140-year-old restored church has renewed vision

BY SHERON C. PATTERSON
UMR Editor

The power of partnership was evident Thursday, July 22, 2010, at the ribbon-cutting ceremony of the newly renovated St. Paul UMC in the Arts District of downtown Dallas. A joyous crowd from the St. Paul and Highland Park congregations eagerly awaited their opportunity to enter the building, which had been closed for repairs 16 months.

In spring 2007, two starkly different congregations—one white, one African-American—formed a partnership to renovate and restore St. Paul’s historic building. St. Paul UMC, founded 140 years ago by freed slaves from Texas, Mississippi and Louisiana, continues to serve Dallas through arts and social service programs. It is one of the oldest African-American churches in North Texas, a Dallas landmark and the only historically black institution in the Arts District still serving in its original capacity. At one time it housed Samuel Huston College, now Huston Tillotson University in Austin. It also helped to organize existing congregations such as Hamilton Park, Warren and Crest- Moore King, now Unity.

The renovation project cost $4.5 million and included shoring up the foundation, reinforcing the stairs and the addition of ADA-compliant restrooms, an elevator and a bridal suite. The pews and stained glass have all been refurbished to their original luster. During construction, Cocharan Chapel UMC in the Bluffview area of North Dallas offered meeting and worship space to St. Paul UMC.

During the ribbon-cutting services, Bishop W. Earl Bledsoe recalled his days as a youth who visited at St. Paul. “As a young person , I heard [ former pastor] Dr. Ira B. Loud preaching, and his voice sounded like God. He helped me to see God and to love the work of the church.”

Arville McLain, associate pastor of Highland Park UMC, offered congratulations on behalf of his congregation, including senior pastor Mark Craig and his staff, as “we recall the outstanding ministry of this church in the years since its inception. It has stood as a symbol of peace, grace and hope in the midst of a dynamic, ever-changing community.

“What a privilege it has been for the people of Highland Park United Methodist Church to join heart and hand with our sisters and brothers here at St. Paul and dedicate our resources with yours to undertake and bring to completion this very worthy cause. May our partnership be but the beginning of an ever-expanding effort to make Jesus known in all his love and power to all those who come our way and those to whom we go with the life-changing good news.”

Rev. Elzie Odom, St. Paul’s senior pastor, basked in the joy. “We are the soul of the Arts District because we are their conscienceness. We never forget the poor. When the Arts District opened its new, beautiful and expensive buildings, we realized that low-income children may not have the opportunity to see them. So we brought the children to the Arts District. We don’t know if the next Michelangelo is living next door to a crack house.” By exposing children to art, they may be inspired, he said.

“We are still learning and discovering,” he said. “The new building is significant, but it not where the miracle ends. Now we can truly be about God’s business. This is not a museum. It is an active congregation.”

The St. Paul congregation has been celebrating the completion of its “A Miracle in the Making” initiative with its re-entry into the newly renovated church, declaring it a time of “A Miracle Made.” The final celebration will be a musical, “Back to Eden,” by the St. Paul music ministry at 4 p.m. Aug. 15. The church is at 1816 Routh St.

More information about the ministry of St. Paul UMC and plans for the future is available at www.stpaulumcdallas.com.