Christ Lutheran Church of Lexington Sets Up a Scholarship Fund
Christ Lutheran Church of Lexington Scholarship Fund
By Donald Karger, Church Treasurer
As one of its final and lasting acts of community service, Christ Lutheran Church of Lexington established a scholarship fund. The church closed its doors at the end of last year due to declining membership. Prior to its last service Dec. 30, 2018, the members of the congregation voted to use its resources to set up a fund to award a scholarship to a Lexington High School graduate attending Trinity School for Ministry in Ambridge, PA, or the North American Lutheran Church designated seminary.
If there are no students who meet the first criterion, other criteria in the following order allow the scholarship then to be awarded to a Richland County high school graduate attending Trinity School for Ministry; then to a Lexington High School graduate attending a trade school or technical school, then to a Lexington High School graduate attending a college or university.
Christ Lutheran Church of Lexington had its beginnings in September 1964 when Pastor George Billman began surveying the Village of Lexington to establish statistics for the Board of American Missions, Lutheran Church in America.
On Nov. 22, 1964, all interested Lutherans, some of whom were educators in the local school district, gathered at the Congregational Church to set up plans for future worship services. At an organizational meeting Nov. 29, 1964, the new congregation was named Christ Lutheran Church of Lexington. Church services began on Dec. 6, 1964, in the Central Elementary School Cafeteria in Lexington. The first Sunday School sessions started Jan. 10, 1965.
On Jan. 27, 1965, the charter members of the Christ Lutheran Church of Lexington declared their wishes to be recognized as a member body of the Lutheran Church in America. On Oct. 10, 1965, George Billman was installed as the first pastor. On Sept. 8, 1966, two purple telephone poles in the shape of a cross were placed on the future church building site at 159 Frederick Street, Lexington. A groundbreaking ceremony was held on Jan. 28, 1968, and the dedication service for the newly constructed church was held June 16, 1968.
Over the next 50 years, four ordained Lutheran Ministers were called to service by the congregation: Pastor George Billman, 1964-1981; Pastor Jeff Hancock, 1982-1987; Pastor Marilou Brook, 1988-1998; Pastor Jamie Haynes, 1999-2001 and Pastor Marilou Brook, 2003-2018.
The Christ Lutheran Church Scholarship Fund shall endure as a legacy to all previous members as well as everyone who was baptized, confirmed, married and interred through the ministry of Christ Lutheran Church of Lexington.
