|
Brief History of the
Cosmopolitan United Church
As we commemorate the
17th anniversary of the Cosmopolitan United Church (CUC) on June
12, 2011, let us take a few minutes to look back at its brief but colorful
history. First of all, it is to be clarified that this union church is
now almost 39 years old. The two churches that formed it in June, 1972
go back more than a century earlier. Cosmopolitan’s predecessor, the
United Church of the Medical Center (UCMC) located at 606 Ashland Ave.,
Chicago was formed by the union of the former St. Paul United Methodist
Church and the Third Presbyterian Church. The Articles of Agreement was
approved and adopted by the Presbytery of Chicago on February 8, 1972 and by
the Northern Illinois Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church on
June 8, 1972.
The Articles of Agreement contained the statements of ministry
which set forth the vision of ministry to the Medical Center complex
and the surrounding neighborhoods. Since 1972, the congregation has
become an international metropolitan community. The building served as
an important meeting place for groups from the Medical Center, various
international communities and for denominational gatherings. Both
by location and commitment, the UCMC was in a position to address concerns of
the Medical Center Community, the issues affecting the diverse people of the
metropolitan area, and worldwide religious and justice issues.
The pastors of the two congregations that merged in 1972, Rev.
Dr. George Shreiner and Rev. Dean Overholser retained their spiritual
leadership roles as co-pastors. In 1980, when Dr. George Shreiner who
was the United Methodist Pastor retired, Bishop Jesse DeWitt and the Cabinet
appointed Rev. Leo Constantino in his place. In 1986, the Bishop
and the General Board of Pension and Health Benefits of the United Methodist
Church appointed Rev. Leo Constantino Assistant General Secretary. The
Bishop and the Cabinet appointed Rev. Judith Kelsey-Powell to replace Pastor
Constantino as the United Methodist Pastor. Rev. Kelsey Powell led the
flock in the move to its present location in Melrose Park.
After a period of Methodist and Presbyterian co-pastors of the
United Church of the Medical Center, the Northern Illinois Conference, the
Presbytery of Chicago and the Church Council decided that a more
effective ministry would result if one pastor focused on the church and the
other on the Medical Center. From this decision, the Medical Center
Ministry (Chaplaincy) was born. Though they have separate boards and
lines of accountability, the Medical Center Ministry shared space in the UCMC
building. They maintained a good sense of mutuality and recognized
their interdependency. Another significant offshoot of the evaluation
was the decision to have the pastoral appointment to be United Methodist and
the Chaplaincy, Presbyterian, USA
From the early 1980’s to 1994, the most serious problem that
UCMC experienced was the court litigation caused by the unwanted offer to buy
the church facility by the Rush St. Luke Presbyterian Hospital. At one time,
the local papers described the court fight as the battle of David &
Goliath. UCMC, with the help of the Northern Illinois Conference and
the General Council on Finance Administration of The United Methodist Church
persevered. In early 1994, the court litigation was settled amicably
and Rush St Luke bought the facility at the prevailing market price.
Out of the proceeds of the sale, UCMC bought the facility that was owned by
the First Presbyterian Church, which was also home of the former Melrose Park
United Methodist Church.
On May 22, 1994, the United Church of the Medical Center adopted
a new name, the Cosmopolitan United Church, and held its first service in
Melrose Park. A few weeks later, Rev. Judith Kelsey-Powell was
appointed to Morgan Park United Methodist Church in the Chicago Southern
District. In her place Bishop R. Sheldon Duecker and the cabinet
appointed Rev. Scott Shreve at Cosmopolitan. From then on, the changes
in pastoral leadership are as follows: Rev. David Jamir, January 1998 to June
30, 1999; Rev. Digna Campanano, July 1, 1999 to June 30, 2003; Rev.
Bienvenido F. Hayag, July 1, 2003 to June 30, 2006; Rev. Randy Creath, July
1. 2006 to December 2008; Rev. Robert Preston Price, February 1, 2009 to June
30, 2009; and Rev. Kye Ile Hong, July 1, 2009 to the present.
There was a minor shift in mission of UCMC when it moved
and changed its name. Where before the UCMC provided pastoral care,
worship and education for the congregation at the same time concentrated on a
campus ministry especially with international students in the Medical Center
area, Cosmopolitan United Church’s Mission Statement now reads in part
Cosmopolitan United Church - an
international community of faith
In Metro Chicago serving as a gateway to new
life. We believe the church is the redeemed worshipping community,
faithfully responding to God’s word of truth, love, justice and compassion as
revealed in Jesus Christ. We believe it is our task to: witness and
declare God’s saving grace in Jesus Christ and invite others to walk with us
in faith, nurture disciples in their understanding of Christian faith and
practice and enable them to be responsible participants in the work of the
ministry – live as a servant people.
The congregation of Cosmopolitan United Church is not only
international, it is also interdenominational. Though administratively
United Methodist and Presbyterian, everyone is welcome. On June 5, 2011,
Ascension Sunday, the congregation rejoiced to gather 7 nationalities under
one roof: Chinese, Filipino, Haitian, Korean, South Asian (India); Thai, and
American.
Cosmopolitan currently houses the Grace Montessori School, the
Proviso Food Pantry, and the Good Samaritan Church (Anglican).
Floro
R. Gutierrez, May 20, 2001;
Revised May, 2005, by Leo M. Constantino ;
Revised June 6, 2011 by
Pong Javier
|
