Roots of Peoples United Methodist Church
Part 65 Preparing With Love For the Safety of All
Note: In the last edition of Roots we indicated that the Sesquicentennial Celebration year would be included in this edition. The editor believing that there was still unfinished business has taken the liberty to place the history included in this edition before the celebration which will most definitely be included in Edition or Episode 66 and perhaps more. Thank you for your understanding. AJT
The world around us in this new century and millenium seemed to be increasingly dangerous not only away from American shores but also within its borders. Increasing misuse of weapons in the hands of civilians and even young people seemed to have led to needless tragedies. When several cases of abuse of children were reported in the news in homes as well as through what were considered to be safe environments for children panic developed in some circles. At the least a whole new perspective for safety needed to be developed by many children serving organizations. Churches were not excluded from this need. The considered innocence of Sunday schools had been violated in a number of cases involving church volunteers as well as some serving as pastors in local churches.
The response to this in the United Methodist Church was the creation of a Safe Sanctuaries program. At Peoples, Chuck Kamilewicz headed a task force of parishioners to develop a policy that would bring about a Safe Sanctuaries Policy. Any other churches seemed to lag behind, but through Chuck’s efforts a strong policy was developed. The policy provides directions on how Sunday school and any other program involving children needed to be operated relative to adult personnel and their relationships to children of all ages. This policy also led to some modifications in the structure and use of the building including the placement of glass windows in all of the steel reinforced doors throughout the building. Many of the policies that were considered appropriate to church run functions would also effect the operation of a Day Care program operated within the building by an outside supervisor.
The policy developed by Chuck and the other members of his task force has become a model for other United Methodist churches as well as other organizations to follow.
The pastor appointed in 2000, William Beddie was very supportive of the policy and offered a number of suggestions while letting parishioners work out the fine details of the program.
Pastor Bill gave stability to the pastorate overcoming years of instability caused by the "swinging door pulpit" that seemed to have been a part of the previous four or five years. Still long time members of the church departed for other churches, other towns, or as sadly in some cases, death. Many of the church leaders were aging and could not be expected to continue in that capacity, but many of the middle age parishioners that would be expected to move into leadership roles were among those that sought church life elsewhere. This is not to say that those that remained were not willing to move into leadership roles. Among those that were most active were Brad and Betsy Morrison. Together they revived the youth groups and led the young folks on many an adventure. The Morrisons would also be responsible for developing a coffee fellowship as well as serving on many committees including trustees and Staff Parish. The spirit of learning of God’s grace was enhanced through the continued sessions on Alpha held in the home of the Dunns, Ellen and Hank.
The United Methodist Women continued to function and serve the church by raising funds for church, mission and the support of the scholarship program. Monies were raised through the annual Christmas Fair that might be labeled Winter Wonderland or A Victorian Christmas or Christmas Around The World. Most often this fair was held the first Saturday in December. The women continued to spearhead the monthly bean suppers with help from an increasing number of men. Most often seen in the kitchen were Chris Ward, the Snoddys, the Nelsons, Doreen Gay, Ted Greer and Charlie Lyons. Others often seen working the crowd would be Hillie Cass, Belle Graney, Kay Robinson, Linda Greer and her family. Others would serve important roles like Mary Ann Wheeler who would be the ticket lady. Later in the history of bean suppers other significant participants would include Janice and Bob Huelin, Becky Gottleib, Chris and Mariah Bowker, Jody Fyles, Kathy Brann and most assuredly Peoples own angel, Susan.
United Methodist Men continued to function although less actively than in the past. The men would meet on the same evenings as UMW and receive a meal before they would meet separately. Numbers dwindled as membership aged. Often men could be seen assisting at the suppers and at the fair. Men continued to meet for fellowship and some men trekked to Purdue University in Indiana for an international meeting of UMM. Those attending included Pastor Bill, Merrill Kaiser, Earle Harvey, Tom Nelson and Doug Greer. We have been told that not all was roses on this long trip, but some of the men not only received inspiration from the great speakers at the conference, but also from chasing a little white ball around a green lush meadow nearby.
Considering that the church had seen many changes in the pastorate in a relatively short time, the same would be true for the District Superintendency. Gary Shaw succeeded Don Rudelevige. Gary was the DS at the time of our sesquicentennial but then he was moved to another district and was followed by Paul Chang. Paul Chang was soon moved to another position and his position was split by a husband and wife team, Jan and Mike Davis. Each time that a change occurred in District leadership it also seemed that the District had increased in size making it very difficult for Superintendent’s to reach out to individual parishes with some degree of closeness. It seemed from this writer’s point of view that the availability of leadership on the District and Conference level was becoming more remote. At one time the District we were in was simply known as the Greater Portland District. Then it became the Southern Maine District and today the district, known as the Tri-state District encompasses churches in southern Maine, northeaster Massachusetts and southern New Hampshire.
In spite of this Peoples people remained active at the Conference level with Pastor Bill, Wanda Stahl Hodgkins the growth coordinator, Hank Dunn and Merrill Kaiser playing significant roles. Andrea Hodgkins continued to play a significant role with the youth at the New England Conference.
In the local area the Casco Bay Cluster became stronger with member churches consisting of Peoples, West Scarborough, Cape Elizabeth, Thornton Heights, First Methodist and Elm Street all adding to the mix. One of the long standing activities that the cluster developed was the series of Lenten Services that were held prior to Easter as well as the Good Friday that was traditionally held at Peoples. Sharing information about what was taking place in each church was a bonus since it was much easier to plan local church functions that would complement each others activity calendar.
Adding to the life of Peoples in June of 2003 was a Recognition service and banquet, long overdue for those who were serving the church as employees. The following were honored for their service: Pastor Bill, Growth Coordinator Wanda Stahl-Hodgkins, Secretary Maryjean Raymond and Dannie and Linda French who had been serving as sextons. Marlene Tordoff who was serving as chairperson of the Staff-Parish Committee presided over the festivities.odgkinH
ank Dunn, Merrill Kaiser