Community

With the new fellowship hall we entered into a period of the development of fellowship within the church. Various interests groups within the church provided programs. "Roasts" and the acknowledgment of staff for service were held on numerous occasions. Anything became an excuse for a meal.

I (i.e., Millard Knowles) came to Community in the fall of 1980, when Pastor Osborn took personal leave.  The church had become a "Teaching Church" with United Theological Seminary, and was probably one of the few truly keeping the covenant.  The student preached monthly, and did a smorgasboard of pastoral services for experience.

I picked up and continued with the new pattern of stewardship. We have not had to use the interest from our endowment funds or our parsonage funds to pay current expenses.  We use special offerings for mission causes outside Community, including our Second Sunday Hunger Fund, which raises $150 to $500 monthly depending on the cause.  In 1986 we lost our two highest contributors by transfer to other areas, and have not suffered.

In the early 80's Clark Haines (Dayton's own Music Man) came to the office one day to ask that a funeral be held for his aunt.  Her husband, Clifford Paul Hill, lived within a block of the church.  He was a very lonely man, with no children.  Our staff befriended him, and checked on him with regularity.  One day he asked me if the church could use some money to help the community.  He said he needed to change his will, for he had intended to leave his money to a former business associate.  I told him we could use it, if he so chose to remember us.  Several months later, he broached the subject again, and I suggested he get with his lawyer.  He wanted to find a new lawyer, as his former one was a friend of his former associate.

So at his request I made an appointment and took him the next day to a lawyer I knew.  Less than three weeks later, I found him dead.  He left the bulk of his estate (about 90 thousand) to us.  We have used only the interest from this for community ministry.  It means when we want to start an innovative ministry, the money is available.  While some folks wanted us to pay off our indebtedness, we have used this gift for new programs and to talk about stewardship and estate stewardship.  It has proven that responsible use of endowment DOES NOT adversely affect a congregation's giving. community ministry.  It means when we want to start an innovative ministry, the money is available. While some folks wanted us to pay off our indebtedness, we have used this gift for new programs and to talk about stewardship and estate stewardship.  It has proven that responsible use of endowment DOES NOT adversely affect a congregation's giving.  We feel that this piece of our story will make a difference in our future, should our congregation shrink as other urban congregations tend to do.  We feel that this piece of our story will make a difference in our future, should our congregation shrink as other urban congregations tend to do.