The First 50 Years - Rev. Kirkman

THE REVEREND THOMAS W. KIRKMAN, JR.

The thorough plans which had been made to effect as smoothly as possible the transition from one pastorate to another resulted in complete success. The Rev. Mr. Kirkman had become the senior pastor so gradually that the church program went on without unusual incident. He was confronted immediately, however, with a personnel problem.

A few weeks prior to the retirement of Dr. Riemann , Mr. Waller had tendered his resignation as director of religious education, to become effective June 30, 1958. He had been offered a position with the Westminster Presbyterian Church of Minneapolis. The entire Waller family had been active in the program of the church, and had made many friends. It was with considerable regret that we saw them leave.

Fortunately, we were without a successor to Mr. Waller for but a short time during the summer. The Rev. Charles F. Richey, pastor of the Milford Presbyterian Church, was called as assistant pastor, and he was introduced to the Session early in August. Mr. Richey was a graduate of the University of Illinois, had attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology for a period, and in 1952 was graduated from Princeton Theological Seminary. He immediately began work with our youth.

Early in the same year another member was added to the church staff. It will be recalled that after along period of service as organist and choir director, illness had caused the resignation of Mrs. Gertrude Smith. Her replacement, Miss Burkholder, resigned soon afterwards to be married, and it was necessary to secure someone competent to handle the increasing program of church music.

Our church had been extremely fortunate over the years in having had not only excellent organists and choir directors, but also outstanding soloists, who have added greatly to the worship service of the church. The names of Miss Grace Davis, Mr. E. E. Poole, T. Stanley Perry, Mrs. Lavonne Diehl Mouw, and Mrs. Gertrude Smith are recalled, although many others might be mentioned.

Mr. Robert J. Shepfer was secured as the new organist and choir director, and he began his duties with us in February, 1958. Mr. Shepfer had attended Wittenburg College in Ohio before entering the Air Force in World War II. After active duty in that branch of the service, including some work with musical units, he returned to civilian life, and served churches in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and Toledo, Ohio, before coming to Royal Oak.

With all due recognition of the splendid music furnished by his predecessors, during the six years Mr. Shepfer has been our organist and choir director the music of our church has been outstanding and of great excellence. The reputation of our music has gone far beyond the limits of our own community.

In appreciation of his fine service, in 1962 Mr. Shepfer was granted a leave of three months so he might avail himself of the rare opportunity to study organ in Paris under the world-famous Marcel Dupre. The periodic organ recitals of Mr. Shepfer, and the music for the special days on the church calendar are all exceptionally well rendered. At present seven different choirs, from Cherub to Chancel Choir, give all members of the congregation with musical ability an opportunity to study and perform under expert leadership.

Late in 1958 the integration problem, which had arisen in connection with a new phase of the race complex, again asserted itself. Detroit Presbytery, through one of its committees, had requested the churches of presbytery to adopt a resolution which it had prepared on "Open Occupancy." After considerable discussion within the Session and the church generally, a resolution was adopted by our Session, as follows:

"Resolved, That the Covenant of Open Occupancy, proposed by the Social Education and Action Committee of the Presbytery of Detroit be and is disapproved."

The action thus taken by our Session brought some repercussions from presbytery, but the resolution adopted by our Session had not been capricious or ill-considered, but had been taken after careful consideration and study. The general problem had reached national proportions, and early in the following year another resolution was adopted by our Session on the subject, this time as the result of certain pronouncements of our General Assembly. This second resolution read as follows:

"Resolved, That the Moderator appoint a committee to consider and recommend to the Session an appropriate resolution dealing with the utterances of the 168th General Assembly pertaining to racial segregation."

If there were any question about the democratic processes within the workings of our denomination, the action of our own Session should settle that issue.

The annual meeting of 1959 saw a new problem facing the church, or rather, a recurring problem. The officers reported at that gathering that our church membership was now 2,289, and that the annual budget of $142,000 had been subscribed. The new Educational Building was being fully used and it was now time to take steps to renovate Fellowship Hall, the name given the former sanctuary when the new church was dedicated.

A year passed. A budget for 1960 of almost $153,000 had been adopted and it had been oversubscribed by ten thousand dollars. The membership continued to grow. Three hundred voices now composed the several choirs of the church. Fellowship Hall was used regularly but it was felt that it should be put to even greater use. A Renovation Committee, studying the problem, had come to the same conclusion a s that reached by an earlier committee, namely, that although the old sanctuary had been a fine edifice in its day and had served the church well in the earlier years, it was not practical to renovate it, especially when it was learned that the cost of such work would be $215,000. The committee therefore was requested to obtain figures on a new building.

In March following, at a specially called meeting of the congregation, the committee reported that a new Fellowship Hall would cost approximately $400,000. This figure would include the demolition of the present building. There were many in the congregation, especially those of long standing, who preferred some other solution to the problem. It was largely a matter of sentiment. After all, this fine old building had been their church home for four decades.

Although there was no real opposition to the suggested program, the necessity of providing room for our increasing members in every phase of the church work required the change. The congregation voted for the new building, approved the plans as submitted, and discussed arrangements for raising the needed money. Some consideration was given to having a professional money-raiser undertake the financial program, but the members ultimately decided that they could do the job themselves , and they did.

The program of the church was proceeding well in all its various phases. Dale Cudworth, a third generation member of the church, was taken under care of presbytery as a candidate for the Christian ministry. Mrs. John (Christina) Kuyper was employed as director of religious education, thus to some extent relieving the Rev. Mr. Richey for more pastoral work. Steps were taken to hold three regular Sunday morning services, to accommodate the increasing number of worshippers. Our church was reported as now being the fifth largest in the entire Presbytery of Detroit.

Mrs. Kuyper was installed in her new position with us in June, 1960, and commenced a very rewarding service to our youth. She was untiring in her efforts to make the program successful. This continued until her resignation less than a year ago. Under the leadership of both Mr. Richey and Mrs. Kuyper our young people were represented by delegates to all youth conferences, work camps, and summer retreats sponsored by our denomination, and participation in these programs had very beneficial results for those involved. A Youth Caravan to the South East area of the country w a s promoted, and with splendid lay leadership this resulted in an unusually fine experience for those of our youth who participated.

Late in 1960 pledges for the new Fellowship Hall were reported to be over $180,000. At a congregational meeting held just before the year ended, slides were shown of the front elevation and the floor plans of the proposed building. The congregation liked what it saw, and the committee was thereupon instructed to authorize the architect, who was again Mr. Harold Wagoner, to proceed with working drawings. A loan from a local bank was also authorized in the amount of $160,000.

It was not long before we were ready to proceed with the building itself, which was to be of a design similar to the new sanctuary, and which would blend in well with that edifice and with the new Educational Building. With the construction money in sight, the committee was authorized to ask for bids. The architect was slow in furnishing the necessary plans and specifications, and because of this and other delays it was deemed advisable to put off actual construction until the following spring.

The continued growth of the congregation made necessary additional members of the church staff. A retired layman, Mr. Elmer E. Angerman, was employed as parish visitor and we are glad to report that he is still with us and is doing a commendable work. Brian Westveer, who had taken undergraduate work both at Alma College and Wayne University, and who had also attended Union Theological Seminary in New York for one year, decided that he would like a year's internship before returning to seminary. He joined our staff as a student assistant and he, too, is serving with us in youth work and is doing very satisfactory service.

At the annual meeting of 1962 it was reported that, despite numerous dismissals from our membership of persons moving to other parts of the country, and the placing of additional members on the reserve rolls, our membership was steadily increasing and now numbered 2,657 active members. Attendance at Church School averaged between 760 and 775 each Sunday, and interest in other youth programs indicated a comparable increase in participation by our young people.

The architect finally produced plans and specifications which made it possible to take bids and sign a contract for the new building. The cost of this new edifice was to be approximately $300,000, with demolition of the old building and furnishings for the new structure approaching another $100,000. The project presented some serious problems. Before the new building could be started, the old one had to come down. Many activities of the church would have to be housed elsewhere while the work of demolition and new construction went forward. Transportation became a problem, where Church School children would be in one part of the city attending classes in temporary quarters and the parents would be at the church. The social groups of the church had to locate new meeting places. Use of the Longfellow School was arranged for some of the Church School program. The Women's Club houses of both Oak Ridge (Clawson) and Royal Oak were utilized for some of the groups holding dinner meetings, as our only dining room had been destroyed with the old structure. Despite the seeming handicaps, the programs of the church moved along without too great inconvenience.

In the spring of 1962 the Rev. Mr. Richey received a call to Pioneer Presbyterian Church at Marinette, Wisconsin. The Richeys had been very active in the work of the church, and the membership was sorry to see them leave. His service with us would suggest for him a very successful future experience in the Christian ministry.

Mr. Paul Hubbard, a seminary graduate but not yet an ordained minister, worked with us for one year, when his services were terminated. Our present assistant minister, the Rev. James Coombes, came to us less than a year ago. He is a graduate of our synodical college, Alma College, and of McCormick Seminary. Although the Coombes family has been with us but a few months, the Rev. and Mrs. Coombes have already won for themselves a firm place in the affection of the membership of the church , and it is hoped they may continue with us for many years.

The old sanctuary was finally razed, and new construction had progressed to the point where the laying of the cornerstone for the new Fellowship Hall was set for Oct. 14, 1962. When the former building was demolished, the contents of the old cornerstone were shown to the congregation in a brief ceremony following the Sunday morning services. Although moisture had destroyed much of the contents of the box, some items were still distinguishable, and the sight brought pleasant memories to the few members still with us who had participated in the event almost fifty years before.

Early in 1963 the new building was ready for use, and it was a relief to the church staff, which had been carrying on a fine work under the most trying circumstances. In a dedication service, the chairman of the Building Committee, James Thorburn, presented the keys for the new building to the chairman of the Board of Trustees, and his comments on that occasion were as follows:

"Dear Fellow Members of the Congregation:

The material task assigned us has been completed. It is appropriate that we appraise the human effort required. This congregation in exemplary fashion contributed the money necessary. A talented architect designed it. Fine contractors built it.

The members of the Building Committee contributed time and effort in large quantities and acted in unanimous decisive fashion. There was never on any issue a dissenting vote! To refresh your recollection, the members are:

          Howard Perkins, Jim Lowmaster, Ed. Hoot,
          John Lyon, Marlin Hemphill, Doug Osgood,
          Earl Stavely, Jean Stabler, Velma Austin,
          Phyllis Baer, Jim Bonner

Ralph Sievewright in careful prompt fashion moved and stored the personal property before construction began.

J. C. Austin as "Clerk of the Works" used his most excellent judgment, as he had done on the Sanctuary, to see that specifications were satisfied.

Fred Lantz contributed all of the electrical engineering and inspection and a large portion of his life to this structure. Special thanks should go to him.

Many other members made our task lighter. No member refused to help when asked.

A Presbyterian Pastor is the Spiritual Leader of his church. Rarely does the Lord bestow upon such a leader the ability to read a blueprint and the judgment necessary to oversee the construction of a beautiful and complex building such as this. Tom Kirkman is the exception to the rule. The task of your Building Committee Chairman was made immeasurably easier because of Tom's special talents. (I might add and you should be proud of the fact that due to his Scotch heredity when a dollar of church money for "extras" passed through Tom's hands on the way to the contractor, there was considerable friction.)

In conclusion we have a beautiful functional structure ready for a Christian purpose. With God's help may we use it to that end."

About the same time that the Rev. Mr. Coombes was called as our assistant minister, Mr. Elmer G.Buese was secured as director of religious education. Mr. Buese had spent several years in secular employment in the East, where he was active as a layman in the church. Deciding that he wanted to serve full-time in some phase of Christian work, he entered McCormick Seminary and after completing his studies there, he received his degree in Christian Education. Mr. and Mrs. Buese are a distinct addition to the church staff family and early indications are that Mr. Buese will add strength to our already excellent staff.

One of the gratifying events in the life of any church is the ordination of one of its young men into the Christian ministry. We have had several such experiences in the last fifty years. The final such ceremony for this first fifty years was held on March 1 of this year, when Dennis C. Benson was ordained in an impressive ceremony. Dennis had been raised in our church, had taken his undergraduate work at the University of Michigan, and was graduated from McCormick Theological Seminary in the Spring of 1963. He has been serving a church in Illinois since graduation.

The close of the first fifty years finds our church a very active and thriving institution. Unfortunately, very few of the original members are still with us to assist in this special observance. Three of the original number, all of them active in their day, have left us within the past year, Mrs. W. O. Hullinger, Mr. Isaac Jenkins and Mr. Clifford B. Edwards.

Although it has not been possible to list all of the members of the church who have served in official capacity, we illustrate a portion of the current church bulletin because it does list not only the church staff, but also the membership of the several official boards of the church , the persons making up our very fine quartette, and the presiding officers of several other groups within the church organization. (Fig. 22)

Fig. 22

We have purposely passed over, until the close of this narrative, any special mention of our present pastor and his family, the Reverend and Mrs. Thomas W. Kirkman, Jr. and their three fine children.

From the moment he succeeded Dr. Riemann as pastor in the summer of 1958, the Reverend Mr. Kirkman has given outstanding leadership to our church. With his wife Ruth, herself a graduate of Princeton Theological Seminary, he has given unstintingly of his time and his considerable talents in the furtherance of the Christian church and its gospel. Mrs. Kirkman, for her part, was in charge of our Daily Vacation Bible School for several years, and now teaches in the Church School. She also serves actively in the Women's Association and in other groups. Herself an accomplished speaker, she frequently is called upon to address groups of women, both in our own congregation and in other churches of presbytery. She always acquits herself with credit to herself and to the church.

Possessed of a strong physique, Mr. Kirkman has given himself tirelessly to his pastoral duties. He has now gathered together a very efficient staff and one which the large numbers in our membership and the many and varied activities within the church make necessary. Despite his adequate staff, the Reverend Mr. Kirkman still gives unsparingly of himself. Besides performing the many marriages and the many funeral services which naturally occur in a church with such a large membership as ours, he is called upon also to perform similar services for many people in the community not directly connected with our own church. His capacity for work seems unlimited.

It is too early, much too early we hope, to write the story of the present pastorate. The members of the church are sincerely hopeful that it is just beginning, and that the Reverend Mr. Kirkman and his family will be with us for many years to come, giving the fine Christian leadership that has characterized his ministry with us during the closing part of "our first fifty years."

We are happy to learn that Mr. Kirkman will be particularly honored at the May Commencement exercises of Alma College, at which event there will be conferred upon him the honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity. We feel that he richly deserves this honor.

The Session, at its regular meeting held on February 11, 1964, took official recognition of the action of Alma College in respect to our pastor, by adopting the following resolution:

"Whereas, the Reverend Thomas W. Kirkman, Jr. has served this Congregation since 1955; and

Whereas, his loyal and dedicated service has been appropriately recognized within both this Congregation and this community through those years; and

Whereas, Alma College, the institution of higher education of the Synod of Michigan, has recognized the Reverend Mr. Kirkman's Christian leadership and service by stating their intention to confer upon him the honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity;

Now Therefore Be It Resolved that the Session of the First Presbyterian Church of Royal Oak Michigan officially record its continued appreciation of the Reverend Mr. Kirkman's ministry. Further, that this Session expresses on behalf of the Congregation a deep gratitude and satisfaction in the furtherance of the Lord's work signified by the conferring of this high honor upon our minister."

Thus the second fifty years in the history of The First Presbyterian Church of Royal Oak will be begun under the splendid leadership of Dr. Thomas W. Kirkman, Jr. and his associates.