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OUR MISSION STATEMENT

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20 (NIV)

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OUR BELIEFS

The people of the United Methodist Church strive to be of Open hearts, Open minds, and Open doors. We do not all agree on every item of faith, but we do not have to. We welcome diversity as God’s glorious creation and see it as an expression of the majesty of the Creator.

The Bible

We believe the Bible to be the inspired Word of God and share the conviction that scripture is our guide for faith and practice.

The Trinity

We believe in a triune God–Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
God is infinite in power, wisdom, justice, goodness, and love and rules with gracious regard for the well-being and salvation of all people.

Baptism

Although it is not required for salvation, there is an expectation that all who profess faith in Jesus Christ be baptized.

Holy Communion

While Baptism marks the beginning of the Christian life we believe that Holy Communion sustains the Christian life. We celebrate Holy Communion as the remembrance of all God has done in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The communion table is open to all who profess Jesus Christ as Lord.

The United Methodist Cross

The cross and flame emblem is the official symbol of the United Methodist Church. The emblem is a cross linked with a dual flame. The emblem relates our church to God by way of the second and third persons of the Trinity–Christ (the cross) and the Holy Spirit (the flame). The duality of the flame was also meant to represent the merger in 1968 of two denominations–the Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Brethren Church.

Our History

Central United Methodist Church was founded in 1866 as Clark Chapel Methodist Episcopal Church. The church was named for Bishop Davis W. Clark, who became bishop in 1864 and was the first President of the Freedmen’s Aid Society.

The first location of the church was on Frasier Street in the Summerhill section of Atlanta. Because the building was painted a deep red, people in the community commonly called Clark Chapel the “Little Red Church.”

Central United Methodist Church was founded in 1866 as Clark Chapel Methodist Episcopal Church. The church was named for Bishop Davis W. Clark, who became bishop in 1864 and was the first President of the Freedmen’s Aid Society. The first location of the church was on Frasier Street in the Summerhill section of Atlanta. Because the building was painted a deep red, people in the community commonly called Clark Chapel the “Little Red Church.”

In 1876, Clark Chapel moved to a new facility on Hunter and Lloyd Streets. When Lloyd Street was changed to Central Avenue, the church became Central Avenue Methodist Episcopal. The Clark Chapel congregation witnessed the inauguration of Clark University and Gammon Theological Seminary, and felt great honor in having played a part in the organization of these notable institutions. Some of the classes for the schools assembled in the basement of the old Lloyd Street Church.

Some of the most progressive and aggressive movements for racial equality were engendered by and through Central. The church helped mold the civic and religious character of Atlanta as the city evolved into the southeast’s leader educationally and industrially, as well as the hub for civil rights activism.

Central has a storied history and continues its legacy of religious, civic, moral, and educational leadership.

Find out more about our history