09-25-06 Council Meeting Minutes

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REGULAR MEETING SEPTEMBER 25, 2006 RESOLUTION NO. 3639-06 A RESOLUTION OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, PUBLICLY COMMENDING THE CONGREGATION OF FIRST UNITED METHODIST TH CHURCH IN HONOR OF ITS 175 ANNIVERSARY AND PUBLICLY NOTING ITS HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE AS THE OLDEST CHURCH IN THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA Whereas, the Common Council of the City of South Bend, Indiana, is proud to recognize that First United Methodist Church located at 333 North Main Street in downtown South Bend is the oldest church in our city; noting that back in 1831 Reverend Nehemiah B. Griffith traveled to this area seeking members; and Whereas, the South Bend Common Council recognizes that on January 19, 1833, Samuel Martin, Francis R. Tuft, Simeon Mason, Samuel Good and William Stanfield were elected to be the Trustees of the Methodist Episcopal Church in the town of South Bend and later in July of 1835 a small frame church (35’ x 45’ with a 14’ ceiling) was built on Main Street between LaSalle and Colfax Avenues; and Whereas, in January of 1861, a committee was appointed to secure a college with the first classes being held in the basement of First Methodist Episcopal Church, and the first college was dedicated on January 10, 1867 as the Northern Indiana College; and on May 28, 1894 the Women’s Home Missionary Society and members of the Methodist churches met and adopted the name of Epworth Hospital and Training School which later became known as Memorial Hospital of South Bend; and Downtown for Good Whereas, based on this rich history and under the motto “”, th First United Methodist is marking its 175 year, and continues to daily carry out its vision of social ministries with their soup kitchen located in the church basement serving over 300 meals per week and reaching out to more than 525,000 persons since this program began; with their Upper Room ministry providing shelter for those who have nowhere else to sleep and also serving as a halfway house for recovering alcoholics; with the establishment of a food pantry which serves over 750 households annually; with church members and staff becoming actively involved with Habitat for Humanity, natural disaster relief and establishing a nursing program where a nurse comes to the soup kitchen to check vitals and makes referrals to free health clinics and other programs. Now, Therefore, be it resolved, by the Common Council of the City of South Bend, Indiana, as follows: Section I. On behalf of all of the citizens of the City of South Bend, Indiana, the Common Council hereby congratulates and commends the members and staff of First th United Methodist Church in marking its 175 anniversary and recognizes it as the oldest church located in downtown South Bend, and further recognizes First United Methodist Church for its vision as a church located in the heart of our city which provides so many needed and vital outreach programs and services. Section II. The South Bend Common Council encourages all members of our community to participate in the upcoming activities at First United Methodist Church th which include a dance on October 27 and a Church Reunion Weekend on October 27 through October 29, 2006; and commends Rev. Dan Berger, Senior Pastor; Rev. Bob Dungy, Pastoral Counselor; Dr. Wishart Bell, Director of Music; Diana Green, Coordinator of Children’s Ministries, Carl Reed, Director of the Upper Room; Dr. Betty Woodland, Organist; Gayle Wilson, Administrative Assistant, Dave Skalski, Building Manager; Patti McCready, Financial Manager; Pat Kyle, Director of the Soup Kitchen; 2