Chapter 3

The congregation eagerly awaited the arrival of the Deasons in
September of 1980. After the extended period of bitterness and polar-
zation, the congregation was in need of a pastor who could be compas-
sionate, who understood church separation, and who could assist the
members to make the tough decisions that were necessitated. They
“struck gold” when the Reverend John Deason arrived. He had been pro-
fessionally trained and experienced in the interim ministry. His pre-
vious work had taken place in the states of New York, Illinois,
Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin. Mr. Deason had committed himself to
interim service and was considered an outstanding specialist in this
type of work. He helped the members not to dwell on the recent past
but, instead, to look forward to the future. Kay and John elected to
live in the Broadway Manse. The Kinney Manse had been sold for
$63,600.

In July, the Session had activated the Nominating Committee to fill
the vacancies realized by resignation. Dorothy Theunissen and Nancy
Telfer were the Session representatives. During this period, the con-
gregation approved reducing the size of the two governing Boards from
‘twenty-seven members each to eighteen members each. A church commit-
tee was established to revise the Church By-laws. This committee con-
sisted of Vern Austin, Marilyn Jobns, and Richard Nisbet. The
Maranatha Singers separated themselves from the church. The use of
the Dialog House was discontinued and its existing programs terminat-
ed. A few months later, the Reverend Katherine Fpperly was hired as
Interim Assistant Pastor with the responsibilities of the position of
Coordinator of Campus Activities.

‘The Thanksgiving Eve Service was held in cooperation with Trinity
Christian Reformed, First Methodist, Trinity Methodist, Sacred Heart
Catholic, and Immanuel Lutheran churches.

The United Presbyterian Women of the church were a strong and
steadfast group at this time. It maintained an on-going thread of
strength that wound through the church, giving it a base upon which
Programs could be built. A review of the U.P.W. Purpose seems appro-
priate as the local group of women more than lived up to its intent:
“Seeking to be Obedient to God’s Call in Jesus Christ, We unite: To
support the Mission of the United Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A.,
to help One Another to Grow in Christian Faith and Understanding, and
to Act in Christian Concern in the Company of God’s People
Everywhere.”

The group held another successful Tasting Bee and Bake Sale.
Tasting Bees were started in 1962 and held biennially through 1986.
Zt was held in conjunction with either a Bake Sale or a Craft Show.
Recipe books were sold which contained recipes for the foods served.
‘The program saw a high percentage of the ladies of the church involved
and working together. It was replaced by a larger Craft Sale and Bake
Sale where luncheon was served. Occasionally an all-church rummage
sale was held. The United Presbyterian Women continued their mission
projects which over the past several years had included support for
Big Brother-Big Sister Program, Eagle Hoy’s Village, Migrant Ministry,
Presbyterian Youth for Summer Camp, Detroit Church of the Covenant for
race relations work, Food with Friends, Foreign Christian Service,
Beacon House, individual emergency gifts for needy persons and fami-
lies, support for Taiwanese and Japanese orphans, and assistance to
C.M.U. Indian students. In addition to contributions to mission, the
women of the church held periodic sewing meetings in which they

 

 

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completed blankets for AIDs children, leper shirts, hospital gowns,
baby blankets, sweaters, layettes, mittens, school bags, health kits,
and bandages. The circles were reorganized into four groups and named
for women in the Bible - Rachel, Priscilla, Hannah, and Lydia.

 

‘The stairwell enclosure and glass firewall were installed in the
northwest corner of the education wing of the church. This was funded
primarily by the Isabella Child Development Center. In subsequent
years, this group financed the fencing of the playground area and the
carpeting of their area and an adjacent room. The Center had origi-
nally used the present John Witherspoon Room but later moved to the
Patsy Bratton Turner Roam (kindergarten) .

When the Christian Education Director had been relieved of his
position, Hope Carlson acted as temporary Superintendent of Sunday
School during the summer; then Dorothy Theunissen assumed the role. A
Christian Education Task Force was formed, with the primary responsi-
bility to select materials for the church school. It also needed to
look for more permanent leadership in the area. This task force con-
sisted of Hope Carlson, Sue Bitzer, Dale Austin, Beverly Ketcham,
‘Tammy Sears, Cindy Miles, Annabel Brown, Beverly Crawley, Hal Crawley,
and Dorothy Theunissen. ‘The group selected, and Session approved, the
use of “Christian Education: Shared Approaches” materials. Sherry
Hicks was hired as part-time Christian Education Coordinator.

  

 

The Finance Comittee had been able to pay all salaries and all
local expenditures. With an anticipated $15,000 deficit by the year’s
end, an appeal was made for increased contributions. Ted Tetreault
headed the pledge campaign for 1981 - the budget was set at $119,700
and 171 pledges came to $88,500. The difference had to be made up
through non-pledge contributions, loose offerings, interest on the
Kinney Manse sale, Campus Mission Office, Sunday School pledges, and
miscellaneous sources. During November, eighty names had been deleted
from the rolls. Much of this was the result of the changes in church
leadership and direction as described earlier.

Earlier the church had received a gift of a stained glass window
from glass from the Main Street church. The G.R. Denisons had con-
tributed this as a memorial to former presidents of C.M.U., Charles

Anspach and Judson Foust. it is now
installed above the door at the north
entrance of the church building.

The Reverend John Deason made a positive
observation after he had been on the job a
few months - “during these past months we
have worked together to restore dignity and
beauty to our worship services, to provide
direction and order in our sense of mission,
to give confidence and stability in the min-
istry and to prepare the church for the
calling of a new pastor.” The church was
certainly moving forward.

7 During 1979 and 1960, 9 comittee had
oe, been working diligently to bring a refugee
a family to Mt. Pleasant. ‘Included in this
‘The Reverend John M. group were Mary Obuchowski, Oliver
Deason, interm pastor Oberlander, Louise Decker, and Louis Ecker.
of First Presbyterian The following January the Sok Tal Nou family
Church 1980-81. was introduced to the congregation. They

 

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were from Cambodia and sponsored by the church. Monica Nou, and her
daughter, Mara, remained in the commmity for many years. Mara became
a Rotary Exchange Student abroad and traveled extensively. she
received a top academic scholarship to Central Michigan University.
Mara was to meet an unfortunate death through an automobile accident
in 1994, only three months after her marriage and three months prior
to graduation from the university; a tragic loss!

 

A special committee was established on Mission Directions. It
included Frances Dietrich, Helen L. Hamel, June House, Rex Hewlett,
Robert Heydenburg, and Jon Cantelon as consultant. A review of mis-
sion work over the next several years clearly demonstrated that the
Church was committed in that area. Beside the sponsoring of the
refugee family, other projects were to include supporting the
Association for Inter-Faith Ministries, 2¢-A-Meal program (Costa Rica),
Habitat for Humanity, World Hunger, Family Counseling Services, the
Reverend Guy and Monique Bakaert’s medical mission in Cameroon, Tom
Richardson as a student missionary in Japan, and many others.

On March 22, 1981, nine people were elected to form the Pastoral
Nominating Committee. This important committee was chaired by Garry
Mesler and included Beverly Crawley, Nikoline Bye, John Wolf, June
House, Jim McTaggart, Annabel Brown, Robert Heydenburg, and Shirley

 

November 15, 1961 was the Reverend John Deason’s last Sunday. Kay
and John were honored by the congregation at a “Celebration of the
Interim” dinner that evening. Mr. Deason left to become interim pas-
tor to First Presbyterian Church of Cedar Falls, IA. His fourteen
months with First Presbyterian Church of Mt. Pleasant, MI. covered one
of the most critical periods in the church’s history. During his
tenure the congregation came to terms with its history, accepted its
troubles and put them in the past. The identity of the church was
clarified as a positive Presbyterian Congregation with clear goals and
open ministry. He had led people to new visions of what can be
accomplished as a Christian Church loyal to Christ and the reformed
church tradition.

 

‘The Sok Tal Nou Family sponsored by First First Presbyterian
Church as Cambodian refugees in 1980.

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During the period prior to Deason’s arrival, Dr. Charles House, an
ordained Presbyterian Minister from the Central Michigan University
administrative staff, had helped the Session, the Christian Education
Committee, and the Campus Ministry during that trying period. He now
continued this assistance until a new pastor would arrive. This
included leading the Christmas Eve Service.

In this time of tight fiscal conditions, a Committee on Energy
Conservation was appointed. It consisted of Louis Ecker, chairperson,
Sue Blodgett, Margaret Hartmann, Robert Krapohl, and Floyd Otteman.
Its charge was to determine problems of church and Manse facilities
relating to energy use. The Dialog House on South University was
sold; the church could use the interest earned toward funding the
campus program.

In November, the Session dismissed Scout Troop #628 which was
under the leadership of a member of the Commnity Church. By the next
fall a new troop, #634, was underway under the leadership of David
Lindley.

‘The Campus Comittee applied for a Synod grant to begin a campus
program entitled “Ministry to Blacks at C.M.U.”. .Dr. Francis Curtis
from the university was employed to assist; his office was in the
Wesley Foundation.

  

As 1981 came to a close, the Pastoral Nominating Committee had
selected the Reverend Dr. Stephen Shugert from Baltimore, Maryland to
provide the leadership for the church’s future. The congregation
approved their selection. Active resident members at the time
totaled 481.

 

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