History

Rockville United Church entered into a covenant of union on June 25, 1967. This Congregation was born from the merger of Faith United Church of Christ and St. Andrew United Presbyterian Church.

This union culminated from informal discussions by the pastors, The Reverend Donald J. Maccallum and The Reverend Dr. J. Wiley Prugh. A proposal prepared by Pastor Maccallum for a move towards a union congregation and into community ministry resulted in the two congregations joining in a Covenant of Union.

A new congregational structure was developed for a union congregation that would be affiliated with both the Presbyterian Church US (now USA) and the United Church of Christ. The official board of the united congregations was called the Senate; now it is called the Council. A Co-Pastor arrangement was approved in which Dr. Prugh would serve as the Parish Minister and Pastor Maccallum would serve as the Community Minister.

The church building that had been built by the St. Andrews Congregation in 1962 became the home of Rockville United Church. The church building that had been built by the Faith United Church of Christ Congregation in 1956 was leased to Montgomery County for offices until it was sold in May 1976.

Thus, two congregations gave up their individual identities and placed their faith and trust in exploring new paths in a creative, imaginative experiment which reached beyond the walls of Rockville United Church in a ministry to and for the community. This ministry called the United Church Center for Community Ministry (now CMR - Community Ministries of Rockville) became an advocate for the disadvantaged in our society.

An important part of RUC’s history is that Rockville United Church pioneered community ministry in the Washington metropolitan area. Following the guidelines of CMR, within five years, two offspring of this pioneering venture were the Community Ministry of Northern Virginia and the Community Ministry of Montgomery County.

In 1972 Pastor Maccallum resigned to become the Director of Drug Abuse Control for Montgomery County, and the Reverend Alfred Winham was called by RUC to fill the Community Ministry vacancy. In August 1974, Pastor Prugh took a position in Tennessee and the Reverend Frank H. Poole was called to fill the Parish Minister’s vacancy. Pastor Winham retired in July 1978.

The Reverend Mansfield M. Kaseman was called in February 1979 as Co-Pastor of RUC and Executive Director of the United Church Center for Community Ministries. Pastor Kaseman served in this capacity until September 1982 when, upon the departure of Pastor Poole, the church adopted a Long Range Plan for Professional Leadership. This plan called for one full-time pastor to serve in a dual role as Chief Executive Officer and Moderator of Rockville United Church and as Executive Director of the United Church Center for Community Ministries. The Plan called for additional professional services to be obtained as needed. Pastor Kaseman was called to serve as Pastor and Community Minister and served in this capacity until his retirement.

In June 1984, The Reverend Margaret Lucy Dodds was called to a half-time position as an Associate Pastor of Rockville United Church and continued to serve in this capacity until May 1993.

In 1986, RUC built a major addition to the existing structure consisting of the Fellowship Hall, offices and rest rooms. The Narthex and the kitchen were enlarged and new chairs; lights and fans were added to the Sanctuary. The parking lot was also enlarged at the time of the building enlargement. In addition to the office area was completed in 1999. It created one additional office as well as a conference room. In 2002, air conditioning was installed in the sanctuary and downstairs classrooms.

The Reverend Dr. Jean Crist Thompson was called as a half-time Associate Pastor in August 1993 to be responsible for Christian Education at Rockville United Church. She continued in this position until October 1994. Jackie M. Smith served as the Interim Director of Christian Education until August 1995.

In August, 1995, Amy S.W. Parker was called as a three-quarter time Director of Christian Formation to direct all Christian Education programs. She served in this position until her resignation in February 1998.

The Sexuality Task Force convened in July, 1999; after ten months of study and nine months of adult education events on the subject of sexuality, the Council brought two proposals to the congregation at its April, 2001 meeting.  Both were approved by a significant majority:  that RUC become an Open and Affirming/More Light congregation, and that the statement of faith be amended to make that decision explicit.

Beverly Bailey, a Certified Christian Educator, became the part-time Director of Christian Education in February 2001. She retired in 2004.

In 2004, Louisa Davis became the part-time Director of Christian Education.  She left that position in 2005 and Margot Williams became Director in 2006. In 2007, Margot Williams left RUC for a full-time DCE position at another church.

In April, 2005 The Reverend Mansfield Kaseman retired after more than 25 years of service to Rockville United Church and Community Ministries of Rockville.  RUC shortly thereafter called an Interim Pastor, Reverend Suzanne Rudiselle to serve while the church searched for a new minister.

 In March 2007 Rockville United Church called The Rev. Dr. Duncan Newcomer to be a full time minister.