About Us

Our Congregation

A council convened on January 26, 1868, to organize The First Congregational Church of Frankfort.  Rev. J.B. Walker was the leading spirit for the founding twenty-four members who received assistance from the Benzonia Congregational Church.

A subscription paper was circulated in the spring of 1871 to raise funds with which to build a church edifice.  The Land Company donated a lot, and the building was erected at a cost of $5,000.  Donations came from the Building and Load Fund of the National Association of Boston.  The plans used in the construction were also donated.  The church was incorporated in 1874.  In 1904, the sanctuary was raised and a basement added, using large rocks as the foundation.

As far as we are able to discern, no major restoration has been done to the building until the steeple renovation which began in the summer of 1998.  We hope that you feel at home here and we encourage you to “wander around.”

Our Church Building

Our sanctuary will seat 120 people on the main floor, with additional seating of 50-60 in the balcony.  The sanctuary feels light and airy due to the high vaulted ceilings, white interior and beautiful stained-glass windows.  The Red Room lies below the sanctuary and is used for small group gatherings, choir rehearsals and various other activities.

The north end of the church was built in 1957.  This addition enlarged the kitchen, added a spacious dining room and provided two offices, three classrooms and a nursery above the dining room.

We begin our worship services with the age-old custom of ringing our steeple bell. As in “olden days,” the bell is also rung at weddings and funerals.  Since 1998, the bell has been used by several members to “ring in” the new year on December 31.

Our Spiritual Leaders

Since our birth in 1868, our congregation has been served by 34 different pastors.  Although there are some missing records, the following are the shepherds that have led this flock to this day.

Ministers

1/1868 - 10/5/1874          A. H. Fletcher

7/12/1875 - 7/1/1877        L.F. Waldo

3/15/1879 - 1881              J.D. Millard

5/29/1881 - 8/4/1881        A.H. Cairnduff

4/9/1882 - 9/21/1882        F.D. Chandler

10/0/1882 - 10/1883         Robt. Adams

11/29/1883 - 7/2/1885       E.D. Curtis

8/1/1885 - 8/1888             C.W. Carrick

2/27/1887 - 8/1889           Geo. Lloyd

10/13/1889 - 3/1892         Thos. G. Baxter

9/1/1895 - 9/1896             Wm. Cochran

10/11/1896 - 4/9/1899       Daniel Truman

12/10/1899 - 1/14/1904     Wm. Hurlbut

6/5/1904 - 7/1904              John G. Fraser D.D.

11/6/1904 - 1910               John H. Hull

10/2/1910 - 4/27/1919       Stephen H. Vaughn

6/22/1919 - 10/14/1923      Albert Siebert

3/4/1924 - 6/24/1939         Louis B. Hardy

10/15/1939 - 10/25/1942    John Taylor Henry

6/25/1944 - 9/24/1946        G.W. Lomas

1/1947 - 12/1956               John C. Bockoven, 

                                        emeritus 1962

8/1/1957 - 8/15/1960          Deryl (Dearl) Abbott

3/3/1961 - 10/1964            Arthur W. Tiffen

4/1965 - 4/15/1971            Raymond Hallock

Interim                             Rev. Paul Bennehoff

6/3/1973 - 6/1/1976           Larry Alan Correll

8/15/1976 - 4/23/1978        David Clyde Hirtle

8/6/1978 - 6/5/1983           Richard Hooker

Interim                             Ray Cartlige

10/16/1983 - 1984             Jerry W. Dill

Interim                             Rev. Paul Bennehoff

5/1985 - 1/1995                Richard C. Stoddard

5/1995 - 7/30/1997            Craig Crossman

9/1/1997 - 8/31/1998         James Brammer, Interim

9/1/1998 -                        Dinah Jeannette Haag

The Running of Our Church Government

We are Christians who deeply believe that our church must be self-governing. The congregational system of church government empowers the members with authority to exercise the right to control all its affairs, subject to its Articles of Incorporation in legal matters. We are a protestant “association” of nearly two million members, but each church is self-determining in regard to its own internal operations.

Through our Annual Meeting, the budget and direction for the coming year are established.  Additional congregational meetings are called as necessary throughout the year to address specific issues.

Our congregation is represented in the day-to-day activities of the church by an elected council,  supported by committees, which develop and carry out programs and policies.  The twelve-member council is comprised of:                                                       

Council Chair Vice-Chair Financial Secretary Treasurer Church Clerk

plus seven members at large who serve as representatives to our committees.

Our committees include Constitution and By-Laws Finance Memorials Missions Nominating Property Religious Education Outreach Worship

Although they do not hold a council position, our Women’s Fellowship contributes much to the ongoing operation of First Congregational Church and has a representative to the council.

Our Covenantal Commitment

Congregational Christian Churches are unique in Christianity, for we are the only independent churches which are formed by a Covenant.

A covenant is a special type of promise.  The early English Congregationalists were reading the Bible in their own language and discovered that from the time of Abraham onward, the relationship between God and God’s people was covenantal in nature.  They determined to mirror that relationship in their own earthly ways as they strove for the Kingdom of Heaven.  Today, Congregational Christian Churches are made up of people bound together under God through a covenant.  So for Congregationalists, the Church is not a building, the Church is the People in Covenant with God and each other.  Because of this, every Congregational Church is a local church.  Some church covenants are short and simple, others are long and more complex.

The Covenant of First Congregational Church

This is our Church Covenant.  I do now covenant with God and His Son the Lord Jesus Christ to support with my prayers, my presence and my gifts, the First Congregational Church of Frankfort, Michigan.  I further promise to uphold the Constitution and By-Laws of this Church, to support its elected officers in the performance of  their duties, to live to the best of my ability and to give support to our pastor as leader of our Church.

I will walk together in brotherly love and help one another. I will faithfully study the Word of God and pray for myself and others.  I will aid in the support of this ministry in the relief of the poor and in the spreading of the Gospel throughout the world.

With God’s help I will endeavor to work and labor together in this congregation in such a manner that others who see me will know that I belong to Christ.

God being my helper, so shall I do.  Amen.

Our Affiliations

Our churches are independent of one another and democratically governed by their members.  We stress the biblical privilege and responsibility of every Christian to work out his or her own relationship with Christ. To that end, we seek out the guidance of Scripture and the wisdom of those with whom we fellowship.  We are a people bound together by Faith, Freedom and Fellowship.

While this church is independent, it is not alone.  Voluntary fellowship with other churches is very important to us.  To this end we join with other congregational churches and Associations.  The First Congregational Church of Frankfort, Michigan is affiliated with the following:

        National Association of Congregational Christian Churches Michigan Conference of Congregational Christian Churches                       

Western Michigan Association of Congregational Christian Churches         (See also:  Congregational Summer Assembly)