What's Ahead for Old First ChurchThis book is about the Old First Churches in the central business districts of American cities. The term Old First Church refers to a church characterized by a downtown location, members who are drawn from many sections of the city, and varied programs of activities that appeal to a wide range of people. More often than not, the name First (First Baptist, First Presbyterian, First Methodist, etc.) was chosen because it signified the first congregation of a particular denomination to be organized in the town. The material presented here is the result of a three-year study of more than three hundred downtown congregations in over one hundred cities across the country. |
Contents
Old First Church Yesterday and Today | 1 |
What Happened Downtown? | 9 |
A New Role for Old First | 22 |
Copyright | |
8 other sections not shown
Common terms and phrases
activities adults apartments attract automobile become central business district central city central-city church building church located church members church program cial close-in residential commercial considered constituencies construction continued ministry decline denomination downtown area downtown congregations downtown pastor drastic effective pastor erected factors families funds future gregation groups high-rise housing hundred institution large number larger laymen leaders leadership Little Rock live maintain major membership merger metropolitan area minister mission move nearby needs ness district office building Old First Church opportunity outlying participate particular particular church past percent period person potential present problems public transportation rapid transit real estate recent recruit relocate residents role Second Church serve shopping centers significant number special ministries staff street successful downtown church Sunday morning survival tion town church traditional transit trends United Methodist Church urban renewal visitor worship services young single adult