Dexter Avenue United Methodist Church

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Dexter Avenue United Methodist Church, or simply Dexter UMC, is a Methodist Church located in Montgomery, Alabama, in the United States. It was founded in 1887.

1 History
2 Future
3 External links

[edit] History

[edit] The Original Church

The beginnings of Dexter Avenue United Methodist Church may be traced to the Session of the Alabama Conference of the Methodist Church, South, during December of 1887. Early in 1888, land was purchased at the corner of Dexter Avenue and Bainbridge Street. At this site was a building containing Dotzheim Grocery and Saloon. Dexter Avenue Methodist Church was formed in January of 1888 in the Saloon. The members met there several years. In 1890, the present site of the church was purchased. The cornerstone of the present building was laid in 1892. The present structure was completed and occupied in 1896.

Composite picture of our church campus and the state capital building (actually three blocks away at the beginning of Dexter Avenue.).

Dexter Avenue United Methodist Church has been a presence in downtown Montgomery for well over a century, "lifting high the cross of Christ at the crossroads of Alabama." Dexter has been at the forefront of improving race relationships in Montgomery and continues in this endeavor to this day. Our church is one of the most beautiful in Montgomery and uses a traditional order of worship on Sunday mornings and combines ways worshiping and discovering the presence of God at other times.

[edit] Church Revival Movement

Multiple groups and events at Dexter operate as part of a team of lay and clergy community pastors for various Christian groups and teams connected with this church and its community. We invite and prepare disciples of the LORD Jesus Christ so as to send them forth as servants and apostles in the world. Pastor Ron Smith and his wife Annemarie have been a happily married team for Jesus Christ since 1969. Our adult children and our grandchildren live in Atlanta, where they are active disciples of Jesus Christ.

[edit] Organizations

Many organizations have been formed throughout the life of the church. Among them were the The 301 Ballroom Dance Club (for over 13 years), The Annual Montgomery Sing-a-Long Messiah, the weekly “Tuesday Morning Prayer Breakfast” (for over 20 years), the weekly Friday Focus Prayer Luncheon (also for over 20 years), Tuesday and Wednesday pre-school worship with the Academy at the Helen Hunt Learning Center (using Abingdon Press’ Live B.I.G. curriculum), and the current extension of the Chaplaincy service to the Montgomery Police Department and the Emergency Communications Center of Montgomery. Many more groups and special programs have helped Dexter grow.

[edit] Future

Dexter is planning a Young Artist Concert Series for the spring for musicians and other performing arts students in the local area. Ministry and Mission continues with board of directors on the Nellie Berg Community Center. An Anglican Church is currently sharing space with Dexter until they can find a physical home in east Montgomery. The goal of the church, as stated by its ministers, is to "continue sharing compassion, hope and community in the name of Jesus Christ".