Where We Worship
Methodist church founded by royal charter

By Zenaida Serrano Espanol
Advertiser Staff Writer

• Name of church: First United Methodist Church

Robert Morley, senior pastor at United Methodist Church, says worship services at the church cater to varying tastes. Jeff Widener • The Honolulu Advertiser

• Where we are: 1020 S. Beretania St., downtown Honolulu

• Our numbers: 750

• Our pastor: Robert Morley, senior pastor; Mohengi Ngauamo and Samuel Domingo, associate pastors

• What we believe (our mission statement): "The main purpose and focus of First United Methodist Church of Honolulu is to: proclaim the joy of salvation through Jesus Christ; invite and welcome all of God's children to worship God, our Father and Creator; allow the activity of the Holy Spirit to be felt within the life of our congregation; promote unity within our diverse cultures; care for, nurture and encourage one another through prayer and fellowship; emphasize Christian education of our children; continue to grow spiritually towards a more personal relationship with Christ through Bible Study.

"Therefore, with the guidance and power of the Holy Spirit, we vow to: continue and expand our current ministries; witness to the unchurched and bring nonbelievers to know the peace of a Christ-centered life; use the gifts which God has given us to reach out and spread the gospel and the love of God into the world and throughout our local community."

• Our history: In 1855, King Kamehameha IV granted a royal charter for the church because American seamen in the China trade requested an English-speaking service in Honolulu, where missionary services were in Hawaiian. The original location of the church was along Fort Street. It moved to its present site on South Beretania Street in 1894. The current sanctuary was built in 1954 and was designed by Alfred Preis, who was also the architect of the Arizona Memorial. Preis won an award for his design of the sanctuary, which was recognized as an outstanding example of Hawaiian modern architecture.

• What we're excited about: The annual Vacation Bible School, free and open to children of all ages, will be held 5:30 to 8 p.m. from July 16 to July 20. Themed "Club Can Do," the program will give keiki an opportunity to explore their faith through lessons, crafts, songs and fellowship. An evening meal will also be served daily.

Another upcoming event is "The ABCs of Worship," which will take place at the 9 and 10:30 a.m. services on July 22. It is open to the public and designed especially for children, young families, those new to the church and those who are seeking a spiritual home. Isla Morley, director of communications of the church, said that the event "is a fun and experiential way of understanding what worship is about and how it nurtures our spiritual selves."

• What's special about us: Besides being the only Methodist church in the country that was founded under a royal charter, church leaders are proud of the diverse socio-economic and ethnic backgrounds of the congregation. The church also has services in the Tongan language every Sunday at 6 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Another feature of the church is its worship services, which, Pastor Robert Morley said, caters to everyone, whether members favoring "the predictable things," such as singing traditional hymns accompanied by a pipe organ, or a "certain kind of spontaneity," such as upbeat music in the form of a live band or gospel quartet.

"My thinking about worship is that it's sort of like the furniture of a house," Pastor Morley said. "You can mix and match antique and modern if you do it right."

In addition, church members strongly believe in getting involved with the community. Some of their many ministries include a food bank, which is the largest private food bank in the state, serving about 600 families every month; a computer ministry that offers anyone free access to the church's computer lab and an accredited preschool that serves 50 to 60 children.

• Contact: Call 522-9555, e-mail firstunim001@hawaii.rr.com

If you would like to recommend your church, temple or faith organization for a Where We Worship profile, e-mail faith@honoluluadvertiser.com, call 535-8174 or write: Where We Worship, Faith Page, The Honolulu Advertiser, P.O. Box 3110, Honolulu, HI 96802.