1963 – A Season of change
In his book, “Echoes: One hundred Years of Woodland…” James Trader called the early years of the 60’s “A Season of Changes.”
Trader cited physical improvements to the church building, and a reshuffling of room assignments. For example, The Toddlers and Twos moved into the room vacated by the Nursery Threes and Kindergarteners. The Nursery Threes moved into a room being vacated by the Chi Rhos, while the kindergarteners moved into a second room vacated by the Chi Rhos. And the Chi Rhos moved into the newly acquired annex at Oldham and High Streets. …that sort of thing. The white frame annex, was originally called “Christ’s Open House.”
But other, more subtle, changes were afoot. Even the “Echoes” editorial policy seemed to change as social justice issues gave way to something new: a more introspective point of view that focused on the business of the church: budgets, schedules, and the recruitment of volunteers for a host of needs. Rev. Raymond Alexander would resign at the end of 1963, and Woodland member, Dr. Ben Watson, was named interim pastor, as the search that would produce Pastor Elmore Ryle began.
Trader cited physical improvements to the church building, and a reshuffling of room assignments. For example, The Toddlers and Twos moved into the room vacated by the Nursery Threes and Kindergarteners. The Nursery Threes moved into a room being vacated by the Chi Rhos, while the kindergarteners moved into a second room vacated by the Chi Rhos. And the Chi Rhos moved into the newly acquired annex at Oldham and High Streets. …that sort of thing. The white frame annex, was originally called “Christ’s Open House.”
But other, more subtle, changes were afoot. Even the “Echoes” editorial policy seemed to change as social justice issues gave way to something new: a more introspective point of view that focused on the business of the church: budgets, schedules, and the recruitment of volunteers for a host of needs. Rev. Raymond Alexander would resign at the end of 1963, and Woodland member, Dr. Ben Watson, was named interim pastor, as the search that would produce Pastor Elmore Ryle began.