South Park United Methodist Church

Information may not be reliable

Brooks has served South Park as Pastor since 2006. He provides staff leadership, guides ministry formation, serves as a member of the Lead Team, and coordinates general ministries of the church. His education includes a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from North Central College in Naperville, Illinois and Master of Divinity, Master of Sacred Theology and Doctor of Ministry degrees from United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio. He has served as Pastor of United Methodist Churches in the Northern Indiana and the West Ohio Conferences.

Ron has served as Director of Music for South Park during two periods of time. He served from 1984-1990 and returned to the position in 1996. He provides musical direction for the Chancel Choir and the Carillon Ringers Bell Choir. Ron holds a Bachelor of Science in Music Education from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music and a Master of Education from Wright State University. Ron is Associate Vice President, Sinclair Community College.

Larry is the Music Director for South Park's New Horizons Contemporary Worship Service. A retired Dayton Public School music educator and choral director, Larry is also affiliated with the University of Dayton, Wright State University and Sinclair Community College and their music education programs. Additionally he works in behalf of McMillan-Graw Publishers as a Music Education Specialist. Larry is an accomplished percussionist, pianist, keyboardist and bass guitarist.

Sharon has served as Church Organist since 1998. She provides organ and piano music for worship and vocal/choral accompaniment. Her education includes a Bachelor of Music Education, a Master of Music Education, additional certification in Higher Education Administration and a Doctorate of Music Education from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. Dr. Nelson is retired Associate Dean, College of Liberal Arts and retired Associate Professor of Music, Department of Music at Wright State University.

Paula has served as Secretary of South Park since 2007. She provides office coordination and communication with members and the community.

Carol has served as Director of the South Park Pre-School since 1991 and was a member of the teaching staff for ten years prior to becoming the Director. She has received an Associate Degree in Liberal Arts and an Associate Degree in Mental Health Technology. Carol is a member of South Park Church and provides leadership with the Altar Guild and as a Communion Steward.

The roots of South Park United Methodist Church go back to the early years of the City of Dayton. In 1889 a small group of dedicated Christians from Wesley Chapel met in the home of Thomas Parrot. Their aim was to extend the word of God through a new mission in east Dayton which, at that time, was an "under-churched" part of Dayton. The church that was born in that meeting eventually became the Raper Methodist Episcopal Church when a church building was constructed in 1904. Only nine years later the parishioners celebrated the burning of the mortgage...just two days before the Great Flood of 1913 struck Dayton. Later the same year Raper Chapel opened its new building.

By 1932, as the Great Depression worsened, Patterson Memorial's building dept became too great and the Presbyterian Church merged with the Raper Methodist Episcopal Church. The new congregation was renamed as the South Park Methodist Episcopal Church.

The late 1940s and 1950s saw numerous building projects including construction of the Education Building and the enlargement of the sanctuary. A fine music program and active Outreach Ministries have been staple items of South Park Church life for generations. One of the most successful and rewarding Outreach Ministries over the years has been the annual caramel candy project begun by women of the church in 1956. In recent years as many as 5,000 boxes of caramels have been prepared during a two week period from mid-October to early November.

In 1968 change came again to South Park with the union of two national denominations. The Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Brethern Church united as one denomination and was named the United Methodist Church. The similar histories, style of governance, commitment to discipleship, evangelism and mission presented a comfortable match for the two denomations to become one.

In 1995 additional change came again to South Park when nearby Oak Street United Methodist Church merged with South Park bringing its people and financial resources to invigorate the church. Oak Street Church had roots that go back 106 years to a storefront church on Wayne Avenue and to the former Evangelical United Brethern Church with which the Methodist Church united in 1968 to form the United Methodist Church. In September 1995, a new cornerstone was laid to commerate the merger with Oak Street UMC.

Ministry inside and outside the church's walls has always been the mission, whether at Raper Methodist Episcopal, Patterson Memorial Presbyterian, Oak Street or South Park Methodist Churches. What is next for South Park is more of what has come before...service to God and service to community.

Barb has been associated with the ministry of the Food Pantry since 1980. Initially the Food Pantry was associated with the Van Buren Community Center on Clay Street. The second location was in the YMCA owned building on Hickory Street and then in the Oak Street United Methodist Church also on Hickory Street. South Park United Methodist Church became the next and current location. For many years the Food Pantry was a ministry of the Dayton South District of the United Methodist Church. In 2006, the East Dayton Food Pantry became a full ministry of South Park. Barbara has guided the Food Pantry through each of these transitions.

On November 2, 2008, Esther Dang was appointed Pastor of the Vietnamese-American United Methodist Church that has worshiped in South Park United Methodist Church since 1992. Esther’s appointment in the West Ohio Conference also includes pastoral leadership for the Vietnamese congregation in the Maynard Avenue United Methodist Church in Columbus, Ohio. Esther relocated from California to Ohio with her husband and two children. Esther’s education includes a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science from the University of California, San Diego, a Master of Divinity Degree from Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C. and a Master of Theology Degree from Princeton Theological Seminary in New Jersey. She has served as a chaplain for the Orange County (California) Jail Ministry and has been helping as online Bible teacher for Union College of California since Fall 2002.