Central UMC is Moving On

Authors: Randy Shelton and Gene Cross

Since 2016, DevCo has been closely working with the leadership team at Central UMC, navigating a journey from a dream of vision and faith to the reality of constructing a new retail, affordable housing, and church facility. A construction project of this magnitude continues to require tremendous leadership efforts! On July 1st, the church will be one step closer towards completing its journey. The church will relocate to a temporary facility in preparation for the demolish of the existing church building and the start of construction. Through DevCo’s loan program, we have been able to help Central UMC’s leadership to navigate the journey to get to this exciting point towards the finish line! Gene Cross, building project chair and trustee at Central UMC is one of the major players. He and Pastor Sarah Harrison-McQueen have been instrumental in guiding the church through this process of getting to the construction phase.

According to Gene, as he gives his perspective of the journey: “It’s been a long arduous trek but the building project at Central UMC in Arlington began as a dream that started in 2007 at lunch with Bishop Peter Story followed by discernment on how to be God’s hands in the community. A prayer-walk through the neighborhood which led to a mission serving the homeless at our door. Listening to the trials of young adults in our midst and their needs for affordable living and especially the needs for preschools and childcare. All the while Central was in deteriorating building that we struggled to maintain. As we puzzled over the issues a plan to use our property to meet the community needs developed. We would use our asset by developing the site, building a new church, expanding the preschool and adding 144 affordable housing units.

We were able to find partners in our vision with Devco and the Arlington Partnership for Affordable housing. After considerable work with architects, lawyers, county planners and others, we were able to gain site plan approval for our vision and obtain adequate financing.

Now we are beginning to pack up, preparing to move to a temporary facility. As Covid-19 lock downs come to an end, we are excited about new beginnings. We will share space with First Vietnamese UMC in Arlington. We will be in the wilderness for 2-3 years during construction. It will be an opportunity to try new things as our new building takes shape. We will rethink our existing mission programs. We won’t abandon those who have been counting on us. We’ve started a Manna Ministry, recalling how Moses’ people gathered food in the desert. We’re morphing to serve Arlington’s hungry differently. As we tear down our church walls, we’re more acutely aware of those who also live outside. We are transitioning our existing ministry to broaden support for those who are serving the community by working with Food Rescue US.

We’ve learned for our Covid-19 experience that church can be done differently. We’re planning on Saturday evening church with perhaps dinner and football afterward. You know date-night with a side of religion.

New surroundings, new time and different resources, how creative can we be. Let’s wander through this wilderness and discover the new prospects that our God can offer.

A dream, a vision, discernment, partnering and faith. The support of Devco has been critical in helping this dream and vision come this far.”