Frazer United Methodist Church

32°22′51.55″N 86°11′50.97″W

Frazer Church
Frazer Free Methodist Church
Location6000 Atlanta Highway, Montgomery, Al 36117
CountryUnited States
DenominationFree Methodist
Membership4,055
Weekly attendance2,130
Websitewww.frazer.church
History
Founded1892
Administration
DistrictSoutheast Region
Clergy
Bishop(s)Keith Cowart
Senior pastor(s)Chris Montgomery

Frazer Church is a Free Methodist megachurch located at 6000 Atlanta Highway, Montgomery, Alabama. It has 4,055 members[1] with a mission to "Make disciples of Jesus Christ for the hope of the world".

Leadership

Dr. Chris Montgomery was appointed to serve as senior pastor in 2020.[2] Previous leaders include Dr. John Ed Mathison, who retired from the position of senior pastor at Frazer in June 2008 after serving in that role for 36 years.[3] In February 2010, Tim Thompson was appointed as the new senior pastor by Bishop Paul L. Leeland. Thompson grew up in the Methodist church and is a former youth minister at Frazer.[4] In early 2016, Thompson announced his retirement.[5] In March 2016, Leeland appointed Larry Bryars to assume the role of senior pastor to take place the first week of July, 2016.[6] In the summer of 2020 Rev Bryars retired and Bishop David Graves appointed Dr. Chris Montgomery to take the role of senior pastor of Frazer.[7] Other clergy currently appointed to Frazer include Dr. Neil Epler, Rev. Ken Roach, and Rev. Mario Aman.[8]

History

Beginnings

Frazer Methodist Church began in 1889 in a storeroom on Holt Street, Montgomery. A local preacher held Sunday School meetings here until the group grew enough to purchase a house on Herron Street. A minister was assigned in 1892, turning the group into an organized church.[9]

Growth

In 1978 Frazer expanded to three Sunday morning worship services, and in 1992 began broadcasting live services on television. In 1990 Frazer had the largest attendance in both Sunday School and their Sunday morning worship of any Methodist congregation in North America.[10] In 2000 Frazer once again increased the number of its morning worship services to six. The three new services use a contemporary worship style. A Spanish service was added in 2003 with the hiring of a full-time Hispanic minister.[9] A new building was added in 2005. This new building, Wesley Hall, is a 2,000-seat atrium that currently houses the contemporary worship services. It also includes a bookstore, coffee shop, baptistery and children's ministry facilities.[11]

Connection

In 2022 Frazer's congregation voted to disaffiliate from the United Methodist Church and affiliate with the Free Methodist Church. The vote was ratified by the UMC Alabama-West Florida Annual Conference on June 14, 2022 and Frazer was received at that time by the Free Methodist Church. The clergy on staff also reaffiliated with the Free Methodist Church and were appointed back to Frazer by Bishop Keith Cowart of the FMC.[12] At that time Frazer was one of only three Free Methodist congregations in Alabama. A four, in Phenix City, operated as a campus of a Columbus, Georgia, congregation.[13]

References
  1. "UMData". www.umdata.org. Retrieved 2022-02-14.
  2. Staff, WSFA 12 News. "Frazer UMC announces appointment of new senior pastor". www.wsfa.com.
  3. Bob Gambacurta (2008-05-20). "News". al.com. Archived from the original on 2012-10-03. Retrieved 2012-09-10.
  4. http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=20103070315
  5. Burylo, Rebecca (4 February 2016). "Frazer senior pastor at peace with retirement". Montgomery Advertiser. Retrieved 13 February 2017.
  6. Klass, Kym (15 March 2016). "Frazer names new senior pastor". Montgomery Advertiser. Retrieved 13 February 2017.
  7. "Frazer United Methodist Church Names New Senior Pastor". February 11, 2020.
  8. "2020 – 2021 Appointments" (PDF). Alabama-West Florida Annual Conference.
  9. "History". Frazer Church. 2005-07-17. Retrieved 2012-09-10.
  10. "Megachurches, sorted by size". Hartford Institute for Religion Research.
  11. "Frazer Memorial United Methodist, Montgomery, Alabama". acousticdimensions.com. Archived from the original on December 21, 2009.
  12. "Frazer UMC votes to disaffiliate". 2022-02-10. Retrieved 2022-06-16.
  13. Bains, David R. (2022-12-04). "Free Methodist Church in Alabama". Chasing Churches. Retrieved 2022-12-04.
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