Christ Disciples Church dedication set for Sept. 13

WARRENSBURG | Christ Disciples Church of Warrensburg will be formally dedicated this weekend by its parishioners, and people from across the region are welcome to attend the celebration on Saturday, Sept. 13. The dedication ceremony is to be held at 6 p.m. in the church, featuring live music by Mike Leddick and about four other musicians, and the event features a free community barbecue, prepared by Mark's Hometown 'Cue, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. The church is located at 3890 Main St. in Warrensburg. Christ Disciples is an outgrowth of the former First United Methodist Church of Warrensburg, which was founded in 1796 and had a vibrant congregation through the 1980s, but since then experienced a steep decline in membership. A half-dozen members of the church decided in 2022 to split from the United Methodist denomination based on the expense of affiliation, lack of support, and doctrinal differences, according to members of Christ Disciples' congregation. This decision to split from the denomination followed the United Methodist Upper New York Conference officials' revocation of the preaching "license" or privileges of Stephen Andrews, paster of Warrensburg's First United Methodist Church. This action was likely prompted by his moderately conservative approach, according to Christ Disciples' Financial Secretary and Trustee Jaimee Ross. This revocation led Andrews to begin preaching in several other churches in the Warren County region. After extended negotiations, the group of Warrensburg parishioners paid about $58,000 to the United Methodist's Upper New York Conference for "disaffiliation" in 2023, although the construction of the church building in 1904 was paid for by the local congregation, which held title to the building. A representative of the regional United Methodist Conference handed over the church building's keys to the local congregation in March 2024 — and on Easter Sunday that year, Andrews returned as pastor for the newly independent parish, named Christ Disciples Church. Andrews is continuing to preach in the First Presbyterian Church of Warrensburg — and in the Christian Hill Bible Church of North River, which also split from the United Methodist denomination in 2024, primarily over doctrinal differences. In a meeting with church trustees this week, Andrews, who earned a Masters in Divinity degree, said the new church welcomes everyone to participate in their worship services and various programs, "regardless of lifestyle." "Everybody was created in God's image," Andrews said. The Church holds services at 11 a.m. on Sundays, followed by a social "coffee hour." Once per month, a potluck meal is held following Sunday services with people bringing a dish to pass. The Sunday services are live-streamed on Facebook, but church members urge people to attend in person if they can, because of the benefits of shared fellowship. As the church has an elevator, people with mobility limitations are well accommodated. Christ Disciples Church has various missions, including adopting a family at Christmastime — providing them with a holiday meal and gifts for children — as well as giving school supplies to families with children. The church congregation also delivers Panera bread weekly to a half-dozen food pantries. They conduct other forms of community outreach, including passing out bedspreads to families in need. Also, earlier this year, the church held weekly free community meals in their parking lot when weather permitted, or in their lower-level community room, which features a New York State-certified kitchen. During Warrensburg's annual "World's Largest Garage Sale Event," Christ Disciples Church's parking lot is the official site for gatherings of the Christian Motorcyclists Association, where their annual "Blessing of the Bikes" is conducted. At the Sept. 13 dedication service, performing music along with Mike Leddick will be Lane Schemerhorn of Corinth; John Sleckman of North Creek, Val Grey of Averill Park, and Steve Page of Speculator. The address of the church is Pastor Stephen Andrews said this week he is regularly on-site at Christ Disciples Church on Sundays and Tuesdays, and can be contacted by phone anytime at 518-260-0876. The church's landline is 518-623-9334. "I'm always available for counseling and to hear people's concerns," he said, noting that upon request, he visits people who are hospitalized.

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Christ Disciples Church dedication set for Sept. 13

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