Village Presbyterian Church (Prairie Village, Kansas): Difference between revisions

'''Village Presbyterian Church''' is a [[Presbyterian Church (USA)]] congregation located at:<br> 6641 Mission Road <br> [[Prairie Village, Kansas]] <br> 66208

The church was founded in 1949<ref name=":HistoryAndMission">{{cite web |title=Our History & Mission {{!}} Village Presbyterian Church - Prairie Village, Kansas |url=https://www.villagepres.org/history-mission.html}}</ref> with 282 members, and has since grown to be one of the largest Presbyterian Churches in America with a reported 4,789 members in 2013.<ref name=":Ten Year Trends">{{cite web |title=Ten Year Trends — Presbyterian Mission Agency — Total Membership |url=https://www.pcusa.org/site_media/media/uploads/research/pdfs/comparative_statistics_2013.pdf}}</ref>

The church's mission statement is “to see and relate to every person in our communities and the world as loved by God.”<ref name=":HistoryAndMission" />

=== Founded===

Village Presbyterian Church was founded in February 1949 by [[Rev. Dr. Robert H. Meneilly]].<ref name=":Meneilly">{{cite news |title=The Rev. Dr. Robert H. Meneilly, who founded one of the PC(USA)’s largest churches, dies at age 96 |url=https://www.presbyterianmission.org/story/the-rev-dr-robert-h-meneilly-who-founded-one-of-the-pcusas-largest-churches-dies-at-age-96/}}</ref><ref name=":HistoryAndMission"/> [[Prairie Village, Kansas|Prairie Village]] was a developing suburb in the 1940s with a high concentration of young families, and no [[Presbyterianism|Presbyterian]] church in the area.<ref name=":Meneilly" /><ref name=":HistoryAndMission" /><ref>{{cite web |title=Reflections - A History of Prairie Village |url=https://www.pvkansas.com/home/showpublisheddocument/3592/635606376817930000}}</ref>

[[Prairie Village, Kansas|Prairie Village]] was a developing suburb in the 1940s with a high concentration of young families, and no [[Presbyterianism|Presbyterian]] church in the area.<ref>{{cite web |title=City of Prairie Village : History |url=https://www.pvkansas.com/about/history}}</ref>

Meneilly went door-to-door in the emerging suburb to encourage residents to visit, and begin building a congregation before the building was complete.<ref name=":HistoryAndMission" /> When the church opened for its first service on Sunday, Feb. 13, 1949, they drew 282 members<ref name=":HistoryAndMission" /> to the congregation.

===Later Years===

In a report from [[Walter Cronkite]] which was previewed in a 1994 article in the ''[[The Washington Post|Washington Post]]'', Cronkite described Village Presbyterian as an “absolute perfect example of what is happening to churches all over the United States today in the split between the [[Evangelicalism|evangelical]] right and the more mainstream.”<ref>{{cite news |title=WHAT'S HAPPENING TO CHRISTIANS? |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/tv/1994/12/18/whats-happening-to-christians/a7ff21b9-3e21-4a16-8047-17c724a48bd6/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=1994-12-18 |access-date=2015-10-23 |issn=0190-8286 |first=Patricia |last=Brennan}}</ref>

=== Recently===

On Feb. 5, 2017, Village Church became one church worshiping at two campuses, holding the first worship service at their first satellite campus, Village on Antioch, located at 14895 Antioch Road in Overland Park, Kansas.

* [[Rev. Dr. Robert H. Meneilly|Robert "Bob" H. Meneilly]] :&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;1949 - 1994

* George Daniel "Dan" Little :&nbsp;1995 - 1996 (Interim)

* Robert W. Bohl :&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;1996 - 2002

* Herbert B. Anderson :&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;2002 - 2004 (Interim)

* Thomas "Tom" L. Are, Jr. :&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;2004 - Future

* [[Rodger Nishioka|Rodger Y. Nishioka]] :&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;2023 - Future

==Membership ==

===Members===

In 2021, Village Presbyterian had a total of over 4,573 congregational members, which was significantly larger than the average PC(USA) congregation of 175 members.<ref name=":Ten Year Trends" />

===Financial===

In 2013, the congregation contributed a total of $4,147,189, compared to the average [[PC(USA)]] church's annual contribution of $243,563.<ref name=":Ten Year Trends" />

===Education===

The church reported a total enrollment in their Christian education program of 2,642 compared to the average 99 in 2013.<ref name=":Ten Year Trends" />

===Worship===

The average worship attendance in 2021 was 1,214.<ref name=":Ten Year Trends" />

== Worship services ==

=== Traditional ===

Traditional worship services are regularly held online each Sunday at 9 and 11 a.m.<ref name=":CurrentSermons">{{cite web |title=Current Sermon Series {{!}} Village Presbyterian Church - Prairie Village, Kansas |url=https://www.villagepres.org/online.html |website=www.villagepres.org}}</ref> These services include a sermon, traditional hymns and church announcements.<ref name=":CurrentSermons" /> Sermons are archived with transcripts as well as videos of the service, and saved on Village Presbyterian's website.<ref name=":CurrentSermons" />

=== "The Gathering" ===

The Gathering is a contemporary worship service regularly held at 5 p.m. Sundays.<ref name=":TheGathering">{{cite web |title=The Gathering {{!}} Village Presbyterian Church - Prairie Village, Kansas |url=https://www.vpcthegathering.org |website=www.villagepres.org}}</ref> Described as "alternative worship,"<ref name=":TheGathering" /> the service includes contemporary songs led by a live band, the inclusion of interactive media, extended time designated to greet other congregants and a sermon.<ref name=":TheGathering" />

== Departments and programs ==

=== Youth Department ===

Village Presbyterian's youth department serves members of the church in middle and high school.<ref>{{cite web|title = Village Presbyterian Church Youth!|url = http://villagepresyouth.org|website = Village Presbyterian Church Youth!|access-date = 2015-11-18|language = en-US}}</ref> The youth department hosts a variety of worship, mission and fellowship programs each week.<ref>{{Cite web|title = High School|url = http://villagepresyouth.org/high-school/|website = Village Presbyterian Church Youth!|access-date = 2015-11-18|language = en-US}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title = Middle School|url = http://villagepresyouth.org/middle-school/|website = Village Presbyterian Church Youth!|access-date = 2015-11-18|language = en-US}}</ref> Additionally, the department offers a variety of mission and worship-based trips during winter and summer school breaks, including an annual ski trip, a mission trip to the Dominican Republic, summer mission trip and annual trip to [[Montreat Conference Center]].<ref>{{cite web|title = Trips|url = http://villagepresyouth.org/trips/|website = Village Presbyterian Church Youth!|access-date = 2015-11-18|language = en-US}}</ref>

=== Presbyterian Women ===

Presbyterian Women are "all women members of the church and women in the community interested in the purpose of Presbyterian Women."<ref name=":PresbyterianWomen">{{Cite web|title = Presbyterian Women {{!}} Village Presbyterian Church - Prairie Village, Kansas|url=https://www.villagepres.org/pw.html |website = www.villagepres.org}}</ref> The group hosts a variety of events for women in the church, including a Bible study, book club, and a sewing and knitting group.<ref name=":PresbyterianWomen" /> Presbyterian Women holds an annual Advent Candlelight Dinner, and sends out their own newsletter each month.<ref name=":PresbyterianWomen" />

=== Music Ministry ===

Village Presbyterian Church’s music ministry includes several choral and instrumental ensembles for adults, youth, and children.<ref name=":MusicMinistry">{{Cite web |title = Music Ministries {{!}} Village Presbyterian Church - Prairie Village, Kansas |url=https://www.villagepres.org/music.html |website=www.villagepres.org}}</ref> The Village Choir serves as the principal chorus for worship services and concerts and is augmented by the Village Chamber Choir, More Love Chorale, Alegria, Village Voices Youth Choir, and Morning Stars Children’s Choirs. Additionally, the ministry supports the Village Brass Ensemble and Orchestra as well as the Morning Bells and Village Ringers handbell ensembles.<ref name=":MusicMinistry" />

The department presents a robust yearly concert series featuring music ministry ensembles as well as professional local, national, and international artists and ensembles. The Village Arts Alliance exists as a signature feature of the music ministry supporting three local semi-professional ensembles: Te Deum Chamber Choir, the Kansas City Wind Symphony, and the Kansas City Baroque Consortium.

Village Presbyterian Church is home to one of the significant pipe organs in the region, Opus 22, built by Richards, Fowkes & Co. of Ooltewah, TN. The 3-manual, 59-stop, 74-rank mechanical action organ features a principal tonal design modeled after 18th-century Dutch organs with numerous added stops to support broad anthem and solo organ literature.<ref name=":Organ">{{Cite web |title = Richards, Fowkers & Co {{!}} Opus 22 Specifications |url=https://www.richardsfowkes.com/3_organs/22/specification/ |website=www.richardsfowkes.com}}</ref>

The music ministry is led by Dr. Elisa Bickers, principal organist and associate director; Dr. Joshua Maize, associate director; and Theo Musick, music coordinator.<ref name=":MusicMinistry" />

==Mission and community involvement ==

===Village Presbyterian Church Food Pantry ===

Located off-site from the church itself, the Village Presbyterian Food Pantry hosts more than 300 volunteers each month.<ref name=":FoodPantry">{{Cite web |title=Food Pantry & Clothes Closet {{!}} Village Presbyterian Church - Prairie Village, Kansas |url=https://www.villagepres.org/food-pantry.html |website=www.villagepres.org |access-date=2015-10-23}}</ref> The pantry serves anyone in the area who completes an application and is near the Federal Poverty Guidelines.<ref name=":FoodPantry" /> The pantry consists of a grocery-store-style area where clients receive provisions like bread, pasta, pastries, produce, and toiletries, as well as a clothes closet in which clients can get necessary items like dresses, shirts and undergarments.

===Dominican Republic Partnership ===

Doctors and nurses from the Village congregation as well as the Kansas City area make four annual trips to [[La Romana, Dominican Republic|La Romana]] on a medical mission to provide health care to the impoverished residents of rural [[Batey (sugar workers' town)|bateyes]] and urban [[barrio]]s.<ref name=":Global">{{cite web |title=Medical and Surgical Teams {{!}} Village Presbyterian Church - Prairie Village, Kansas |url=https://www.villagepres.org/global.html |website=www.villagepres.org }}</ref> The church's youth department began an annual spring break mission trip to La Romana in the 1990s to work on construction projects like the Joe Hartman School.<ref name=":Global" />

===Front Porch Alliance ===

Front Porch Alliance is a partnership between Village Church and the Ivanhoe neighborhood of Kansas City. Front Porch Alliance provides mentor programs, home repair, and career services to residents of the east side neighborhood. The program was founded in 1999.<ref>{{cite web |title=Front Porch Alliance {{!}} Village Presbyterian Church - Prairie Village, Kansas |url=https://www.villagepres.org/front-porch-alliance.html |website=www.villagepres.org }}</ref>

===Environmental Action Network ===

The Environmental Action Committee was formed and renamed in 2007.<ref>{{cite web |title = Environmental Action {{!}} Village Presbyterian Church - Prairie Village, Kansas |url=https://www.villagepres.org/environmental-action.html |website=www.villagepres.org}}</ref> The committee encourages the church to recycle, buy environmentally responsible products, make sure the church's facilities are maintained in an environmentally-friendly way, and assists in the education of the church about environmental issues.

== Construction and rebuilding ==

Village Presbyterian began reconstruction of the main church space in April 2015.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Village Presbyterian starts rolling on $23 million improvement project |url=https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/community/johnson-county/article8873879.html |website=kansascity}}</ref> The mission of the rebuild was to install a new organ, make the church's sanctuary more accessible for disabled congregants, and install a new entrance and welcome center.<ref>{{Cite web |title = Now &Tomorrow Campaign {{!}} Village Presbyterian Church - Prairie Village, Kansas |url=https://www.villagepres.org/uploads/3/1/1/5/31151741/05_17_16_good_news_online_updated.pdf |website=www.villagepres.org}}</ref> The sanctuary renovation was completed in December, 2015 and the new organ arrived in September 2016. The organ was played for the first time on Nov. 20, 2016 with just 5% of the organ pipes working. The organ was fully voiced and all 3,800 pipes were functioning by August 2017.

==Pastors<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pastoral Staff |url=https://www.villagepres.org/pastoral-staff.html}}</ref>==

* Rev. Tom Are, Jr., Co-Pastor (installed in February 2004 as Senior Pastor, Co-Pastor as of February 2023)

* Rev. Dr. Rodger Nishioka, Co-Pastor (ordained in June 2018)

* Rev. Zach Walker, Pastor of Youth Ministries (ordained and installed in August 2013)

* Rev. Sally Wright, Pastor of Pastoral Care (installed January 2020)

* Rev. Melanie Hardison, Pastor of Pastoral Care (installed February 2020)

* Rev. Alice Whitson, Pastor of Media Ministry (ordained and installed in May 2023)

* Rev. Anna Owens, Antioch Campus Pastor (installed in April 2023)

*https://villageantioch.org

*https://vpcthegathering.org

*https://villagepresya.org

*https://villagepresyouth.org

* Recordings of some of the sermons of Founding pastor, Dr. Bob Meneilly:<br>https://m.soundcloud.com/villagepres_heritage

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