Salem Umc

The History of Salem United Methodist Church

Introduction

The Methodist Episcopal Church for Afro-Americans was organized at the Annual Conference in Louisiana on December 25, 1865. The conference included Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas and was given the name, the Mississippi Conference. Salem had its origin as Salem Mission in 1868. The first church services were conducted in a house in the area that is the site of the Oaks Town Homes, formerly Gilmer Homes. Without the services of a minister on a regular basis, a Baptist minister, Rev. Arthur Robinson, conducted the services. During the year of 1869, the Conference sent Rev. Joseph T. Hardin of Galveston, TX., to minister to the needs of the growing Christian community. This energetic circuit rider rode horseback to serve his flock.

In 1873, the church was fully organized and given the name, Salem Methodist Episcopal Church. Property to build a church was acquired in 1877. The location is a portion of the present property on the corner of John Avenue and Third Street. A copy of the original deeds reveal Gabe Elkins, Pierre Ross, Joseph Henderson, Henry Briley and Clem Green were trustees who acted on behalf of the church. A small frame building was built to house the activities of the church. After several years, the structure was inadequate to serve the need of the growing church and plans were underway to build a larger edifice. The planning process and the acquisition of funds spanned from 1903-1914. The Rev. S.W. Johnson initiated the building process and a new wooden frame building was completed a few years later.

On December 5, 1917 and October 21, 1925, the 52nd and 60th session of the Texas Annual Conferences were held at Salem Methodist Episcopal Church. After years of negotiation, the divisions of the Methodist Church agreed upon a plan of union. On May 10, 1939, the Methodist Episcopal Church and the Methodist Protestant united to form the Methodist Church. Hence, the Episcopal was dropped from the name and it became Salem Methodist Church. Plans for union were made effective by the Uniting Conference in Dallas, Texas on April 23, 1968 to merge the Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Brethren Church to form the United Methodist Church, thus, giving Salem its
current name….Salem United Methodist Church.

History of Ministries

Salem has always been involved in its community. The church began in a house sitting in the middle of the community. The church ministered to the lives of the people around them. As time passed Salem became more active by becoming the church with the most educators in the community. Salem became the first and only church to have a female mayor. Salem ventured out by actively becoming involved with the local NAACP, Hollywood Cemetery Care, Orange Christian Services, Salvation Army, Orange Villa Nursing Home, Lamar University’s Wesley’s Community, Orange County and Community Service and its current and successful outreach ministry known as Feed My Sheep. This ministry developed to take care of the less advantaged people of Orange, Texas. It has also fostered a partnership with First United Methodist Church of Orange and the Southeast Texas Food Bank.

History of Ministers

Rev. Joseph Hardin was the first minister assigned to Salem in 1869. He served for a number of years and was replaced by Rev. Helm in 1900, Rev. S. W. John in 1903, Rev. C.S. Williams in 1906. Serving from 1909 to 1921 were: C.C. Sapp, T.S. Pryor, B.W. Taylor, J. Gilder and G.E. D. Belcher. Rev. J.L. Blue was assigned in 1921 and remained until 1925. It was during his administration, that the completion of the first masonry structure was accomplished. Ministers serving from 1925 to 1929 were: C.H. Woolfork and G.E.D. Belcher (second appointment). Ministers serving from 1930 to 1941 were: A.W. Harley, T.M. Jackson, F.W. Logan, D.D. Dyer, F.D. Mayes and R.H. White. A.D. Phelps, H.D. Pace, E.T. Albudy and N.W. White served from 1941 to 1951. Rev. C. R. McKinney came in 1951, L.D. Hadley in 1957, W. L. Brownlow in 1958, W.H. B. Tapp in 1963, Ezekiel Taylor in 1968, and V. L. McGee in 1971. Rev. I.T. Davis was assigned in 1972, during his tenure, our present building was completed and dedicated. Rev. Clarence Breaux arrived in 1973 and served until 1993. Rev. Donald R. Waddleton was appointed in 1993, Rev. Horace A. Winn, III in 1997 and Rev. Isiah M. Lee Jr. in 2000. In June of 2003, history was made, as Rev. Patricia Lewis, the first female minister was appointed. In 2008, Rev. Dr. Carolyn McCall-Livingston, our present minister was appointed.