Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
ATWOOD – The congregation at Atwood Otterbein Church will celebrate the 99th anniversary of the building of their church at 306 E. Main St., Atwood, on Sunday at their 9:30 a.m. service.
The 148-year-old congregation, initially a United Brethren organization, purchased the village school house located across the railroad tracks south of the church location and conducted services in that building back then. In fall 1925, it became apparent that the one-room church was no longer adequate. At the time there were nine Sunday school classes meeting at the same time in the same room and the meeting room was inadequate for meetings of a large size, according to news release from Atwood Otterbein Church.
In 1926, approval to proceed with a new church building took place. Hobart Creighton and Pastor L. E. Eaton were selected to lead the building committee. Charles Rickel was hired to superintend the construction of the building. Groundbreaking was held June 21, 1926. The corner stone was laid on Aug. 14, 1926, despite incessant rain with speeches given by former pastors S. M. Hill, J.C. Bailey and J. W. Lower.
Once the work was completed, the building dedication was held May 1, 1927. Superintendent Dr. J.A. Groves toured the new building the day before the dedication and reviewed with the building committee plans for retiring the indebtedness. The plan was to give folks up to five years to redeem their pledges with each pledge bearing a 6% interest.
Bishop H.H. Fout, from Indianapolis, conducted the dedicatory service. Two hundred and 28 persons attended the service with Hobart Creighton serving as superintendent. The choir led singing and Fout preached.
During Rev. I. E. Longenbaugh’s pastorate (1939-1948) and despite the world war, the church mortgage was burned.
In 1938, the church was called United Brethren in Christ and remained so until Nov. 16, 1946 when the Evangelical and United Brethren churches merged. The name was changed at that time to Evangelical United Brethren Church.
While Stephen Gubi was pastor in 1964, the house and lot west of the church were purchased to be used for a parking lot. The house was razed and the parking lot was blacktopped. The church office now sits on the lot.
During the pastorate of Rev. Herbert Edwards, the United Methodist Church was created on April 23, 1968, when the Evangelical United Brethren Church and The Methodist Church united to form a new denomination. On Dec. 8, 1968, the Atwood church became Otterbien United Methodist Church.
In 1970, an extensive remodeling was done in the church kitchen and restrooms. In 1973, an addition was added to the west side of the church to house an elevator as a memorial to Hobert and Esther Creighton.
In fall 2021, the trustees updated the 1999 sign donated in the memory of Elmer Hanes with an electronic one to make it easier to update, especially in bad weather. The new sign features church activities and information relating to community events.
In July 2020, Pastor David Banning and wife Jackie began their ministry at the church during the Covid-19 pandemic. He continued the online Facebook videos of Sunday services began by the previous pastor, Jim Lawson.
On March 6, 2022, the congregation dedicated the new outdoor electronic church message center sign and the chancel updates completed prior to Christmas. It included a new Christ candle and advent wreath stand and two sanctuary monitors on either side of the chancel. The improvements were accepted by Trustees as a sacred trust and pledged that they will be used reverently in loving memory and in honor of the dedicated saints who have contributed to the church.
In August 2022, members of the church congregation began a discernment process with careful and prayerful consideration of the direction of the United Methodist Church (UMC) denomination. This was an effort to determine whether the church’s mission aligned with the continuing direction of the UMC.
A discernment committee was created by the administrative board to lead the process, and weeks were spent researching available materials and communicating with each other regarding their findings.
Following review of the committee’s findings by the administrative board, a charge conference to allow members to vote to remain with UMC or leave the denomination took place on April 13, 2023, at the church.
After months of review of the church’s mission, the congregation voted unanimously to leave the United Methodist denomination effective July 1, 2023. The decision came with deep regret but much hope for the church’s future.
On April 16, the congregation convened a congregation meeting and in another unanimous vote chose the Global Methodist denomination from the others considered. After that a discussion of potential names for the church took place and a ballot vote selected the name Atwood Otterbein Church to be the new church name.
On May 1, the congregation’s United Women in Faith voted to disband from that organization as well and became an independent locally-focused women’s group. They established a new name, Sisterhood in Faith.
The 30-member women’s group, Sisterhood in Faith, meets monthly from April through December on the first Wednesday of each month at 1 p.m. in Fellowship Hall. The Sisterhood’s activities focus on local missions and service to the church. The men meet the second Saturday of each month for breakfast in the Fellowship Hall beginning at 7 a.m.
On July 2, 2023, the congregation celebrated their affiliation with the Global Methodist Church with a special service by Banning. During the service, Banning presented the Global charter to Lay Leader Curt VanDeWater. The service was followed by a congregational photo.
Leaders attended the Convening Conference and Ordination Service for the newly-established Global Methodist Church Great Lakes Conference which includes churches from Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin and Michigan. Pastor Banning was ordained during the special service Oct. 28, 2023.
Atwood Otterbein Church’s mission is “... to spread the word of God and win disciples for Jesus Christ; connecting ourselves to Jesus and faithfully living our daily lives in relationship with Him and to each other.” To fulfill the mission the church provides Sunday morning services beginning at 9:30 a.m.
The family oriented congregation members come early for coffee and fellowship and stay after for snacks with friends and family. If unable to attend in person, members can view the Sunday services live-streamed on their Facebook page (Atwood Otterbein Church). Following the service, Bible Study takes place in the Sanctuary. The church is accessible by elevator for wheel chairs or those needing other assistance.
The public is encouraged to join the congregation on the journey to Christian living at the anniversary celebration and any of their services or activities. Banning may at 574-858-2291 or atwoodotterbeinchurch@gmail.com. More information may be found on the church website at www.atwoodotterbeinchurch.org. The Facebook page is Atwood Otterbein Church.
