In June and July 2008, Tabernacle UMC conducted an employment search to permanently fill the position of Church Secretary. Terry Waldenmaier has served as Church Secretary since August 2007 under a temporary contract, which provided that the contract would extend no later than December 2008 and that a search for a permanent Church Secretary would be conducted prior to the end of 2008.

The Staff-Parish Relations Committee (SPRC) initiated an employment search to identify and hire a permanent Church Secretary. The search process conformed to the requirements of paragraph 259.2(g)(12) of The Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church (2004), which provides that "the [SPRC] committee and the pastor shall have the authority to hire" paid staff members. Throughout the three-step search process, the SPRC emphasized the importance of finding the best candidate for Tabernacle from the available pool of applicants.

First, in June 2008 the SPRC publicized the opening in the Fredericksburg Free-Lance Star, on Fetch.com (a regional listing of employment opportunities), in the Virginia Conference web-based newsletter, and in these pages. Interested applicants were invited to submit applications through the close of business on July 3, 2008.

Second, the SPRC reviewed the sixty-nine applications received as of July 3, including many from out-of-state. Myself and Pam Carney, a member of the SPRC, reviewed each application of this unexpectedly large field and narrowed the list to six finalists, all of whom were truly impressive. All exhibited a strong Christian faith and had significant administrative or managerial experience. Three finalists were currently employed as a church secretary or in church administration; two others had been so employed within the last two years.

Third, a three-member panel composed of Jeff Schueler (the SPRC chair), Pastor Steve Hay (the direct supervisor for the position), and Ray Haddock (the SPRC member responsible for that position) interviewed these six finalists. The panel found all six to be strong candidates, though one - Terry Waldenmaier - stood out as the strongest. Terry possesses the administrative skills and abilities for success in the position as currently defined, and also demonstrates a vision of how the position might evolve as Tabernacle grows into the future. Based on these factors, the interview panel recommended to the full SPRC that Tabernacle hire Terry Waldenmaier as the permanent Church Secretary effective immediately. The SPRC approved the panels recommendation at its July 17, 2008, meeting, and Terry has accepted that offer.

At the start of this process, we knew that Terry would apply for the position on a permanent basis and we took care to review each applicant's skills and experience in light of Tabernacle's current and future needs. Of the 69 applicants for this position, we are confident that Terry is the best candidate to provide Tabernacle with long-term stability and growth in the position of Church Secretary. Please feel free to contact myself (786-0368) or any of those involved if you have any questions about the search process.

United Methodist Men

The Rosa Miler Circle will meet August 6, 2008 at 12:00 p.m. (noon) for lunch at Tru Lov's Restaurant, 1101 Sophia St, Fredericksburg. Rides from the church parking lot to the restaurant can be arranged. Please call Louise Kayne at 785-4407 if you plan to attend, so reservations can be made.

United Methodist Men

Starting or strengthening your relationship with Christ--growing your faith---fellowship and fun---if any of these are what you are looking for then Alpha is for you! Alpha is a 12 week course for all adults interested in investigating the Christian faith. From the basics to the difficult, Alpha is a place where you can ask any question. Starting September 12th we will meet Friday evenings starting at 6:30, have a meal together, a guest speaker and a small group time. Child care is provided. For more information or to sign up contact Dave Kellison at 786-3930 or Mike Conrad at 972-4286

United Methodist Men

United Methodist Men

AARP offers a Driver Safety Program for folks 50 and over who want to improve their driving skills by compensating for diminished hearing and eyesight, and increased reaction time. Virginia law requires that insurers in VA discount vehicle insurance premiums for those who complete the course. If you are interested in participating in this course during August/ September timeframe, please contact Jim Sizemore 373-1558. Class size is limited.

United Methodist Men

Are you a qualified Van driver? The church office is looking for those people who have taken the Van Driver Certification Test and those who have a van driver certificate. Please call the office at 786-6162 or email church.secretary@tabumc.org. We need to update your records.

United Methodist Men

Have a 2-year old (or will be 2 by the fall)? Looking for a FREE, fun activity? Know any 2-year olds? Tabernacle's new Toddler Co-op may be for you!

We're looking for 12 parents and 12 two-year olds to start our Toddler Co-op in September. Each Tuesday morning during the school year, the children will play, read, snack, make a craft and go outside at Tabernacle. Three parents supervise each week, the others have the morning off, and the schedule rotates each week. Interested? Curious? Come to our information meeting, Tuesday, June 10 at 10 am in Room 406 (end of the Sunday school hall). Or pick up a flyer in the nursery. Contact Debbie Stadtler at 785-5010 or debbiestadtler@yahoo.com with questions.

United Methodist Men

Summer is coming to an end soon and so the book club is meeting for the last time. We'll be meeting Tuesday, August 12th at 7 p.m. This month we're reading The Gospel According to Starbucks: Living with a Grande Passion by Leonard Sweet. Join us--just read the book and come to the discussion! We've had some great discussions so don't miss it!

For more information please contact Debbie Stadtler at 785-5010 or e-mail debbiestadtler@yahoo.com.

United Methodist Men

We are planning a fun activity for the Senior Citizens of Tabernacle. The Riverside Center will present "42nd Street" on Sunday, August 31st. We will leave after the 11:00 a.m. worship service to arrive at Riverside by 1:00 p.m. for dinner, the show will begin at 3:00 p.m. The cost is $44.75 per person, which includes your dinner, gratuity, and the show. This will be payable in advance when the reservation is made. Please contact Darrell or Frances Adams, 786-1851, by Sunday, July 27th to place your reservation. Volunteers are needed to drive.

United Methodist Men

The United Methodist Women are hosting the first Fredericksburg Quilt Festival on November 8th. We have flyers for the classes and exhibits available outside the Fellowship Hall and Multi-Purpose Room. We are especially hoping to display quilts made by Tabernacle's family. Please contact Cynthia Hay for more information at 786-9350 or cynhay@verizon.net

United Methodist Men

Tabernacle Webmaster

No one can state with complete accuracy the date of the beginning of the first Methodist congregation in the Chancellor neighborhood that subsequently came to be called Tabernacle United Methodist Church. In the early history of the Methodist circuit riders, they were appointed to a specific geographical area, rather than to a local congregation or a number of already established churches, called a circuit. It is known, however, that circuit riders had been appointed to the entire state of Virginia not long after the beginning of the Nineteenth Century. Even before that date, Methodism’s three earliest bishops, Francis Asbury, Thomas Coke and Richard Whatcoat, visited Spotsylvania County preaching the Gospel as understood by the Methodists. In all probability they rode past the location of present-day Tabernacle Church (Asbury’s Journal).

The earliest known date that an organized congregation of Methodist people existed in Spotsylvania County, is 1809, when a deed to a church was recorded in the clerk’s office at the courthouse. The name of the church, Ebenezer Methodist Episcopal Church of the United States of America, was located in the Brokenburg area. All traces of it disappeared long ago.

The Spotsylvania Circuit first appeared in the minutes of the Virginia Conference, in 1855, with the appointment of the Rev. Charles P. Moorman (Jan. 22, 1798 – Oct. 5, 1844), preacher in charge. Rev. Moorman’s circuit encompassed the entire county of Spotsylvania that had been served by other circuit riders prior to that date. There is in existence records that verify a “Tabernacle Methodist Episcopal Church” as early as 1842, however, most assuredly there was a congregation of Methodist worshippers in the Chancellor neighborhood several years prior to that date. According to tradition, the earliest Methodist church, possibly known locally as the Methodist Meeting House, the usual name given to churches at that time, was located somewhere on Motts Run.

Sometime prior to the Civil War (1861-1865), the Methodists in the Chancellor neighborhood erected a small frame structure at the juncture of Harrison and Gordon Roads. This Tabernacle Church appears on a number of maps used by the Confederate Army during the Battle of Chancellorsville and Salem church, May 1863. According to tradition, having been used as a hospital by the Confederates, at which time there was an epidemic of smallpox among the troops, the Methodist congregation, out of fear of catching the dreaded disease, burned the church and moved to its current location on Old Plank Road. They, therefore, erected the frame structure on what is now part of Tabernacle’s parking lot and which several current members can recall attending during their childhood and younger years until 1955. It was then, under the leadership of the Rev. Earle William Fike, Sr. (Dec. 7, 1904 – Jan. 31, 1993), that the loyal congregation completed the sanctuary and educational unit of the present Tabernacle structure. It was during the pastorate of the Rev. Edward Coleman Johnson (1973-1978) that the unit commonly called the “social hall,” with the children’s Sunday school classes on the first level was built. Space does not permit the writing of an adequate history of a church that has made such a contribution to the spread of Christianity, both locally, and far beyond her doors, including giving two of her sons to the Methodist ministry: The Rev. John Wesley Hilldrup (June 30, 1840 – buried, June 30, 1895), and the Rev. William Evan Thomas (Nov. 15, 1895 – May 1, 1947).

Tabernacle Webmaster