The original center was located at 1978 Union Avenue in Memphis, Tennessee, from 1951 to 2008. Funded through a denomination wide campaign in the late-1940s, the original building was an impressive and architecturally interesting neo-gothic structure. The Cumberland Presbyterian denomination's seminary, Memphis Theological Seminary, was located less than a mile away. The construction of the center, and the consolidation of board and agency offices in Memphis, marked the end of a long period of recovery for the Cumberland Presbyterian denomination after a contentious period of a partial union with the Presbyterian Church (USA) since 1906.[1]
A new denominational headquartersEdit
At the meetings of their General Assemblies in 2005 and 2006, Cumberland Presbyterians voted to either build, purchase, or lease a new denominational headquarters.[2] The decision was not without opposition. Factions within the denomination were divided over the deposition of the historic midtown Memphis structure that had served since 1951. Some Cumberland Presbyterians felt that the denomination would be better served by remodeling the existing structure. Arguments against renovation included the fear that asbestos employed in the original construction was a potential health risk to the occupants and that the structure was no longer in a desirable location. The majority of the denominational boards and agencies housed at the property were strongly in favor of renovation and that the Memphis firm, Chandler Demolition Company, Inc. (later hired by Chick-fil-A to demolish the building), did not consider the asbestos to be a health risk.[3]
The General Assembly appointed a task force to raise funds for construction, and to select a site for a new denominational headquarters. At the same time, the assembly affirmed its support for a centralized denominational staff.[4] On February 22, 2008, a site for the new Cumberland Presbyterian Center campus comprising two partially constructed buildings, a grassy area, and a portion of Rock Creek, was purchased near the intersection of Interstate 40 and Germantown Road in Memphis. Denominational offices were able to move to the new site, at 8207 Traditional Place, in September 2008.[5]
Demolition of the historic buildingEdit
Chick-fil-A purchased the original property with the intention of developing a restaurant on the site. However, a general outcry from local media, neighborhood residents, and Memphis area historic preservationists persuaded the restaurant chain to agree to preserve at least a portion of the historic building.[6][7] By mid-May 2009, the structure had been demolished, with the exception of the south wall along Union Avenue and a portion of the west wall along Rembert Street.[8]
Boards, Agencies, and Departments housed at the Cumberland Presbyterian CenterEdit
^Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 2006.
^Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 2005-2006
^Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 2006.
^Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 2005-2007
^Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 2006-2008.
^Carla Underwood, New Chick-fil-A Store Won't Destroy Church Facade 2003-09-24 at the Wayback Machine, Memphis Commercial Appeal, November 13, 2008; retrieved from Memphis Heritage website, January 19, 2013.
^Shara Clark, Update on Chick-Fil-A and The Cumberland Presbyterian Center, Memphis Flyer, May 21, 2008
^Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 2006-2008.
External linksEdit
Photo of facade of old Cumberland Presbyterian Center and adjacent Chick-fil-A, Memphis Commercial Appeal
Further readingEdit
History of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Kentucky to 1988, by Matthew H. Gore, Joint Heritage Committee of Covenant and Cumberland Presbyteries. Memphis, Tennessee, 2000.
cumberland, presbyterian, center, this, article, multiple, issues, please, help, improve, discuss, these, issues, talk, page, learn, when, remove, these, template, messages, this, article, relies, excessively, references, primary, sources, please, improve, thi. This article has multiple issues Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page Learn how and when to remove these template messages This article relies excessively on references to primary sources Please improve this article by adding secondary or tertiary sources Find sources Cumberland Presbyterian Center news newspapers books scholar JSTOR October 2015 Learn how and when to remove this template message This article includes a list of references related reading or external links but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations October 2015 Learn how and when to remove this template message Learn how and when to remove this template message Cumberland Presbyterian Center is the denominational headquarters of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church located in Memphis Tennessee Contents 1 Original building 2 A new denominational headquarters 3 Demolition of the historic building 4 Boards Agencies and Departments housed at the Cumberland Presbyterian Center 5 References 6 External links 7 Further readingOriginal building Edit nbsp Remaining wall of gothic structureThe original center was located at 1978 Union Avenue in Memphis Tennessee from 1951 to 2008 Funded through a denomination wide campaign in the late 1940s the original building was an impressive and architecturally interesting neo gothic structure The Cumberland Presbyterian denomination s seminary Memphis Theological Seminary was located less than a mile away The construction of the center and the consolidation of board and agency offices in Memphis marked the end of a long period of recovery for the Cumberland Presbyterian denomination after a contentious period of a partial union with the Presbyterian Church USA since 1906 1 A new denominational headquarters EditAt the meetings of their General Assemblies in 2005 and 2006 Cumberland Presbyterians voted to either build purchase or lease a new denominational headquarters 2 The decision was not without opposition Factions within the denomination were divided over the deposition of the historic midtown Memphis structure that had served since 1951 Some Cumberland Presbyterians felt that the denomination would be better served by remodeling the existing structure Arguments against renovation included the fear that asbestos employed in the original construction was a potential health risk to the occupants and that the structure was no longer in a desirable location The majority of the denominational boards and agencies housed at the property were strongly in favor of renovation and that the Memphis firm Chandler Demolition Company Inc later hired by Chick fil A to demolish the building did not consider the asbestos to be a health risk 3 The General Assembly appointed a task force to raise funds for construction and to select a site for a new denominational headquarters At the same time the assembly affirmed its support for a centralized denominational staff 4 On February 22 2008 a site for the new Cumberland Presbyterian Center campus comprising two partially constructed buildings a grassy area and a portion of Rock Creek was purchased near the intersection of Interstate 40 and Germantown Road in Memphis Denominational offices were able to move to the new site at 8207 Traditional Place in September 2008 5 Demolition of the historic building EditChick fil A purchased the original property with the intention of developing a restaurant on the site However a general outcry from local media neighborhood residents and Memphis area historic preservationists persuaded the restaurant chain to agree to preserve at least a portion of the historic building 6 7 By mid May 2009 the structure had been demolished with the exception of the south wall along Union Avenue and a portion of the west wall along Rembert Street 8 Boards Agencies and Departments housed at the Cumberland Presbyterian Center EditDiscipleship Ministry Team Missions Ministry Team Board of Stewardship Pastoral Development Ministry Team Ministry Council Historical Foundation of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church and the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America denominational library and archives Office of the General AssemblyReferences Edit Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church 2006 Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church 2005 2006 Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church 2006 Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church 2005 2007 Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church 2006 2008 Carla Underwood New Chick fil A Store Won t Destroy Church Facade Archived 2003 09 24 at the Wayback Machine Memphis Commercial Appeal November 13 2008 retrieved from Memphis Heritage website January 19 2013 Shara Clark Update on Chick Fil A and The Cumberland Presbyterian Center Memphis Flyer May 21 2008 Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church 2006 2008 External links EditPhoto of facade of old Cumberland Presbyterian Center and adjacent Chick fil A Memphis Commercial AppealFurther reading EditHistory of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Kentucky to 1988 by Matthew H Gore Joint Heritage Committee of Covenant and Cumberland Presbyteries Memphis Tennessee 2000 35 11 15 N 89 47 25 W 35 1875 N 89 7902 W 35 1875 89 7902 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Cumberland Presbyterian Center amp oldid 1110266124, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
