Advancing the Kingdom

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Advancing T he Kingdom: Kingdom House 74
Additionally, “Two areas of program
not functioning too well – (1) Service
to African American people other
than group at Kingdom House 5-12
age group. Cashmere Club formed [;]
10 African American girls – another
group of 20 African American boys
are now coming to meetings. (2) Adult
participation – approximately 500
families in Darst Housing – interracial
program being planned.”27
Unspecified problems with the
church at Kingdom House continued.
In January of 1959, the Women’s
Board discussed attempts made to
work with the Church Extension
and Mission Society regarding the
future of the chapel. Two months later
the Minutes lament “the church at
Kingdom House at a standstill waiting
for report from Board of Missions and
Church Extension.”28 One year later,
Koeppe notified the Women’s Board
that Kingdom House Church had no
attendance and would be dissolved.
Additional pressing issues weighed
on the Executive Director’s mind.
During the fall of 1959, the United
Fund disbursements were still at levels
from the early 1950s. At the September
Women’s Board meeting, Koeppe
told the women that the program of
Kingdom House would have to be
curtailed because of lack of funds. Of
the $77,000 annual budget, Methodist
churches give $6000 of support. At the
March, 1960 Women’s Board meeting
Mr. Koeppe announced “that the rumor
that Kingdom House institution will
close its doors is absolutely false and
the rumor must stop. Kingdom House
will not close as long as there is a
need.”29 Furthermore, he stressed that
an endowment fund to provide a new
Kingdom House Recreation Center
should be created, that the Center should
be supported, and that the Christian
professional workers must have ample
reward for their services. Coming
before the Board again in May, Koeppe
expounded:
...Kingdom House is on a precipice
and must either go forward or drop into
oblivion...Kingdom House has been
misunderstood and has suffered as a result.
It is not a community work of a local
congregation but an agency and instrument
of the Methodist Church with a very special
function. The Kingdom House Church
has been in confusion. Good workers and
physical facilities are an urgent necessity in
order to keep Kingdom House alive. This is
a Summer of Decision. Kingdom House has
never had so many opportunities for a bright
future nor been surrounded by so many dark
A B
P hotos:
A: Safe or out?
B: Sock hop
“ … an area so
impoverished that
“bugs and roaches
dominated the
premises, and rats
larger than small
dogs were to be found
everywhere”