Our Story !

Exploration of the need for an additional United Presbyterian Church on the City of Atlanta was initiated in 1960 by the Knox-Hodge Presbytery. It was determined that a need existed and that the Southwest section of the city should be thoroughly investigated.

The Presbytery called Rev. James H. Costen in January 1965 from a pastorate in Rocky Mount, North Carolina to be the organizing minister. People were contacted regarding their interest in being a part of a new church venture. A steering committee of interested persons labored to keep the interest going.

A review of the early minutes of the Session and other documents, including the Service of Organization, installation of the first minister, the ground breaking ceremony, and other anniversary programs reveal that
G O D was foremost in the minds of those who banded together to form a new church. G O D was F I R S T. Man was present for the purpose of implementing God’s will and God’s purpose.

The Service of Organization was held on Sunday, November 21, 1965, at the Margaret Fain Elementary School. Rev. William S. Mercer presided. A total of seventy-eight (78) charter members were presented by Rev. Costen to Rev. J. Oscar McCloud. These members came by transfer of letter,, reaffirmation of faith, and confession of faith. Membership vows were repeated and the Sacrament of Baptism was administered. The Covenant of Fellowship, which follows, was read by the membership:

“We desire to be constituted an organized as a church which is known as THE CHURCH OF THE MASTER, United Presbyterian Church,, U.S.A. We do covenant and agree to Walk together as disciples of Jesus Christ in a church relating according to the provisions of the Constitution of the United Presbyterian Church, U. S. A. We promise to maintain this church by our attendance at its services, our support of its work, our gifts, our efforts ad our prayers, and to seek in its fellowship to glorify the name and further the cause of our Lord, Jesus Christ.”

Following the prayer of dedication Rev. Mercer moderated the meeting of the congregation. The church name, report of the Goals and Objectives was approved because it “ … adequately portrays what we hope this church will be. Our ai is to glorify God--- not man. This is a challenge we have accepted and a goal toward which we shall aspire.” The Statement of Objectives developed by the fledging church reads:

The CHURCH OF THE MASTER is a community of believers in Christ, involved in the continuation of H I S work. Realizing our limitations as individuals, we band together to seek a fuller understanding of God’s will and to do it. We believe that we are called to be participants with God in all that is happening in this world. We choose to express our faith through the United Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A.

Ruling Elders elected were Mrs. Amieze Ramsuer, William A. Wright, Sr., Kenneth Roth, Davey Gibson, Thomas Ward, Vesta Fuller, Samuel H. Johnson, Charles Green and Mrs. Annette Phinazee. The first treasurer was Mrs. Barbara Riley.

The organizing minister, Rev. Costen, was installed as pastor on Sunday,
February 27, 1966, 5:00 P.M. at Margaret Fain Elementary School. Thomas Burns, Jr. and Cassandra McCloud were the first children baptized.

Time passed. Plans were presented, revised and accepted. The work had begun. The ground breaking ceremony was held on April 21, 1968. In awe and humility, the congregation read together the following words:

“…We, the people of this congregation and of this community, do now, in the sight of God and in the presence of each other, make our vows and dedicate ourselves to the end that here may be erected a place of worship, education, fellowship, and service to the Almighty God and to man in every station of life. We pledge ourselves to a ministry of compassion and concern, and we dedicate ourselves the difficult task of breaking down all artificial barriers that separates man from man. We pray that this congregation, guided of Thee, be unified in this common cause, loyal to their responsibility and their opportunity, giving full cooperation. May this building now be built ever serve the high aims and purposes for which it is intended. Amen.”

Paarticipants were I.E. Seaporta, architect; R.A. Banks, general contractor; Howard Hunnicutt, Chairman, Building Committee; Mrs. Annette Phinazee, Chairperson Christian Education Committee; Samuel H. Johnson, Clerk of Session; Geoffrey A. Heard, Chairman, Trustees; Jonathan Barksdale, representing the Youth of the Church; Carroll D. Payne, Presbytery of Georgia; J. Riley McDonald, associate Minister, and James H. Costen, Minister.

The commitment of Christian ministry continued under the leadership of Rev. Costen until his resignation in 1969 to assume duties as Dean of Johnson C. Smith seminary at the Interdenominational Theological Center.

A mission study was conducted, a search committee organized, and the Rev. E. Rudolph Obey was called by the congregation and installed a minister on November 22, 1970. Under Rev. Obey’s guidance, the work expanded and strides were made in Christian ministry. Rev. Obey remained in the vineyard until October 1977, when he resigned to assume duties at the University of Wisconsin.

Once again a church study was held, a search committee appointed, and the Rev. David Wallace, Sr. was called by the congregation and installed on September 7, 1980. Renewed dedication and growth marked the tenure of Dr. Wallace. He labored until June 30, 1991, when he resigned to become Dean of Development at Johnson C. Smith Seminary.

Once again a church study was held a search committee appointed, and the Rev. Paul T. Roberts was called by the congregation. He was installed August 16, 1999. Since that time the mortgage has been retired; average worship attendance has increased; membership has increased; a new purpose statement been adopted, Evangelism and Marriage workshops have also been conducted.

Serving as Moderators during the years the church was without a minister have been Rev. Andrew Blackwood, Rev. Dr. Clinton Marsh, Rev. Mark Lomax, Rev. Floyd Rhodes, Rev. William T. Peters, Jr., Rev. Richard Dalton and Rev. Eugene Farlough. Their assistance has been encouraging and helpful to the church.

Clerks of Session have been Elders Samuel H. Johnson, Herman Smith, Grady Anderson, Anna E. English, Melva W. Costen, Everette Barksdale Jr., Helen Miller, Bettie Harden and Ralph Armstrong. Cheryl Costen Clay is presently serving as Clerk of Session.

*Everette Barksdale, Jr. Mattie Burns Clarence Canty *Henrietta Canty John E. Champ Cynthia Coleman *Harvie Coleman *Minnie S. Coleman Delmar L. Corbin Melva Wilson Costen *John Early Anna English Barbara English *Louis English Richard Jarvis Enoch Clarence L. Fisher *Harriette B. Fisher Patrichia Floyd Henry B. Fuller *Vesta Fuller	Davey B. Gibson Marva L. Gibson Charles Green *Jeannetta B. Green Geoffrey A Heard *John C. Heard Ramona Hoage Judith Holloway *F.R. Jackson Edith Johnson *Samuel Johnson Robbie McCloud Mary J. Massie Emily Norman Richard Norman Anne Paddon Bernice Parker Pearson Parker Marcellus H. Penn Vera C. Penn	*Annette Phinazee Joseph Phinazee *Charles Eugene Price *Lennie B. Price Marvin D. Raines *Arnieze F. Ramsuer *Elijah Daniel Rawls Senella J. Rawls Verdell W. Reece Barbara P. Riley Thomas M. Ringer, Jr. Kenneth Rotch Lela Rotch Sharon Rounsville Gayle G. Schuker Thomas Sheffield Gwendolyn B. Stewart W.W. Stewart James E. Ward, III Mary Ward	Melba Ward Thomas J. Ward Joyce Wilford Barbara Williams Elazabeth Williams *Juanita T. Williams *Helen G. Wright *William A. Wright *William A. Wright, Jr.
* Deceased