In 1804 travelling clergyman Nathan Bangs arrived in Detroit, only to abruptly leave “shaking the dust off his feet in testament against (the people),” as he wrote in his journal.
Protestantism had not yet found a home in Michigan.
On Sunday Oct. 3, Central United Methodist Church in Detroit celebrated what happened just six years later, when the historic church and the FUMC of Dearborn became the first protestant churches in the state.
“In 1804 circuit riders (travelling clergy) came to this “Wild West town,” but they weren’t warmly received so they left,” Dr. James N. Bull said. “Two-hundred years ago, in 1810, Rev. William Mitchell formed the first Methodist Society of seven people and that is what we celebrate today.”
It was fitting that a service celebrating peace and justice of the protestant church in contemporary and historical fashions was held in a sanctuary where Dr. Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. spoke on several occasions, including just two weeks before his assassination.
Seven different protestant denominations were officially represented and dozens of singers from choirs around the state joined their voices to commemorate 200 years of shared history in the state.
A celebratory mood was struck early on with the spirited music and rhythm of African drummers and dancers dressed in bright native clothes and on several occasions the choir, which circled the upper balcony, had the entire crowd on its feet clapping and rejoicing.
It was a day of reflection as well as encouragement for moving forward. Central UMC senior pastor Rev. Edwin Rowe reminded the audience of how the protestant church has come so far.
“We have a shared history that has been lifted up by many giants of the faith…each denomination has brought great gifts to our collective protestant history over the years,” he said.
He talked about lifting others up to “help future generations see over the crowd” as he remembered those who have paved the way for two centuries. He also admitted the protestant church still has plenty of issues to address and a foundation that is complete only when focused on being the hands of God.
“We must also confess, in each tradition separations have been caused…may God continue to hold us and help us to be all (He) intended,” he said.
Michigan Area Bishop Jonathon Keaton was the keynote speaker, coupling his usual Biblical prudence with a surprising awareness of pop culture. He illustrated Jesus’ message in Like 15:1-10, where he welcomes tax collectors and sinners to the table much to the scorn of the scribes and Pharisees.
Keaton said God shows mercy, not dismay, toward sinners, and local churches need to show love to all.
“To a fault Pharisees focused on their understanding of the law and ‘doing right’… they thought being with sinners might be contagious!” he said. “Don’t we bring together saints and sinners every Sunday? We do. As Paul said, we all sin and fall short of the glory of the Lord.”
To emphasize his point, he shared a recent story the Orlando Sentinel printed on two-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year Orlando Magic forward Dwight Howard.
The daughter of a 62-year-old woman battling Stage 3 Multiple Myeloma recently contacted the Magic, relaying the message that it was her mom’s dying wish to meet the 6-foot-11 superstar.
Howard — who planned on just stopping by for a half-hour visit with the lady — spent nearly two hours with Kay Kellogg, discussing everything from love and life to death and divinity.
Instead of just feeling like he had done his good deed for the day, Howard said he thought the meeting was more beneficial for him than the cancer patient.
The article said when Kellogg stood up to say goodbye, Howard bent down, hugged her and told her something startling.
He told this 4-foot-11 woman, "You are taller than me."
"That's the silliest thing I've ever heard," she said.
"No," Dwight insisted, "you are taller than me because your spirit lifts you up."
“Dwight Howard was talking about a spirit that can do anything,” Keaton said. “He reminds me we can reach out to those who we often shun.”
Keaton went a step further and called people out for shunning celebrities like Mel Gibson, Chris Brown, Lindsay Lohan and Paris Hiltson, for their missteps and “wrecked” public images.
“What if it’s your kid, or even you who is out there and needs to be rescued?” he asked. “So we need to rescue the perishing because it’s what Jesus told us to do. For 200 long years Central UMC has been in the business of rescuing the perishing — keep up the good work.”
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