Our Church History
We would like to welcome you to our family of faith. Our church is unique in that it is a combination of three United Churches of Christ with German heritage backgrounds dating back to the 1800's. However, today's Church, founded in 1993, has expanded and is striving to become a multicultural church reaching out to all as we become "community engaged". Our goal of being a caring, engaged, and concerned congregation is carried out through our ministries and outreach programs which span from the local to the global.
With the merger of St. John's and St. Matthew in 1988, two churches came to be known as one and St. John-St. Matthew United Church of Christ was born. As the changing demographics brought St. John's to their new location on Fleming Road and St. Matthew to join them there, so did changing demographics cause Carthage United Church of Christ to seek a merger. In December, 1996, a Plan of Union was formed between St. John-St. Matthew and Carthage to work towards the ultimate goal of merger. Carthage began attending services at St. John- St. Matthew in January, 1997 and the church adopted a temporary name of St. John - St. Matthew and Carthage United Church of Christ. Separate congregational meetings were called on June 1, 1997 to vote to merge and happily, both congregations unanimously approved the merger. A new constitution was also approved that day and a Church Naming Committee was formed out of the Merger Committee. Merger Sunday was celebrated on the United Church of Christ Founding Sunday, June 29, 1997. Keepsake Angelstones were given as mementos of the occasion. The Naming Committee, after narrowing a lengthy list of choices with the help of the congregation, proposed a new name in October, 1997. With a vote in November, 1997, the original three churches were known as one - Fleming Road United Church of Christ.
Historical records show that all three churches were formed for the same purpose - to be a place located in close proximity where people could worship in their native German language. All three churches changed their name many times throughout the years. Changing neighborhoods caused all three to move locations and yet once again all have changed their names. We have all come from different backgrounds, have individual tastes, and have our own way of doing things. But we all now share the proud traditions and histories of Carthage, St. John's and St. Matthew and have developed our own traditions out of those as Fleming Road.
With the merger of St. John's and St. Matthew in 1988, two churches came to be known as one and St. John-St. Matthew United Church of Christ was born. As the changing demographics brought St. John's to their new location on Fleming Road and St. Matthew to join them there, so did changing demographics cause Carthage United Church of Christ to seek a merger. In December, 1996, a Plan of Union was formed between St. John-St. Matthew and Carthage to work towards the ultimate goal of merger. Carthage began attending services at St. John- St. Matthew in January, 1997 and the church adopted a temporary name of St. John - St. Matthew and Carthage United Church of Christ. Separate congregational meetings were called on June 1, 1997 to vote to merge and happily, both congregations unanimously approved the merger. A new constitution was also approved that day and a Church Naming Committee was formed out of the Merger Committee. Merger Sunday was celebrated on the United Church of Christ Founding Sunday, June 29, 1997. Keepsake Angelstones were given as mementos of the occasion. The Naming Committee, after narrowing a lengthy list of choices with the help of the congregation, proposed a new name in October, 1997. With a vote in November, 1997, the original three churches were known as one - Fleming Road United Church of Christ.
Historical records show that all three churches were formed for the same purpose - to be a place located in close proximity where people could worship in their native German language. All three churches changed their name many times throughout the years. Changing neighborhoods caused all three to move locations and yet once again all have changed their names. We have all come from different backgrounds, have individual tastes, and have our own way of doing things. But we all now share the proud traditions and histories of Carthage, St. John's and St. Matthew and have developed our own traditions out of those as Fleming Road.
