Livingston United Methodist Church

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Livingston United Methodist Church
Livingston United Methodist Church
40°46′51.6″N 74°20′59.6″W ⧼validator-fatal-error⧽
Location	Livingston, NJ
Country	United States
Denomination	United Methodist Church
Website	http://http://www.livingstonumc.org/
History
Founded	1974
Clergy
Senior pastor(s)	Rev. Kevin D. Newburg, Ph.D., Pastor

Livingston United Methodist Church is one among many United Methodist Churches in the United States. It is located in Livingston, New Jersey

The current leading pastor is Rev. Kevin D. Newburg Ph.D.

History

Livingston United Methodist Church was founded in 1974 when a Methodist Society was organized following a great revival. In 1857 Rev. Cornelius Clark of the Chatham Methodist Episcopal Church conducted revival services at Washington Place Academy, on Passaic Avenue south of the current Care One. This was a two-story structure with a schoolroom on the first floor and a lecture room above. A group of converts began to hold regular services in the upper story, and in 1858 organized the West Livingston Methodist Episcopal Church, which is now the Livingston United Methodist Church. The building was none too sturdy. One historian describes it as "a crude barnlike structure, even then menacing to life and limb as folks climbed from the classroom with its hard narrow benches up the rickety stairs to their seats before the improvised pulpit." Its first pastor was Solomon Parsons, who also served as pastor to the Chatham church. The founders of our church recognized the need for a better meeting place, and a new church building was one of their first concerns. Andrew Miller Kent, a Presbyterian or possibly a Baptist, donated a tract of land in the area of Walnut Street and what is now West Hobart Gap Road. Mr. Kent also contributed funds for the construction of the church building. Henry V. B. Jacobus contributed liberally to the building fund and spearheaded the construction program. Two young carpenters, Isaac Crane and his brother Jonathan, came from Newark to erect the church. Work began during the summer of 1858, and the building was completed by fall. The dedication, probably in November, featured a sermon by Bishop Jones. The speed with which this project was completed is indeed a tribute to the zeal, determination, and devotion of those first Livingston Methodists. The old building, Washington Place Academy, across the street from the church lived 24-year-old Mary Johnson. Isaac Crane apparently met her while constructing the church, and they were married several years later. Isaac Crane was converted to Methodism before he finished erecting the church building, and from the day of his conversion until the day he died he gave unstintingly of his time, energy and worldly goods for the support of the church. He served as the president of the Board of Trustees, Superintendent of the Sunday School, choir leader, and at one time or another chairman of every important church committee. He also acted as sexton of the church, taking care of the wood stove and kerosene lamps, and was the principal financial supporter of the church.

The arrangement of a single minister serving both Chatham and Livingston was continued until 1868. From then on students from Drew Theological Seminary usually served as the ministers. In 1868 the average attendance was 12. In 1869 the Trustees report that they are out of debt and have some funds on hand to make improvements. At the same meeting, it was decided to no longer allow an Episcopalian service in the church. Reports in 1878 and 1879 indicate about the same size Sunday school, with a shortage of teachers which it is hoped will be met by the organization of a Young Men's Bible Class. The pastor's report in 1887 was less encouraging: "The Sunday School lacks children and punctuality in time of commencing. Improvement in the system would make it more like a Methodist Sunday School. The absence of males is phenomenal." In 1880 Rev. G. E. Scrimger reports: "I have conducted a revival service during the quarter beginning with the first of January lasting these three weeks, which with the blessing of God and the cooperation of the brethren, resulted in the quickening of the church and the salvation of twenty-four souls -the past two years have been years of toil, but, thank God, of some harvest also, and I trust that the good seed sown by our earnest, though it may have been feeble hand, may yet bring in a rich 'harvest home'.

Beliefs

Livingston United Methodist Church: We welcome all people, just as they are. The MISSION of Livingston United Methodist Church is to nurture and empower people as disciples of Jesus Christ by touching and transforming lives through our ministry and service to the community.

The United Methodists denomination do values the full participation of women and men, people of all backgrounds in all facets of fellowship and leadership within the church and society. Livingston UMC holds the belief that the goal of the Christian life is to love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength, and to love your neighbor as you love yourself as stipulated in the book of Mark 12:30-31. It's core values are to worship, preaching, small groups, and serving those who are in need.

References

Livingston United Methodist Church, Sesquicentennial Anniversary,volume=4, October 12th, 2008. Accessed on 31st July 2019.

External References

• Livingston United Methodist Church Website
• [1]
• [2]
• Livingston United Methodist Church (Livingston, NJ) - Find-A-Church

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