A church in Taylor flourishes with the gospel of unity
By Bob Ray Sanders
Star-Telegram Staff Writer
Posted on Sun, Jan. 09, 2005
That old saying that "11 o'clock on Sunday mornings is the most segregated hour in America" is still close to accurate, even in 2005.
But there's a small town near Austin where -- at least at one church -- that axiom is the furthest thing from the truth.
The fact that the town of Taylor in Williamson County still has a well-known restaurant where blacks and whites traditionally enter through separate doors makes this story of one congregation even more phenomenal.
This I had to see for myself. So the Sunday before Christmas, I attended church 150 miles from home.
Sure enough, when I walked in and took a pew in the historic sanctuary of United Christian Church, I immediately noticed not one, but two pastors seated in the pulpit.
One was black. One was white.
Beth Graham, a white female seminary student was conducting the preliminary service for the small integrated congregation.
I marveled at the hand-hewn designs on the original pews and beams, the hardwood floors and the beautiful stained-glass windows. I marveled even more at the several young black faces in a church where, for a long time, no children had sat and, until a couple of years ago, no African-American member had sat.
The "United" name is new, but the church itself is very old.
United is made up of two old churches -- one black, one white.
Two years ago, the 127-year-old First Christian Church and the 104-year-old Murphy Street Christian Church began talking about joining forces in some way.
First Christian, an all-white congregation, had dwindled to fewer than 10 active members with only two under the age of 65, said Jerry Heap, a 50-year member of the church and board chairwoman of United.
She said the congregation rented out the building for a while and had considered selling it to the local historical society.
Upkeep was becoming a challenge.
When the water heater for the baptistery went out, she said, members didn't bother replacing it because they really didn't expect to be having any more baptisms.
Across Main Street in the predominantly black part of town, the Murphy Street building was being demolished because it had deteriorated so much that it was condemned.
The small membership couldn't afford to make the repairs and, for four years, had rented a community center for Sunday services, said pastor Clarence Hodrick, who is now co-pastor of United.
Heap said First Christian elders initially talked about inviting Murphy Street to "share" their building, with the black congregation holding services in the afternoon after First Christian's morning worship was over.
In 2002, representatives of the two congregations began having dinner together once a month just to talk and get to know one another.
At one point, Hodrick recalls asking, "If we can eat together, why can't we just worship together?"
Co-pastor Robert D. Wimp, who alternates preaching duties every other Sunday with Hodrick, said, "There was no reason not to do it."
The two groups decided to give it a try in December 2002, but agreed to wait a year before making a formal merger.
Heap admits that she had some concerns in the beginning.
"I had a problem. But after I got to know them, then I didn't have a problem."
She said one woman in the church "was afraid of what the townspeople would say about us. I didn't care."
Hodrick added, "The reason people don't like each other is because they don't know each other."
A year ago in December, the two congregations merged, incorporating various elements of each other's services into the order of worship. For example, at the end of the service, the members hold hands in a circle and sing Reach Out and Touch as the Murphy Street congregation had done for years.
The only thing left of the old Murphy Street building is the steeple and bell tower. Right now, that wooden structure sits on the vacant lot, but plans are being made to restore it and move it to a permanent spot on the grounds, where the original cornerstone will be placed in the concrete base as a memorial.
Heap said she knows some folks in town are still skeptical about this union, which will have its annual reunion celebration at 3 p.m. next Sunday.
"Well, I still get people who say, 'How's the church doing?' I say, 'Great! We have fun, and we have a bank account.' "
One of the most joyous things about the new United church, the former First Christian members say, is that they hear children's voices again.
The upstairs youth department, closed off for years, has been reopened and is quite active.
And, oh, they've bought a new water heater for baptistery.
It's in use again.
Bob Ray Sanders' column appears Sundays, Wednesdays and Fridays. (817) 390-7775
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