Where Do We Live?

Who Is the Congregation?

What Is Our Level of Participation?

What Programs and Events and Groups Do We Enjoy?

How Are We Organized?

What Are Our Challenges?

How Does the Local Community "See" the Broadway Presbyterian Church?

Vision Summary

Broadway, Virginia, developed into a small frontier town located south of the confluence of Linville Creek and the North Fork of the Shenandoah River in present-day north western Rockingham County after the end of the French and Indian War. The oldest house in the town, referred to as the Winfield House, was built circa 1760. A century later, by the time of the outbreak of the Civil War, the village had at least two saloons, a mill for grinding grains, numerous shops and houses. The population included at least a few owned Negroes. Prosperous farms nearby contributed to the rich agricultural reputation of the Shenandoah Valley. During the Civil War the strategic importance of this "Bread Basket of the Confederacy" and its topography attracted Federal attempts to conquer it. The end of the fighting in April of 1865 began the period of The Reconstruction. The Broadway Presbyterian Church was founded in this community recently which had been ravaged by war and by individuals who had experienced that war firsthand.

In 1867 a Sunday school was organized for several area families by Sarah ("Sallie") Winfield and Miss Isabella Spence, governess for the Winfield children. The Sunday school began meeting in the dining room in the home of Sarah and John Winfield. (The Winfield House still stands just west of the present church building across Linville Creek). John Winfield, M.D., had served with distinction as a cavalry captain under General Turner Ashby throughout "Stonewall" Jackson’s famous valley campaign of 1862. Opposition to the advance of Banks’s Army up the Valley precipitated actions in Mt. Jackson and on Rude’s Hill within a short horseback ride of Broadway. The sounds of the 1864 Battle of New Market were audible in Broadway. Soon after the defeat of General Early’s Confederate forces at Cedar Creek, General David Hunter’s army used the Valley Pike (modern Route 11) on his way to take Staunton and to burn the Virginia Military Institute in Lexington. The Valley Pike is only a few miles east of Broadway. Later, during the fall of 1864, Harrisonburg was again occupied and the valley suffered the "burning." During the burning, which was directed by General George Custer and commanded by General Sheridan, the large mill known as Custer’s Mill, which stood beside Linville Creek a stone’s throw from the Winfield home (and from the church’s future location) was burned, along with scores of barns, other mills, and a number of houses in the region. Federal soldiers searched the Winfield House, hoping in vain to capture John Winfield. Fortunately, his young family and the house were spared. But throughout the region because of the war most families experienced the loss of loved ones, and all experienced the scarcities and hardships of an unsuccessful struggle and the stress and uncertainties of invasions, defeat, occupation, and the collapse of the economic system. After the horrors of the war, clearly, many local families must have hungered for the influence of Christianity in their lives. Existing churches in the immediate area were Mennonite and Brethren, denominations that advocated pacifism. The Presbyterian church that developed from the Sunday school, now with twenty members, was formally recognized on June 5, 1870, by the Lexington Presbytery. The founding members were of seven families, the Alexanders, the Basores, the Cooteses, the Caslers, the Gailys, the Slaymakers, the Winfields, and four individuals: Mr. P. W. Pugh, Mrs. Elizabeth Rader, Dr. James R. Stout, and Mrs. Sallie F. Williams. The Reverend Thomas Bell was the first pastor. On land donated by the Winfields, a frame sanctuary was constructed. Elders during the formative years included individuals, many of whose names resonate with current families of the church: Branner, Hawkins, Aldhizer, Hulvey, Whitmore, Kline. The Town of Broadway was incorporated in 1880 and chartered in 1886. Three of the town’s first five trustees were Presbyterians: Samuel Williams, P. W. Pugh, and J. W. Basore. Members have frequently been elected to public office. C. R. Whitmore was Town Clerk. George Aldhizer served many terms in the State Senate. Elder Tim Proctor is currently on the Town Council.

The railroad line connecting Harrisonburg to Mt. Jackson was completed on a route beside the church site, and the town began to prosper. A major lumber yard processed timber harvested nearby. A large pottery factory became a major business in town. Before the turn of the century, Miss Nannie Fletcher, daughter of the Reverend Mr. Patterson Fletcher, pastor 1883-1892, served as a teacher for six years in a school in Yokohama, Japan, in a period noted for great interest in foreign missions. Miss Fletcher married Elder and Clerk of the Session John Wesley Basore in the church in 1885. During the pastorate of Samuel Oliver (1900-1902), new members included Ollie Branner, Minnie Pugh, Edgar Whitmore, and Harvey Whitmore. Other early members of that decade were Lena Hulvey, Charles R. Whitmore, Henry Aldhizer, and Hattie Williams, who lived to the age of 101. (Members of the church who have died within recent times include their direct descendents: Neola Whitmore Behrens, Virginia Aldhizer Brainard, Sidney Lou Brainard Sommerville, George Aldhizer, Mary Moore Aldhizer, Sidney Aldhizer Beeson). Paulina Winfield, daughter of Sarah and John Winfield, became a published author of poetry and gave piano lessons to many children of the congregation, including Eddie Branner, who made music and the teaching of music his life’s work. The congregation was led by ten pastors during the decades between the church’s founding and the coming of World War I. Members William M. Hulvey, Gaylon Orebaugh, Haller Vaughn, and Kirby Moore served their country during World War I. All returned. In the mid-1920s construction of the present brick church building , designed by architect John Wagner, was begun. The building was finished in April 1926, with the aid of the voluntary carpentry efforts of members and especially of the Reverend Andrew J. Ponton, pastor 1924-1927, and Deacon Harvey A. Whitmore. Once the building construction was finished, Harvey Whitmore served as its custodian and caretaker for the remaining forty years of his life. The indebtedness for the new building spanned the years of the Great Depression. Members have fondly passed down the story of enterprising women of the Women’s Auxiliary who quickly made baskets of sandwiches and transported them to Daphne Station to sell among the crowds of on-lookers at the site of a spectacular train wreck south of town in 1930. And in other ways, during hard economic times the members raised money to pay off the building debt. Beverly O. Shannon was installed as pastor in1931 and served the congregation for the next seventeen years. The church building was dedicated November 1936.

During the years of World War II, many men of the church served in the armed forces. Donald "Toady" Branner was a gunner in a B-24 bomber in the Pacific. E. H. Brainard, George Aldhizer, Durwood Whitmore, Lawrence Pence, Philip Pugh, William M. Hulvey, Jr., Samuel Everett Brown, Ernest Acker, Everett Showalter, Francis Proctor, Paul Garber, Roy Hawkins, Jr., John Homan Kline, Dorsey Pence, Roy Black, and George Clark served. All returned. Members who joined the church after the war and who were veterans included Frank Moyers, Carlyle Lynch, Robert Schuler. Marion Simmons, later to be pastor from 1951 to1953, had served with Patton’s Third Army.

Periods of national crisis, such as the Great Depression and military conflicts serve as milestones because they profoundly affect the lives and memories of people. But throughout most of the history of the Presbyterian church in Broadway, daily life was routine. Young people met, courted, and were married in the church. Children were born, baptized, brought to Sunday School. Some learned the Shorter Catechism. Many earned Perfect Attendance pins and bars. Children grew up, and the cycle repeated. The church was a constant in the lives of many individuals and families. In the bosom of the church family and in the sanctuary of the church, lessons were learned, the Scriptures were studied, minds were challenged, hearts were touched. There were times of thanksgiving, times of grief, times of joy. God was praised in song. Forgiveness was sought and received. And, we must also believe, souls were saved. Each of the churches on the corner of Lee and Louisa Streets has been sacred to those who said their wedding vows in it or held their child to be sprinkled there or heard in that place Jesus' words of comfort quoted in the presence of the coffin of a loved one. The ambitions of reaching out to the world and spreading the Gospel could scarcely be more important than the Christian nurture of each other and imbuing the on-coming generation with the knowledge of God’s love and the habit of seeking God’s will. Such have been the major, historical accomplishments of the Broadway Presbyterian Church.

After the WWII, the church grew. Worship service music was enhanced by electronic organ music, played by Edgar Branner and by music of the adult choir he founded. Eddie Branner was to be the church’s voluntary musician for decades until his death. The partitioned sections of the sanctuary balcony were crowded with classes of children. Through its history, the Broadway Presbyterian Church had shared its pastors with other small churches in the Presbytery--Edom, Cross Keys, Massanutten Cross Roads. Only in 1954 did the church have the full-time services of a pastor beginning with the installation of Ellsworth Orndoff. Miss Brownie Lester formed a youth fellowship group which influenced a large and active group of teenagers in the Fifties. In 1955 an addition for the church school and fellowship hall was added. After the ministries of Ellsworth Orndoff (1954-1963) and Roger Elliot (1963-1969), Marion Simmons returned and served as pastor from 1969 until his retirement in 1985.

In 1970, the congregation staged a pageant entitled "Between the Seventies" to commemorate the church’s 100th anniversary. The pageant, conceived, written, and directed by Marion Simmons, has become a high point in the memories of participants. The pageant, which portrayed events in the church’s history against the backdrop of world events, was performed on the front steps and portico of the church before a large crowd of local citizens seated in folding chairs on the lawn. The trained voice of Scott Black, the narrator, sounded professional. The pageant presented interesting events of the church’s history drawn from the minutes of the Session. For current members who participated in the pageant, knowledge of the church’s history is generally based on the pageant. For example, the suspension by Dr. Bell and Elder Slaymaker of a member for "flagrant immorality" due to drunkenness in the church’s early years was portrayed. No one who saw the pageant can fail to remember S.E. "Peanut" Brown as Teddy Roosevelt arriving in a Model T Ford. In a white suit Elder Wayne Long was Franklin Roosevelt. But the pageant is most fondly remembered by its participants for the unity of effort and cooperation it required and for the sense of accomplishment that followed its successful presentation. Every active member of the church at that time had one or more assignments with costumes, on-stage acting or in tableaus, special effects, lighting, or music.

Over the years since Charles and Emma Hockman joined the church, a number of major improvements to the church facilities have be accomplished, usually with Charlie as the visionary, the designer, the crew foreman, and always the hardest worker. The furnace of the church’s steam heating system was replaced when the original furnace failed. Later the unit was converted to gas. Insulated walls were built in the Fellowship Hall. The addition of new lighting and carpeting and the renovation of the kitchen made the Fellowship Hall so much more inviting, that outside groups have used the facility. The properties of the congregation--the manse, a rental residence, and the church building all show also the work of Elder John Myers, a building contractor by profession. The restrooms were renovated. A restroom was added on the main floor of the building. The projects that most clearly required Charlie’s expertise as a retired member of the Army Corps of Engineers were the replacement of the massive concrete front steps and the creation of a handicap accessibility ramp from the street to the first floor at the rear of the building . A cantilevered roof over the entrance to the Food Bank is an engineering marvel of Elder Hockman’s creation. A structural problem that could have caused the disastrous collapse of the church’s vaulted roof was detected, diagnosed, and remedied by Charles Hockman. In the original design of the building, the weight of the balcony in the sanctuary was bourn by the massive timber trusses supporting the roof. Now steel pillars extend from the foundation to the underside of the balcony and bear the weight. The roof trusses are not longer deformed. Jobs performed by contractors have been completed under the expert supervision of Charles Hockman or Elder John Myers. The church’s wiring has been modernized. Remote fire detectors were installed. The adult Sunday school classroom was renovated to accommodate cabinets and shelving to house the church’s records and the library. Insulation in the sanctuary ceiling and the installation of ceiling fans and improved lighting fixtures improved the energy efficiency and comfort of worshipers. The installation of air conditioning is recognized by many members as the most significant recent improvement to the building. Elder John Harper guided the specification and installation of a new sound system.

But the projects supported by the giving and labor of the congregation have not been limited to repairs and improvements to the church and manse. For many members the creation and operation of the Food Pantry and Clothes Closet to serve the needs of critically poor families in the Broadway-Timberville area has been this church’s most significant activity and accomplishment in modern times. Support from other churches and civic groups and individuals outside of the membership testifies to the community stature of the on-going project. At Christmas time, church members provide Christmas presents for the children of the needy families.

Elders Dick and Sara Stewart have led the congregation into activities that proved to hold a special place in people’s memories of things they were glad they were a part of. The Stewarts were among the organizers of a Day Care Center in Broadway and involved some of the members in helping to create a center that is now fully accredited and self-sufficient. The Stewarts were instrumental in arranging for a "sister church" in Ethiopia for the Broadway Presbyterian Church. Leaders of the Gori church visited Broadway and spoke to the congregation. The Stewarts and others from the Presbytery of Shenandoah traveled to Ethiopia. On several occasions the church has helped Dembelli Dula, an Ethiopian girl, who has been a student at a local college. In turn Dembelli has visited the church on several occasions. On one occasion she prepared a native dish for a church meal. The Broadway church served as the official immigration sponsors of a Russian family, escaping persecution. Dealing with the housing, transportation, employment, health and dental problems of a newly arrived immigrant family with children, including an infant, was a challenging, but rewarding experience for the members involved. The Dronov family is now well-established and independent.

Several members were heavily involved in the recent construction of a "Habitat for Humanity" house built within a block of the church. For these members, the time and effort expended are remembered with pride and satisfaction.

As in the case of probably all small churches, there have been high tides and low tides in the history of the Broadway church. Past efforts to recruit new members have had but modest success, since most residents who have any interest in church participation already are church members of one of the area’s many churches. New members have generally been Presbyterians who have come to the community from elsewhere. The number of members has changed in small steps. The vibrancy associated with having a number of young families in the church fades as the children grow up, mature, and go to college or to work elsewhere. The steadying influences of members like George Aldhizer, John Zirkle, Francis Williams, Vesta Zirkle, Adie Pence, Phyllis Proctor, and Neola Behrens are not easily replaced after their deaths. However, the church has been regularly blessed by influxes of the talent and energy and humanity of newcomers to the church community. The influence of even one or two new families, experience has shown, can be significant. For example, in the ‘70s the Robert Greathead family joined the church. Betty organized a youth choir which involved all the young children of the church for several years. (The image of the children in robes is a cherished memory of a number of members). Bob was an efficient and effective leader and teacher. The two Greathead children were as involved as their parents. Also in the 1970s Elmer and Carolyn Kettler bought a farm at Daphne, joined the church, and immediately contributed to the vitality of the church in many ways. Carolyn created the church library, which is named in honor of Miss Hattie Williams. Carolyn and Elmer, a retired Army band musician, were important members of the choir and were elected elders. The Kettler children were active in the activities of the church. In the 1980s Sue and Jerry Johnson and their three daughters were an active family of the church. Jerry was chair of the pastor nominating committee of 1986. Lester Bonesteel and his wife Betty moved to Broadway after Lester retired from the Internal Revenue Service. They became active members, and Lester was elected Elder. In the 1990s Bob and Dianne Johnson bought a house near to the church, joined the church, and became very active members, both serving on the Session. Bob chaired the Finance Committee and brought a corporate level of organization to the work of the Session and of the committee. Dianne headed the host committee which planned the successful accommodation of a meeting of the Presbytery of the Shenandoah at the Broadway Church in 1998.

Every member and family has made contributions that have furthered the work and impact of the church and continues in many devoted efforts too numerous to attempt to mention! But in all the cases just cited, the entire family is gone. Bob Greathead tragically died due to heart problems. Eventually, Betty moved out of the area with her children and remarried. After Elmer Kettler’s death, with the youngest of the children of college age, Carolyn moved to Arizona. Jerry Johnson was transferred by his company to North Carolina. The Robert Johnsons returned to her home area of Williamsburg after Bob’s second heart attack. After Betty’s death Lester continued his devotion to the church for years. Finally, in the Spring of 2001, Lester felt impelled to prepare for the time when he would need medical care, sold his house, and entered a retirement home in Florida. A small congregation knows and acutely feels the loss of every member. A number of faithful members have died in recent years. Divorce has struck in a few instances, inevitably causing at least half of the affected family to leave the church. A few families have left the church for reasons of their own. The resignation of Dr. John McDonald effective Christmas 2000 immediately affected the participation of the congregation’s children with whom Dr. McDonald was especially popular. The subsequent loss of the two McDonald boys reduced the level of interest and participation for the remaining children. The decision of organist and choir director Charity Knighting to seek full time employment in Virginia Beach in April of 2001 meant the probable end for the foreseeable future of the marvelous special musical programs that had attracted and so engaged the children of all ages for a decade. Suddenly the number of children in the church seemed to have decreased to a critically low level.

Data gathered in April 2001 in conjunction with the Self-Study revealed that many current members felt a sense of sadness because of the losses that have occurred and the recent changes. There was a nostalgia for those eras in the past when there were many children, lots of activities, and the perception of stability. The Self-Study questionnaires revealed that, although a large majority of members responding deeply regretted John McDonald’s leaving, a few expressed the opinion that his period of ministry had been detrimental to the church. Questionnaires were, of course, not completed by the several members who had stopped attending the Broadway church expressly due to dissatisfaction. In January of 2001 a careful update of the Active Member Roll of the church revealed that the active membership had decreased to eighty-seven, a number only ten greater than the number reported in 1900: seventy-seven. The total (active and inactive) membership in 1970 was167.

Sources:

Member comments on a Self-Study questionnaire submitted by nineteen members on April 1, 2001.

Between the Seventies, a pageant written by Marion L. Simmons, 1970.

Stonewall in the Valley by Robert Tanner. Doubleday & Company, Inc. Garden City, New York.

The Burning: Sheridan in the Shenandoah Valley by John Heatwole. Rockbridge Publishing. Charlottesville, Virginia, 1998.

The Lexington Presbytery Heritage by Howard McKnight Wilson. McClure Press, Verona Virginia, 1971.

Hunter’s Fiery Raid in Virginia’s Valley by Gary Walker.

Old Houses in Rockingham County: 1750-1850 by Isaac Long Terrell. McClure Press, Verona Virginia, 1970.

The Heartland: Rockingham County by Nancy B. Hess. Park View Press, 1976.

The Broadway Presbyterian Church is the only Presbyterian Church between Harrisonburg ,thirteen miles to the south, and Woodstock, an even greater distance to the north in neighboring Shenandoah County. Although many active members live in the town of Broadway, a number of members drive significant distances to attend services and activities. Postal addresses include Timberville, Harrisonburg, Linville, New Market, Lacey Springs, Fulks Run, and Mt. Jackson. The area is predominantly agricultural, featuring poultry, cattle, crops, and orchards. The Town of Broadway is governed by an elected town council and mayor. The town is served by modern water treatment and sewer facilities. There are ten full time town employees, including the town manager and three police officers. Modern town offices are located in a building which also houses the Village Library. Streets and utilities are well maintained. The town enjoys small town social events, such as "Autumn Days." Parades celebrate the Christmas season, high school homecoming, and special events such as the football team’s departure for the state play-offs. The local volunteer fire and rescue units are well equipped and well supported. An elementary school, middle school, and new high school in the town serve students from all the communities and areas of northern Rockingham County.

Many residents of the Town of Broadway hold jobs in Harrisonburg, the county seat of Rockingham County. According to the 2000 U.S. Census, Harrisonburg experienced the fastest rate of population growth among Virginia’s cities, a growth of nearly 32 % over the last ten years, to 40,000. The population of Rockingham County exceeds 65,000. Businesses, including agri-businesses, light industries, and retail sales, are flourishing in an area with pleasant climate, beautiful mountain scenery, good transportation, and a sufficient work force. In addition to Rockingham Memorial Hospital, which provides advanced medical services to the entire region, Harrisonburg has many doctors, dentists, and specialists. Many new residents to the area have immigrated from Mexico, South America, Russia, or other countries. The Catholic Church in Harrisonburg holds a Mass in Spanish. Russian immigrants have a Christian church of their own. Besides being the shopping center for a large geographic area, Harrisonburg is the location of James Madison University, whose students, faculty, and staff especially benefit the local economy. The region is also home to Eastern Mennonite University, Bridgewater College, and Blue Ridge Community College. According to sales tax revenues, Harrisonburg’s retail sales last year exceeded those of all of Virginia’s other cities of comparable size, including Fairfax and Charlottesville. The boom in construction and the increases in traffic, of course, are causes of concern to some local residents who lament the conversion of farm land to housing developments and the "urban sprawl" that is happening in the area, even in the Town of Broadway. But a time of such prosperity and population growth should surely be a time of growth for all churches in the region.

Of the 86 active, local members at the time of the start of the Self-Study, 45% were male, 62% were female, and all were Caucasian. About thirty-six percent were beyond the age of retirement. Many of the adults, still working or retired, are or were near the top of their business, profession, or line of work, regardless of formal educational level. The group does include many college graduates and several individuals with advanced degrees. Current (or former) occupations relate (or related) to farming, printing, insurance, teaching, technology, accounting. Retirees finished interesting careers, for example, with The Library of Congress, the Internal Revenue Service, IBM, and self-owned business. Not all members are "valley people." Several members are from other states. Some members are native Virginians but have lived elsewhere. Two who were from Broadway originally, left the region for their work careers, but have returned.

Theologically, most of the Broadway Presbyterians may be described, probably, as "enlightened conservatives," although a few characterize themselves as "liberals." Most members are open to new ideas and usually are willing to try new things. Women and men serve on the Session. Although some have a fondness for "doing things the old way", proposed changes that make sense are given a fair chance. Gender, racial, and ethnic bigotry have not been noted in modern times. In a Self-Study written comment, however, one member expressed a complete lack of tolerance for "a homosexual in the pulpit." One female member said that she could abide a woman in the pulpit, but that she would prefer a man.

Attendance for Sunday morning worship, of course, depends upon a variety of factors. Many members are absolutely regular in attendance except when they are out-of-town or sick. With the recent decline in active members, the absence of one or two families contributes to a sense of emptiness in the sanctuary. Special services, such as Maundy Thursday and Christmas Eve , are well attended, including sometimes members of other churches which do not have corresponding special services. Events of the "Presbyterian Pillers," a group formed of senior members of the congregation who enjoy meals and social times together, are always popular and well attended. Church School class attendance for the various age categories of children and young people has dropped precipitously since January 2001 so that some classes are rarely held. Attendance in the Adult Class has remained strong, even through the summer months of 2001. Youth activities for the teenaged members have been well-attended when scheduled. However, youth activities are not held on a regular schedule. The Adult Choir participation continued at typical levels, in spite of the loss of John McDonald, the only tenor, until the summer recess. The choir sang at the summer wedding of Sandy Taylor, the new organist and choir director hired after the resignation of Charity Knighting. However, Sandy moved to New Jersey where her husband Michael accepted a position as a high school band director.

The Presbyterian Women elects officers, holds Bible studies, keeps a detailed church historical record, and promotes many special causes, such as the "Women of the Church Birthday Offering. Gift certificates or boxes of "goodies" have sometimes been distributed to college students of the congregation for Valentine’s Day or at exam time. Boxes for shut-ins are prepared on special occasions. Activities and projects are numerous.

The Broadway Presbyterian Church Food Pantry and Clothes Closet operates a food bank affiliated with the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank and is certified to distribute U.S. Department of Agriculture surplus foods when available. The Food Pantry is supported by financial donations from church and non-church individuals and is the recipient, from time to time, of foods gathered by the Boy Scouts, grown by service clubs and individuals, and donated by local super markets. The Food Pantry is supervised by the Service Committee of the Session.

Many kinds of special events have occurred in recent years, depending upon special circumstances and upon the initiative of the minister, the music director, Sessional committee chairs, and individuals. Recurring events have included a youth October fall celebration (near the time of Halloween), special musical programs involving the children of the congregation at Easter time and at Christmas. An Advent Fair in recent years has featured creation of craft items appropriate for Christmas gifts or decorations. Every Christmas an outdoor live Nativity Tableau is conducted in a rustic stable constructed near the highway in front of the church, complete with a guest donkey from a nearby farm. The young people and a few hearty adults sing carols in the town at Christmas time. Every Easter crosses are erected on the lawn. Erecting the stable and the crosses is the responsibility of the Property Committee of the Session. The choir has regularly presented cantatas for the Christmas and Easter worship services. The Worship Committee reintroduced an outdoor Easter Sunrise Service in 2001, followed by a breakfast in the Fellowship Hall. Pancake breakfasts to raise funds for various causes, such as money for trip expenses for youth outings, are scheduled on an ad hoc basis. Late each summer, the Sunday morning service in held in a pavilion of the Broadway Community Park, followed by the Church Picnic. The Session’s Fellowship Committee makes the arrangements. Members look forward to carry-in dinners, sometimes followed by special programs, on a quarterly basis. The December evening dinner features a carol sing. The February dinner has an overseas foreign mission theme.

No listing of activities can be complete. One former member single-handedly began a re-cycling campaign some years ago. The Adult Choir has participated in the community choir composed of choirs of many local churches whenever such an event has been held. The church has hosted the annual community Thanksgiving Service on a rotating schedule. Twice annually the Property Committee calls a fix-up, clean-up Saturday. Interested members spend part of a day performing chores in and around the church. Each summer a dedicated crew volunteers time to keep the lawn mowed. Every Christmas and every Easter the sanctuary is decorated by self-appointed volunteers. Sunday morning greeters, ushers, acolytes, and (when needed) nursery keepers are willing volunteers. Two designated "contact elders" serve a two month term, overseeing the arrangements for the services, including thermostat settings, lighting, emptying trash containers, and locking up. One member keeps a roll of attendance at worship for the use by the pastor. A couple of members take turns operating the sound system and managing the portable microphones. Some members have served on presbytery committees. At least two members from the Broadway Presbyterian Church have served as commissioners to meetings of the General Assembly. Until John McDonald’s resignation, the church had never had a hired church secretary. Although the ministers in the past covered most of the responsibilities of a secretary, members have often helped with preparation of the newsletter, The Press-Byterian. For years one dedicated member has assumed responsibility for the shrubs and flower beds on the church grounds with remarkable results. Another member has done extensive interior painting. In the summer of 2001 the Finance Committee called for volunteers to count and log the offerings after each Sunday service. The call has been met. For years the preparations for the sacrament of Holy Communion and the subsequent cleaning have been made by members of one family. Some years ago several adults, seeing a need for worship activities more suited to children, conducted "Children’s Church" during the eleven o’clock Sunday worship service.

Many and varied activities can be a part of active membership. And although some of the self-identified needs are met by individuals working contentedly alone or as couples, in general the work of the church is done in groups for whom the fellowship with like-minded friends yields a two-way dividend. The congregation as a whole is indebted to the initiative and to the volunteerism practiced by so many fellow members.

The Session of the church consists of twelve members, each elected for a three year term. Terms are "staggered" so that only four elders begin new terms each year. Records and correspondence are managed by a clerk and an assistant clerk. Areas of responsibility are assigned to committees. Interested church members serve on the committees with one or more elders. Usually an elder is the committee chair who calls meetings, sets the agenda, and conveys recommendations to the Session for action. The sessional committees are the following:

Christian Education

Fellowship

Finance

Mission

Personnel

Property

Records

Stewardship

Worship.

A Nominating Committee is a congregational committee of two elders and three persons not currently serving on the session elected by the congregation in a called congregational meeting. When necessary, the church is legally represented by three trustees. The treasurer is a member who happens to be a certified public accountant. Besides the minister, paid employees now include a church office manager, the music director, and a cleaning person.

The immediate challenge facing the congregation is to acquire a pastor who can and will not only minister to the needs of the present members, but establish a reputation in the community that can attract and hold additional members. He or she must be friendly to all and an excellent communicator. One Self-Study group noted that the new pastor must be able to "challenge our faith." Said another way, the new pastor must be able to preach Scripture-based sermons of substance. And the new pastor "must be able to touch our hearts." The viability of the Broadway Presbyterian Church requires that at least the recent losses in membership be made up. Considering the age of many of the currently active senior members of the congregation, many young members must come into the church during the next five, ten, and fifteen years.

Not only is the pastor selection process a challenge, but once a new minister has been found, meeting the financial commitments that may be associated with a new minister’s remuneration will likely initially be a challenge, given the depleted size of the membership. It is anticipated that a new minister will prefer a housing allowance, whereas previous ministers have lived in the provided manse.

The loss of two music directors within six months has highlighted the importance of quality music as a component of worship. Having a music director who can provide instrumental music, direct and accompany the Adult Choir, and inspire the participation of children in the music of the church is of utmost importance. Young families with children, as Music Director Charity Knighting demonstrated, will come to the church and become active members if there are other children present who are clearly enjoying and profiting from a vibrant music program. Finding an individual with musical talent and training, a compatible musical taste, and skills with people, especially children, may prove to be difficult.

Due to various cross-denominational activities over the years, such as shared youth outings, community choir festivals, the contacts of ministers through the local ministerial association, members of other "main-line" denomination churches in the area seem to regard the Broadway Presbyterian Church as a trust-worthy equal. Long-time town residents often went through school with and are friends of other persons who are members of other churches. The role of the church in operating the Food Pantry and Clothes Closet has surely enhanced the reputation of the congregation. The live Nativity attracts the attention of many members of the community, churched and unchurched. No other church in the area has an out-of-doors Nativity. Recent efforts to cause persons to notice the Broadway Presbyterian Church in a positive way have been pursued: signs giving directions to the church from various routes in the town have been erected; the grounds around the church have been beautified; the stained glass window under the front archway of the building has been spot-lighted at night. News items about special events and services at the church have been placed in the North Fork Journal, a popular local newspaper. Perhaps the main way members may make a positive impression on the local community is by the "witness" of their living and by the radiance of their lives.

So many of the tasks associated with church membership seem utterly mundane. Replacing the tiles in the upstairs bathroom of the manse? Mowing grass? Scraping and painting window sills? Stuffing envelopes? Keeping the Nursery? The destination of so much of the money given to the church is also un-inspiring. Paying the gas bill. Meeting the payroll. Participants in the Self-Study considered the mission of the church in the context of Scripture passages including Matthew 25 and 28, John 17, Acts 1 and 2. No one proposed that the mission of the church was to have a neat building. No one proposed that the mission of the church was to meet the budget. Nearly all speakers were looking beyond the property lines of the church toward unspecified people of the community who would be benefited by learning of Jesus and worshiping with the church. Feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, and visiting the sick and those in prison did not rank as high in priority as attracting the unchurched, exciting the complacent, engaging the "turned-off." However, one group noted in detail the recent or on-going activities of the congregation that do apply to ministering to the needs of the hungry and naked and disadvantaged and vulnerable: The Food Pantry; Meals on Wheels; Helping Hands; Clothes Closet; adoption of needy families at Christmas; Thanksgiving boxes to shut-ins; friendship bags of toiletries and clothing for Western State Hospital inmates; collection of scarves, caps, sweaters, and gloves for children of the orphanage; support for the Plains Area Day Care; support for Pleasant View Home (for retarded persons); Valentines Day gift certificates for college students; preparation of gowns, stuffed toys, etc. sent to the North Carolina Medical Benevolence Foundation. One group cited actions of the church that have an international component: Assistance to Ethiopian nursing student; sponsorship of an Ethiopian orphan; support of the mission trips of Doug and Casi Wenger to South America; sponsorship of the immigration of the Dronov family from Russia through the Refugee Resettlement Program; collection of sweaters, hats, and books for Tajikistan.

Jesus said to his disciples, "Go into the world and make disciples of all men." The practical consensus of the Self-Study participants was to focus primarily on the world close at hand. " We should show more care for each other emotionally, and we should be more openly concerned for each other and those around us." "Our outreach should extend past Broadway into all of the nearby communities, not just the local church." "[The Broadway church should be] a church that can meet the needs of the unchurched." "[Our mission is] to provide Bible-based teaching." "[We need] to present a welcoming environment, spiritually and socially." "[We should] creatively engage others by assisting those in time of material and spiritual need." One group considered the means of accomplishing our mission should be "by witnessing" and by a "commitment to scriptural morality." "God calls us to be witnesses by example. Find your way to Christ and [then] tell others." One group decided that rather than "missions," the mission of this church should be "friendliness, sincerity, and singing." Perhaps the following slogan-type statement summarizes these feelings of purpose and mission.

The Broadway Presbyterian Church-- people finding and sharing the love of God

The final meeting of the Self-Study groups was focused on their visions for the church, short term (5 years) and beyond. Questions considered included the following:

In what ways do we need and want to grow?

What do we want the Broadway Presbyterian Church to be about?

How should the Broadway Presbyterian Church be perceived in the community?

No one voiced a desire that the Broadway Presbyterian Church become a "mega church" for which the building would be too small and one minister not sufficient. All groups envisioned an active congregation, composed of members of all ages, enjoying their association with fellow Christians. The Church School classrooms are full. The sanctuary is often filled nearly to capacity. The church is well known in the community for the quality of the music. Children and youth enthusiastically participate in activities that they enjoy and from which they learn and develop. The congregation is familiar to the community for the energy and devotion of its members in promoting worthwhile projects and in assisting those in need. The minister is also well known in the community and is admired for his or her cheerful manner. Above all, members want the messages of the sermons to be of high quality--instructive, informative, thought provoking, uplifting, inspiring. If members of the congregation themselves are not excited by and proud of the quality of the preaching and worship, they can not effectively or comfortably bring in others! Several persons emphasized "Bible based" preaching. There seemed to be consensus that the accomplishment of this vision would not be the doing of the new minister alone. At the same time, the participants seemed to be in agreement that in order for the members of the congregation to do their part, the new minister must lead. One group went beyond describing their vision; they offered tactical suggestions for increasing the size of the congregation. Their most emphatic suggestion was to "follow-up" when newcomers show interest in the church with a visit, a guide pamphlet, and cookies!

One Self-Study group devoted their visioning time to making a thoughtful listing of the characteristics of the minister they envision.

"We need a pastor who...

(1) is eloquent:

knows how to speak and write standard English

knows how to prepare a good sermon

knows how to deliver a good sermon

(2) works well with "youth":

engages parents (the children’s first teachers)

relates well with various age groups

(3) knows the congregation:

visits or calls congregation members

visits shut-ins and patients in hospitals

is approachable and has a good personality

(4) works well with other members of the local ministerial association

(5) is a good Bible study teacher

(6) is well organized.

A different group’s vision emphasis was on improving "our whole educational program." This group also offered a list of tactics to promote the accomplishment of the vision of a busy and active church:

We need to advertise things our church offers with flyers and notices in stores.

Special speakers could be scheduled for special events who would attract visitors.

Song "fests" and musical performances and showcases would attract visitors.

The Church School classrooms and especially the Nursery need to be up-graded and equipped.

The church could sponsor non-religious classes in topics such as "parenting" to involve members of the community.