Gortner Union Church (Oakland, Maryland, USA)
Gortner Union Church, a congregation in Garrett County, Maryland, was organized in the spring of 1893 by the people of the Gortner community. They had a Sunday-school attendance of approximately 40, and some preaching appointments in the schoolhouse by United Brethren and Mennonite ministers.
In 1898 the Gortner Union Church was built (26 x 42 ft). Labor and material were donated, and the building was completed at a cash cost of approximately $600, and dedicated 16 October 1898, three different denominations taking part. In the forenoon, D. H. Bender conducted Mennonite services; afternoon, Tobias Fike, German Baptist; and evening, Franklin M. Glenn, United Brethren. During the first year several denominations conducted revivals. S. G. Shetler conducted the first revival by the Mennonites in 1899. The church was remodeled in 1937. In 1954 it had a membership of 17 Mennonites, with D. L. Swartzendruber as pastor.
In 2007 the membership was 38; Steve Sauder was the pastor. The congregation had dual affiliation with Church of the Brethren and Mennonite Church USA.
In February 2015 Gortner Union Church voted to be released from membership in the Allegheny Mennonite Conference, citing differences about how to deal with same-sex relationships.
Bibliography
Houser, Gordon. "Allegheny Narrowly Votes to Reinstate Hyattsville." The Mennonite. 9 March 2015. Web. 9 March 2015. https://themennonite.org/daily-news/allegheny-votes-to-reinstate-hyattsville/.
Yoder, Kelli. "After 10 Years, Allegheny Reinstates Hyattsville Church." Mennonite World Review. 11 March 2015. Web. 16 March 2015. http://mennoworld.org/2015/03/11/news/after-10-years-allegheny-reinstates-hyattsville-church/.
Additional Information
Address: 4391 Mason School Road, Oakland, MD
Phone: 301-334-4305
Denominational Affiliations:
Allegheny Mennonite Conference (1898-2015)
Mennonite Church USA (until 2015)
| Author(s) | D. L Swartzendruber |
|---|---|
| Date Published | 1956 |
Cite This Article
MLA style
Swartzendruber, D. L. "Gortner Union Church (Oakland, Maryland, USA)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. 1956. Web. 16 Apr 2024. https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Gortner_Union_Church_(Oakland,_Maryland,_USA)&oldid=131245.
APA style
Swartzendruber, D. L. (1956). Gortner Union Church (Oakland, Maryland, USA). Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 16 April 2024, from https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Gortner_Union_Church_(Oakland,_Maryland,_USA)&oldid=131245.
Adapted by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 2, p. 546. All rights reserved.
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