their lives and even their parents and grandparents lives. The gifts of a full carillon of bells known as the Children's Bells (from JN Klock), a large BF Skinner organ, great stained glass, theater/ gym, parlors and huge educational wing set this building apart from all church buildings of the time and even now. The Fillstrip, Klock, HS Gray, Elisha Gray, Banyon, Payne, Miller, and Gideon Families, and many others who all made major contributions to the city and building attended there.

Samaritan Center, Cathedral/Community School of the Arts, Twin City Area Literacy Council, Citizen's Mediation Services, NISE, National Association of Churches. and other important programs began there or had a special relationship with the church. Roosevelt Park was a gift of JN Klock to the city in order to open-up a view of the church to the city...

I was honored to be invited as a gay man to participate in holiday services there with my then partner as a family in the early 90's before any other community churches were "Open and Affirming". Along with people of all colors, economic backgrounds, gays and lesbians and bisexuals were welcomed into the family alike. We all worked together trying to enlarge the circle reaching out to no avail. As the neighborhood continued in its slide, and crack-houses and flop houses surrounded the church, the gray hairs became fewer and fewer and the young finding little in common with those left moved to other churches. Despite the work of a few to hold on the leaders became tired...

The closing and transition of the church is a difficult change, but "The Church with a Heart in the Heart of Benton Harbor" will live on in the hearts of many as new leadership, and a new congregation, take-up God's work at 292 Bellview at Pipestone Street.

Trinity UCC located at 400 West 95th Street is now going to take the helm at the oldest Benton Harbor Church. The following info is from their website provided simply as a service to those interested in knowing about the values and philosophy. Their website is located at: WWW.TUCC>ORG.

"We are a congregation which is Unashamedly Black and Unapologetically Christian... Our roots in the Black religious experience and tradition are deep, lasting and permanent. We are an African people, and remain "true to our native land," the mother continent, the cradle of civilization. God has superintended our pilgrimage through the days of slavery, the days of segregation, and the long night of racism. It is God who gives us the strength and courage to continuously address injustice as a people, and as a congregation. We constantly affirm our trust in God through cultural expression of a Black worship service and ministries which address the Black Community.

The Pastor as well as the membership of Trinity United Church of Christ is committed to a 10-point Vision:

1. A congregation committed to ADORATION.
2. A congregation preaching SALVATION.
3. A congregation actively seeking RECONCILIATION.
4. A congregation with a non-negotiable COMMITMENT TO AFRICA.
5. A congregation committed to BIBLICAL EDUCATION.
6. A congregation committed to CULTURAL EDUCATION.
7. A congregation committed to the HISTORICAL EDUCATION OF AFRICAN PEOPLE IN DIASPORA.
8. A congregation committed to LIBERATION.
9. A congregation committed to RESTORATION.
10. A congregation working towards ECONOMIC PARITY."