Over a century and a half of Christian dedication in the heart of Chelsea

The Methodist Episcopal Church of Chelsea was organized in 1853 and was served by traveling clergy from Ann Arbor. By 1859, the congregation had built a church on the current Park Street site. The first minister who served the church on a regular basis was B.I. Ives. Just after the Civil War, in 1866, a parsonage was constructed next to the church.  The congregation grew to more than 50 members during this time.

In January, 1899, the wooden church building burned to the ground. The church was rebuilt as the current stone structure in thirteen months. The dedication of the stone edifice was in February, 1900, with the dedication sermon preached by Rev. I.B. Ives, who had led the congregation in 1859.  

As the community of Chelsea grew and flourished, so did our congregation.  By 1939, membership had grown to more than 300 persons. World War II was a huge disruption in the lives of the people of Chelsea and of the church.  After the war, the congregation continued to grow. By the late 1950’s, the congregation numbered more than 500 and had clearly outgrown the stone church built in 1899. The solution was the current Educational Wing, begun in 1959 and dedicated in 1963. 

During 1982, our congregation focused on the future ministry of the church. A decision was made to remain committed to the present site and serve as a vital witness in the downtown Chelsea community. In 1992, construction began on the main entrance, elevator, coatroom and restrooms. The growth and energy of the congregation gave momentum for the building of the Shairer Wing, including Grams Hall. Those facilities were opened in 1996. 

In 2014  the Restore – Renew – Reach Out Campaign was started to gain pledges from the congregation to perform extensive remodel and repairs to our aging Sanctuary. And thanks to the generosity of members, these repairs were completed in 2015.

Now, in the 21st Century, Chelsea First United Methodist Church has a growing ministry of music, missional outreach, and spiritual growth opportunities for all ages. We have great hope as we look to the future!

Leadership Board will host retreat, town hall in August

 Members of the Chelsea First’s Leadership Board are making final plans for their annual planning retreat in August and the congregation town hall that will follow.

 Next steps were outlined and confirmed during the Leadership Board’s July 8 meeting. The Rev. Melanie Carey, Chelsea First’s consultant in the simplified accountable structure of church governance, attended the meeting to observe and assist with plans for the retreat.

 The all-day retreat is scheduled for Aug. 5 at St. Paul’s United Church of Christ in Chelsea. Among the items to be addressed during the retreat are:

•  A review of the past year, including mission outreach, by Chelsea First.
•  Goal setting for the year ahead.
•  Refinement of overall objectives for Chelsea First.
•  Identification of spiritual development and leadership development needs for leadership board members.

 The Aug. 17 congregational town hall is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. in the social hall. Leadership Board members will share initial thoughts on goals for the coming year developed during the retreat and seek feedback and input from the congregation.

 During the July 8 meeting, Nolan Peterson shared research and thought on why attending church matters during the time for spiritual formation. He said there are many reasons for why people attend worship services and other church events: to meet people; out of obligation; to be a part of a faith community; to provide a faith base for their children; to become a better person; to grow closer to God. Small group discussions followed.

 The Rev. Joy Barrett led the leadership development time with information on how best to respond to concerns from church members. She shared an effective outline:

•  Paraphrase the complaint to be sure you understand it clearly.
•  Ask if the complaint has been shared with the person who is the subject of the complaint. If not, encourage the complainant to do so.
•  If the complainant is reluctant to talk with the subject of the complaint, offer to go with them.
•  If still unwilling to talk directly to the subject of the complaint, offer to share the complaint with the Leadership Board, but only if the complainant is willing to share their name. Anonymous complaints should not be shared.
•  Work to resolve the issue; be hard on issues and soft on people.
•  Remember that conflict is not always a bad thing.

 Among other items addressed during the July Leadership Board meeting:

• Monthly consent agenda items were approved unanimously. These items include the minutes of the June meeting and the May consolidated financial report.
•  There were three guests attending the meeting.

Because of the planning retreat and the town hall, there will be no regular Leadership Board meeting in August. The next regular meeting will be Sept. 9, 6:30-8 p.m. in Room 207. Meetings are open to the public.

Approved 2025 Board meeting minutes:

January 14 – Leadership Board meeting minutes

February 11 – Leadership Board meeting minutes

March 11 – Leadership Board meeting minutes

April 8 – Leadership Board meeting minutes

May Leadership Board meeting minutes

June 10 – Leadership Board meeting minutes

Meet Our Leadership Board

We are grateful for the dedicated individuals who serve on our Leadership Board, guiding our church with wisdom, faith, and a commitment to our mission. Each member brings unique gifts and perspectives as we seek to fulfill God’s call in our community.

Our board operates on a rotating schedule, with members serving in designated “classes.” This structure ensures continuity while allowing new voices to join in leadership. Click the link below to learn more about our current board members:

📌 Leadership Board Member Bios

Guiding Principles

The Leadership Board for Chelsea First has unanimously approved the “guiding principles” that will broadly guide how the church will operate as it moves closer to full implementation of the simplified accountable structure adopted in in 2024.

The guiding principles, say, in part that Chelsea First is a “vibrant, intentionally inclusive, justice-seeking faith congregation.”

The guiding principles are the permission-giving policies, procedures and practices that protect and allow the ministry of the church to function on a day-to-day basis within healthy boundaries. They outline areas of responsibility for the Leadership Board as well as key areas of local church operations.

Adopting the guiding principles by May was one of the initial goals adopted by the Leadership Board for the first year under the streamlined simplified accountable structure for church operations.

The guiding principles, say, in part that Chelsea First is a “vibrant, intentionally inclusive, justice-seeking faith congregation.”

The guiding principles are the permission-giving policies, procedures and practices that protect and allow the ministry of the church to function on a day-to-day basis within healthy boundaries. They outline areas of responsibility for the Leadership Board as well as key areas of local church operations.

The document, approved at the board’s May 13 meeting, can be read in full by clicking the link below. Adopting the guiding principles by May was one of the initial goals adopted by the Leadership Board for the first year under the streamlined simplified accountable structure for church operations.

 Guiding Principles

Understanding the SAS Model Rotation in the UMC

In the United Methodist Church’s Simplified, Accountable Structure (SAS) model, leadership board members typically serve three-year terms in a rotating pattern. Here’s how it works:

• Board members are divided into “classes” (e.g., Class of 2024, Class of 2025, Class of 2026).

• Each year, one “class” rotates off the board, and a new group of leaders is elected.

• This ensures continuity (experienced leaders remain) and fresh perspectives (new members bring new ideas).

• The goal is to provide stability, accountability, and clear decision-making for the church’s mission and ministry.

This model streamlines governance while empowering lay leadership to work efficiently and faithfully. If you’re interested in serving, have a question or comment, we’d love to hear from you!

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