The History of the Gathering at Scott Memorial UMC
Scott Memorial UMC History
Scott Memorial Methodist Church held its first worship service September 16, 1951 at 11:00 a.m. in the sanctuary. The Rev. J. Fletcher Osborne welcomed worshipers. Over the next ten years, several more building projects were accomplished, resulting an extension of Church School facilities, changes to the Sanctuary, a colonnade in front of the memorial garden in memory of Mary E. Scott and a new parsonage in Oceana Gardens. Scott Memorial became United Methodist in 1968 as the result of a merger with the Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Brethren Church.
The History was compiled by Miss Fannie Brock, Mrs. I. J. Upson, Mrs. Foy C. Casper and updated by Mrs. Betty S. Horner, Historian and summarized for this purpose by Ms. Betty B. Mills. Updated – September 2014.



The History of the Gathering UMC
Wayne called Rev. Vickie Seibert, the pastor of Scott Memorial UMC to see if the church might be open to merging and she felt God was in this process and shared the possibility with leaders from the church. After they agreed to continue discussing a possible partnership, Pastor Rachel met with the Trustees and Church Council to request sharing space over the summer for youth group, Vacation Bible School and a Women’s Bible Study. Both churches enjoyed sharing the space and so in July leaders from both churches met to start talking about opportunities and challenges in a permanent partnership.
Throughout July and August there were dozens of meetings between leaders from both churches to pray and set up parameters for a merger. Both churches had church conferences in September of 2015 where they voted overwhelmingly to move forward with the unification of the churches.
Renovations on youth and children’s Sunday School classrooms began immediately along with technology updates to the church and on November 8th both churches met in the same building for the first joint Sunday worship services. On November 10th they voted on a unified leadership structure and budget and selected a new name for the church which is now known as “The Gathering at Scott Memorial UMC.” This has been an exciting and prayerful process and we have sensed the Holy Spirit at work in powerful ways! We are looking forward to continuing our ministry together as one church!