The history of Evergreen Presbyterian Church begins at the turn of the century when Second Presbyterian Church saw the need to establish a church in one of the fastest growing “eastern” sections of the city, now know as the Evergreen neighborhood. With the help of Second Presbyterian Church, thirty-six charter members organized Evergreen Presbyterian Church on February 6, 1910, in the home of Mr. and Mrs. A. B. Carruthers.
In December 1950, the cornerstone of the present sanctuary was laid, and the first service was held in the new sanctuary in October 1951. Three years later the education building was completed. During these years, the rotation system was adopted for officers and teachers of the church. The Covenant Life Curriculum was being developed, and Evergreen was chosen as one of the pilot churches, resulting in an educational climate more innovative and stimulating than ever before. During the early years at the “new” location across the street form Rhodes College (formerly Southwestern at Memphis), Evergreen developed an active college ministry that continues today. In 1956 the W. J. Millard Chair of Bible and Humanities was established at Rhodes.
In the following years, Evergreen developed a recreation ministry that sought to meet the needs of the community as well as those of the congregation and built the recreation building (1970) to house this program. The playschool was opened in 1977, joining the recreation program as continuing symbols of Evergreen’s strong commitment to the Midtown community.
Our Pastor, the Rev. Dr. Kenneth S. Letterman, was called as Designated Pastor in February 2002, and was installed as Permanent Pastor on June 6, 2004. Rev. Amy F. Howe, a former member and very active member of Evergreen, returned as Parish Associate in 2004.
Evergreen’s church school continues to be strong with a crib room and classes for toddlers through a variety of adult classes. There are also study programs during the week for the members and guests. The youth programs serve both Evergreen youth, as well as, youth from the community. In 1999, Sondra Tucker was hired as the full time Director of Music responsible for the chancel choir, children’s choirs, bell choir, and all music programs in the church. In the summer of 2005, Sondra moved with her husband to Houston, Texas, and Melanie Marcom began as full time Director of Music in the fall of 2005.
Evergreen has an active Presbyterian Women’s organization which seeks to serve the members and provide opportunities for them to serve in the community such as supporting the Family Shelter by providing clothing, toys, household products, and other items as needed.
Evergreen’s commitment to serving and ministering to the community continues. In addition to the Recreation Ministry and Playschool, Evergreen has an active Food Pantry, supports MIFA, Pennies for Hunger (Heifer project), the soup kitchens at St. John’s United Methodist Church when the Rhodes students are on break and at First Presbyterian Church. In 1999, Evergreen became a Micah 6 Congregation building a relationship with Target House (an apartment house for families of St. Jude’s patients) and working with other churches in the area to provide shelter and support for homeless families.
Evergreen Presbyterian Church is still a developing church and prays for the vision, the courage, and the leadership to enable it to continue moving forward to the future with a promise of continued vitality and expanded service. These goals are expressed in the Mission Statement as adopted by the congregation in April of 1993:
The congregation of Evergreen Presbyterian Church seeks to respond to the example of Christ, whose mission and ministry were characterized by self-sacrifice, outreach and simple acts of love and service. We reaffirm Evergreen’s commitment to serving the Lord at our present location. Acting upon God’s call to share, heal, and create a just, peaceable, and loving rule, we rewrote our mission statement in 2006 to read:
Evergreen Presbyterian Church’s mission is to grow in the Holy Spirit
serving and nurturing our diverse community
through the grace and love of God in Christ Jesus.
Evergreen’s goal is to grow and serve as an example of Christ’s love, including all the diversity of God’s family. It is through growth that we will be better able to minister to the needs of the congregation, community, and world.
January 15, 2008
Martha J. Becker, Clerk of Session .
EVERGREEN PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
