History of the Clinton United Methodist Church
In 1965 something of a spiritual nature happened locally that excited and influenced the lives of many in our community. That something was a large piece of wood nailed to two stake that marked a spot. The lettering on the wood stated, “Methodist Church to be erected on this site.” It was announcing the coming of Clinton United Methodist Church. In the meantime, on October 3, 1965, services started being held at the Crestview Elementary School. Rev. Edward Terry was appointed from the Oregon Conference to fill the position of pastor in September 1965. He was transferred to our Conference on October 1, 1965 by Bishop Lord and became the founder of the Clinton United Methodist Church.
The Church was formally constituted on October 31, 1965. All members received through November 7, 1965 constituted the Charter Members. There were 27 families listed in this original membership.
Bells United Methodist Church in Camp Springs, MD loaned us Mr. and Mrs. Eaton to help get our Sunday school program organized. Our first choir rehearsal was led by Mr. John Mathena. Mr. Ed Benson was our first organist and let the choir practice in his home because we had no piano at this time.
On December 17, 1965 the Building Committee employed Mr. Benjamin Elliott, an architect from Silver Spring, MD to draw up plans and specifications for our new church building. The four acres on which our church sits were purchased from Mr. Jesse Goddard and paid for by the Conference Board of Missions and later donated to the Church. Missionary funds purchased the three-bedroom parsonage at the corner of Parkview Lane and Thrift Road.
During the first half of 1966, our Sunday School Services were moved to Surrattsville Junior High School, now known as Grace Brethren Church School, and our first confirmation class was held. The success of Clinton United Methodist Church was based on fellowship, compassion for our fellow man, the witnessing of our faith, and working together as one body toward a common goal knowing that it would take all these qualities to make the foundation of our church firm.
Our Building Committee worked hard and long, held many meetings and chose Mr. William Hinton, a member of our church, to erect the first phase of our building. The Ground Breaking Ceremony took place on January 15, 1967. It was a cold day, but our hearts and faces were filled with sunshine. The first section of the building was constructed without the aid of any Building Fund raising project!
On October 1968 our first sermon was preached by Rev. Robert Moales from our own pulpit after Rev. Terry was taken ill and unable to return as our pastor. Other pastors we have had were: Rev. Own Osborne; Rev. Stanley R. Bice; Rev. James Farmer; Rev. Albert Moser, Jr.; and our current pastor, Rev. Dorothea Belt Stroman.
In 2009, we received three new Certified Lay Ministers (CLM) for the first time. Another member became the fourth CLM in 2012. A fifth CLM was received in 2019. And, on November 1, 2015, we celebrated our fiftieth Anniversary.
Through Lay Witness Ministry; Boy Scout and Brownie Troop events; Godspell; Annual Ham and Turkey Dinners; Maundy Thursday Last Supper presentations; the Twentieth Anniversary and New Beginning Celebration in 1985; another Mortgage Burning Ceremony and Church Dedication in 1988; Missionary Disaster abroad; and Bell Choir; Lunch Bunch; Celebrations of Marriage; Baptisms; Communion, Confirmation, new members; Health Seminars; Body Recall, to mention just a few, our story continues.
Updated: 11/8/2021
