A Bird’s Eye View of Southminster- Beginning to Present
Southminster Presbyterian Church was organized in 1960 with the first service being held on 9/11/1960, with the Rev. John (Jack) R. Harlan as the organizing pastor. Over 350 persons, including 113 Charter Members, were in attendance. For over three years, the members worshiped and held church school in Oxon Hill Elementary and/or Oxon Hill High Schools.
The first worship service held in the current Sanctuary was held on 9/8/63 and the dedication service was held on 10/20/63 at 3pm with about 250 persons in attendance.
The first class of Ruling Elders was ordained on Nov. 2, 1960 and on March 22, 1961 the first Board of Deacons was elected. The Women’s Organization was formed on April 5th 1961. The membership had grown to over 250 and the church had two services and two choirs.
Since its organization and the organizing pastor, the church has had 5 pastors as follows: The Rev. Richard E. Ittner, the Rev. Dr. James (Jim) Gardiner, Co-Pastors Rev. Jacalyn and Richard Thomas, the Rev. Elenora Giddings Ivory, and Pastor Le Quan Turner, M.Div. MA (current pastor). The Rev. Thomas Woodward and the Rev. Roger Woods served as long term interims following the departure of Rev. Ittner and Rev. Gardiner respectively.
Over the years, Southminster has maintained an effective force in the Community through the use of its facilities by community organizations and its outreach into the community.
The first outreach activity for the newly formed congregation, was the sponsorship of a 7 member refugee family of Asian descent (the Bhimji Family) after they were expelled from Uganda in the early 1970’s. Bill and Marion Ross provided temporary housing for the family until permanent housing could be found.
The church also sponsored a Vietnamese young man after the close of the Vietnamese War. The church was instrumental in obtaining housing and employment for him.
Highlights of other major community outreach activities includes:
- The establishment of a cooperative enrichment program for 3-4 yr. olds, which was run by Marion Ross. There were 2 sessions AM and PM, M W F 12/kids/class
- Various community partnerships, i.e., Oxon Hill Elem School- providing back to school supplies, mittens, gloves, scarves and hats; cluster of churches- administering warm nights program & doing Ecumenical services; Intercommunity Action Council – Operation of the Food Pantry (Hands on, food and monetary contributions).
- Women, Infants and Children (WIC) – Federal program that provided basic health care for women and children.
- Meals on Wheels and Food N Friends
- Summer Vacation Bible School and /or Story Hour
- Providing space for Alcohol Anonymous, other churches and community gatherings.
- Domestic Violence Seminars
- Literacy Programs ( English as second language & Computer Literacy)
- Stance against Gun Violence- T-Shirt Display
Bird’s eye view of our church’s social activities past and present include: Mariner’s Club, Men’s Group, Women’s Group, Christian Men’s & Women’s Fellowship, Pot Luck Dinners, Ice Cream Socials, Easter Egg Hunts, Annual Church Picnics, Halloween/ Harvest Parties, Movie Nights, Health Fairs, Youth Fellowship, sponsoring various church choir concerts and hosting foreign youth groups.
Southminster continues to be a nurturing and caring congregation with diversity of race, theological views and personal background.