Bicentennial Report

Shiremanstown United Methodist Church

Rev. Dr. Thomas W. Guinivan

June 18, 2000

by Ruth Schwalm

The worship service with Rev. John A. Ile, pastor, presiding, had a dual theme: "Bicentennial and Father’s Day." Of the 243 persons in attendance, Rev. Ile asked the fathers, grandfathers, and great-grandfathers to stand in order that the remainder of the congregation could thank them for their contributions to God; to Shiremanstown United Methodist Church; to their families and to their community.

The hymns sung during the service were "old favorites" namely, "Love Divine, All Loves Excelling," "Spirit of the Living God," and "O God, Our Help in Ages Past." The anthems sung by both the Children’s Choir and the Adult Choir presented the theme of "The Spirit." These selections were entitled "Every Time I Feel The Spirit" and "In His Spirit."

The Scripture lessons for the service were chosen by Rev. Guinivan for their appropriateness to his message. The Old Testament lesson was from Psalm 147. This was the passage that had been read by Bishop Christian Newcomer at the 27th Annual Meeting of the Eastern Conference in the farmhouse of John Shopp in April, 1826. The New Testament Lesson was from Romans 8:12-17. These words were as follows: "Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die; but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God, and joint heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together." These passages of scripture served as the theme of pietism and the historic "Revival of 1800."

Rev. Ile introduced Rev. Dr. Guinivan as his friend; his ministerial brother, and as a regular attendee of the Shiremanstown U.M. Church since his retirement in 1983. Rev. Guinivan’s late wife, Irene Schwalm Guinivan, had been an active participant in the congregation from 1931 until their marriage in 1946, and from 1983 until her death in December, 1996.

Rev. Guinivan chose as his sermon title, "Our Church’s Woven Tapestry." He sought thereby to inform the hearers concerning "the makings" of the Shiremanstown United Methodist Church. The principal sections of his message were:

I. The Weaving of a Tapestry

In order to make a tapestry, certain materials are essential: (a) a frame (or loom) and (b) threads. The threads are of two types: (1) "warp"– a series of yarns extended lengthwise (vertically) in a loom which provide a foundation (base). In the church, the "warp" is God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Without God, there is no Shiremanstown United Methodist Church history! (2)"woof"-these are the horizontal, filling threads that are interlaced in the warp to produce the fabric and pattern. The "woof" in the SUMC tapestry is represented by people in relationship with God and with other Christians. The Church is not bricks and mortar, but PEOPLE!! The records, the actions, and the stories of people of the congregation from 1800-2000 A.D. comprise our history!

II. Early Leaders (Founders) and Their Contributions

Rev. Guinivan named the following founders: Philip William Otterbein (1726-1813), Martin Boehm (1725-1812), Christian Newcomer (1746-1830), and John Shopp, Sr.

(a) Background information was given including: The above persons had a vital part in the Spiritual Awakening in the New American Nation: "The Revival of 1800." They were German-speaking participants in the Pietistic Movement from 1766-1783. They used as their theme, Romans 8:16; they believed that individuals needed to have an authentic personal experience of God; that faith was an attitude of the hearts; that repentance, regeneration (newness of life) and sanctification were spiritual facts to be experienced by Christians. They also stressed the need for Bible study.

The Pietistic Movement served as a direct confrontation to the prevailing low ebb of religious life in the early American colonies. The colonies had endured the aftermath of the French and Indian and American Revolutionary Wars. Only five percent of the population professed religious faith. True spiritual life was suppressed; dead formalities were often associated with gross immoralities in society and in the churches. Those who sought to live godly lives were ridiculed, and it was though "the church would die within the decade." This low state of spiritual life brought Philip William Otterbein from Germany as a missionary among the German-speaking people in America, as well as Francis Asbury, sent by John Wesley from England, as a missionary to the English-speaking people in America.

(b) The contributions and ministry of Philip William Otterbein included the fact that he was born in Dillinburg, Germany, on June 3, 1726. His father, an uncle, five brothers and he were ordained ministers in the German Reformed Church. He had obtained an excellent classical and theological education, but his thinking and stated theological opinions were often in conflict with higher ecclesiastical authorities. Aware of the need for German-speaking missionary-pastors in America, and encouraged by his mother, he accepted the challenge to come to America. He spent 27 years as pastor at the First German Reformed Church in Lancaster, PA, having arrived there in 1752 when there were only 500 houses and 2000 inhabitants. He emphasized Bible study, prayer groups, lay participation, soul/spiritual development, regeneration and regularly extended altar calls to his congregation. While a pastor in York, PA, he shared in the Great Revival Meeting in Isaac Long’s barn during Pentecost (1767). It was there that he heard Martin Boehm preach. (Long’s Barn is located near Landis Valley Museum in Lancaster, PA).

(c) Martin Boehm, born November 13, 1725, in Lancaster, PA, was a Mennonite farmer, who though unschooled, experienced God’s presence while plowing; was converted, and as a lay pastor sought to lead those around him to God. He became the leader of the "Boehm’s Revivals" among the German-speaking people. He preached concerning the need to be saved from sins, but also to Christian service.

On one occasion, Philip William Otterbein attended Boehm’s revival service; found through the Holy Spirit that they were apostles of the same Gospel despite their vast differences in education church order, garb and family heritage. Otterbein and Boehm embraced each other warmly and said "Wir Sind Bruder" (we are brothers). That became the inspiration for the name "United Brethren in Christ!"

Although neither Boehm nor Otterbein intended to found a new denomination (church), as the number of German-speaking converts grew (German Reformed and Mennonites), in 1800 a group of German-speaking ministers met at Peter Kemp’s home in Frederick, Maryland, to organize the first American-born indigenous church. This religious society was called the United Brethren in Christ. Otterbein and Boehm were elected bishops.

(d) Christian Newcomer, born in Lancaster County in 1749, came under the spiritual influence of Otterbein and Boehm, and much like "St. Paul," became an early organizer and builder of this new denomination. In his 284-page Newcomer’s Journal (1795-1830), he recorded dates, places, meetings, travels by horseback (approximately 120,000 miles) into Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, New York, Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, and Canada. His life was spent in bringing persons to Christ (conversion) and to having them make a commitment to Him.

(e) Johannes Shopp, Sr. and wife, Anna Hershey Shopp Newcomer’s journal records at least ten times when he stayed at the farm-home of Anna and Johannes Shopp. During one revival, their eight children were converted. John Shopp Jr. took over the leadership of "Shopp’s Station" after his father’s death in 1788. Newcomer also reported that Otterbein, Boehm, and he visited the United Brethren in Christ Church, the first built in Cumberland County, on the grounds of the cemetery just east of Shiremanstown and still owned and maintained by the Shiremanstown congregation. Bishop Jacob Erb, members of the John Shopp family, and other early United Brethren ministers are buried there. It was also at Shopp’s Farm that Bishop Newcomer convened the Pennsylvania Annual Conference of the United Brethren Church on April 3-5, 1826. These Pietist preachers and laity laid the spiritual foundation of Shiremanstown United Methodist Church.

(a) Ministers – 1800-1826 (See Shiremanstown United Methodist Church bulletin, Bicentennial Service, March 19, 2000, for list of "former pastors".) There are no records for this period; lay persons probably served as leaders during 1826-1926. There were 76 pastors who served only 1-2 years. From 1926 to present, there have been nine ordained pastors who served an average of six years each. Rev. Ralph Strasbaugh served 23 years (1936-59) and officiated at the wedding of Irene Schwalm and Rev. Guinivan in the two-story "Old Church" (108 years old) which was razed in 1968 to build the present sanctuary.

(b) Congregation (laity) who have lived, worked, worshipped, and fellowshipped throughout these 200 years have provided the essential "filler" and design to our tapestry. They have come; they have served; they have gone to witness to others concerning Christ and their spiritual experiences. This has become increasingly apparent from the interviews conducted of our 50+ year members and published by the Bicentennial Committee in the book entitled, Celebrating Our 50-Year Members.

Rev. Guinivan challenged the worshippers by asking, "What will this congregation be about 100 years from now?"

Despite all the influences that will surround us, changing technologies, changes in forms and styles of worship, changes in life-styles, we can be sure that God will remain our sure foundation, and that His people will continue to fellowship with Him; be redeemed, and reach out to love and serve others.

"O God, our help in ages past, our hope for years to come. Be Thou our guide while life shall last, and our eternal home. Amen."

The service was closed with the Bicentennial hymn, "Hope for the Future." A time of fellowship and taking of pictures for the historical archives followed.

Further information concerning the Rev. Dr. Thomas W. Guinivan includes the following. He graduated from John Harris High School, Lebanon Valley College (from which he also received an honorary doctorate in 1966), United Theological Seminary, and did graduate study at Union Theological Seminary, NYC. He first served the Hummelstown Circuit before serving as a U.S. Naval Chaplain from 1944-1947. Rev. Guinivan was pastor at several local churches including 20 years at Hershey First Church (1953-1973); was Superintendent, York District from 1973-1978, and pastor at Colonial Park U.M. Church (1978-1983) before retiring and moving to Bethany Village in June, 1983. He served as Director of Evangelism at Shiremanstown U.M. Church in 1986-1987.

Rev. Guinivan is the father of Thomas L. Guinivan, Forest Hill, MD, and Ann L. Cover, Nashville, TN, and the grandfather of five.

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