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!

Town hall focuses on summary of Leadership Board work

Town Hall Meeting Agenda

Zoom Town Hall Meeting video recording (This video has been edited to remove breakout sessions and other periods of downtime for a more streamlined viewing experience. The main content remains unchanged.)

The first of three planned town hall sessions provided an opportunity for Chelsea First members to learn more about the simplified accountable structure of church governance and to offer their thoughts on areas of focus for the church.

This streamlined approach to church governance was adopted last fall and put into effect Jan. 1, 2025, along with an 11-member Leadership Board.

The March 20 town hall attracted about 40 people to attend the event, with another 15 people participating remotely.

Mike Vanderspool, chairperson of the Leadership Board, provided an overview of the simplified accountable structure, including the work done so far by the Leadership Board to develop a set of “guiding principles” that are foundational to the new approach. He said the principles are still undergoing revisions, but the goal is to have it in final form by May. The principles can be revised and amended as needed.

 Vanderspool said clear communication from the Leadership Board to the congregation and from the congregation to church leaders is a key to success. He said two additional town hall meetings were planned for 2025, with dates to be determined.

Among the initial goals set by the Leadership Board are to fully implement to the new approach to church governance, help members of the congregation create what he called “lifelong faith pathways” and to create a more robust culture of hospitality at Chelsea First.

Senior Pastor Joy Barrett described the process of creating lifelong faith pathways as including several elements. She emphasized that “we are all learners, and we are all teachers.” Among the components of lifelong faith pathways are:

• Developing a deeper understanding of Jesus.
• Learning about the Bible and the Christian faith.
• Cultivating relationships with God and with each other.
• Developing forms of corporate and personal worship.
• Enhancing our focus on social justice and becoming people of action.
• Developing a deeper understanding of the power of prayer.

 Leadership Board members Heather Hay and Nolan Peterson talked about the process of enhancing Chelsea First’s culture of hospitality to make everyone who enters the church feel welcome and valued. They have been part of a small group developing a plan for this work over the past year or more. “It is everyone’s responsibility to be part of this process,” they said.

Among elements of this work will be creating a visible connections center inside the church, assembling teams to actively promote hospitality and creating opportunities to showcase our culture of hospitality in the life of the church and in the community.

Part of the time during the town hall meeting was spent in small groups responding to two questions: What do you value about Chelsea First that you hope will continue?  What is one thing you’d like Pastor Joy and the Leadership Board to focus on this year? While input is still being compiled, here is a condensed list of some responses:

What do we value about Chelsea First?

• The incredible ministry of music.
• The focus on social justice.
• Material Girls.
• The Parables worship service.
• Our mission work.
• The welcoming and inclusive atmosphere of the church.
• The broad community use of our facilities.

What do we want to focus on in the year ahead?

• Creating more mission opportunities.
• Implementing the new approach to church governance.
• More community outreach.
• Enhancing the culture of hospitality.
• Explore reviving the community breakfasts.

The Leadership Board meets the second Tuesday of each month, 6:30-8 p.m., and meetings are open to the public. The next meeting is April 8.

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

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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