The following piece written by Louise McCallum outlines the early history of Green Valley Community Church:

"A SHORT HISTORY OF THE GREEN VALLEY COMMUNITY CHURCH

The first edition of the Green Valley News on January 16, 1964 asked all residents interested in a church in Green Valley to meet at the Fire Hall on the following Sunday. Worshipers brought their own chairs  and the Reverend William Methvin, a Methodist Minister, preached the first sermon. There were 62 residents in attendance with 12 denominations represented. The Tucson Green Valley Community Church was underway. Ministers from 15 denominations alternated the Sunday sermons over the next eight months.

The church was known as the Tucson Green Valley Protestant Church for a short time but the Tucson was dropped from the name when Green Valley acquired its own zip code. From June 1964 the Church was known as the Green Valley Community Church.

A Council of Seven which handled the Church's business began contracting with the major Protestant churches in Tucson for help. Early in 1964 the District Superintendent of the Methodist Church had asked Don Maxon, Green Valley's first developer, to include a church site in his plans. This was one of the reasons that the Tucson Council of Churches gave comity to the Southern California-Arizona Conference of the Methodist Church to work in the area. In June 1964 the Conference purchased the 2.33 acre parcel on the northwest corner of Esperanza Boulevard and La Canada Drive.

The Reverend Doctor Rector W. Johnson was appointed from the Oregon Conference. He came to Green Valley in October 1964, and the Church was officially organized February 21, 1965 with 80 members.

The founding residents met in many places in Green Valley. The Recreation Hall, now known as East Center, and Bentz Variety Store, now Ace Hardware, are two of the varied locations. By April 1967 the congregation had grown to 141 members.

The time had come to embark on a building program. Many decisions and meetings later, the ground breaking took place at Easter Sunrise Service, March 29, 1971. The first service was held in the new sanctuary with 900 worshipers.

A Sunday School program with full facilities was started in the fall of 1971.

Dr. Johnson retired in 1974 with a Church representing 35 denominations and 535 members. Johnson Hall was dedicated in February 1978 honoring his Christian leadership.

In 1980 the magnificent Reuter Pipe Organ was installed and in 1983 the set of memorial windows depicting the Parables of Christ were dedicated.

The founders had written goals for the future church:

• Those of advanced years could find continuous spiritual growth.
• Little children would learn to love God and grow in grace and goodness.
• Youth may come to worship, pause to pray and rise to service.
• Weary and heavy laden may find peace.
• The word of God shall be read and preached.
• Multitudes may be redeemed from sin.
• The quality of Christian life may be an influence in the lives of others.

These goals are a constant reminder of the early members and their hopes for the future of Green Valley Community Church. This first church in Green Valley stands as an example for the rest of the community by its strength and dedication to Christian Service in all areas."

On April 23, 1968, The United Methodist Church was created when Bishop Reuben H. Mueller, representing The Evangelical United Brethren Church, and Bishop Lloyd C. Wicke of The Methodist Church joined hands at the constituting General Conference in Dallas, Texas. With the words, "Lord of the Church, we are united in Thee, in Thy Church and now in The United Methodist Church," the new denomination was given birth by two churches that had distinguished histories and influential ministries in various parts of the world.

Theological traditions steeped in the Protestant Reformation and Wesleyanism, similar ecclesiastical structures, and relationships that dated back almost two hundred years facilitated the union. In the Evangelical United Brethren heritage, for example, Philip William Otterbein, the principal founder of the United Brethren in Christ, assisted in the ordination of Francis Asbury to the superintendency of American Methodist work. Jacob Albright, through whose religious experience and leadership the Evangelical Association was begun, was nurtured in a Methodist class meeting following his conversion.

Read more about the history of The United Methodist Church by year:

Roots (1736-1816) | Español
The United Methodist Church shares a common history and heritage with other Methodist and Wesleyan bodies. The lives and ministries of John Wesley (1703–1791) and of his brother, Charles (1707–1788), mark the origin of their common roots.

The Churches Grow (1817-1843)  | Español
The Second Great Awakening was the dominant religious development among Protestants in America in the first half of the nineteenth century. Through revivals and camp meetings sinners were brought to an experience of conversion. Circuit riding preachers and lay pastors knit them into a connection.

The Slavery Question and Civil War (1844-1865)  | Español
John Wesley was an ardent opponent of slavery. Many of the leaders of early American Methodism shared his hatred for this form of human bondage. As the nineteenth century progressed, it became apparent that tensions were deepening in Methodism over the slavery question.

Reconstruction, Prosperity, and New Issues (1866-1913) | Español
The Civil War dealt an especially harsh blow to The Methodist Episcopal Church, South. Its membership fell to two-thirds its pre-war strength. Many of its churches lay in ruins or were seriously damaged.

World War and More Change, 1914–1939 | Español
In the years immediately prior to World War I, there was much sympathy in the churches for negotiation and arbitration as visible alternatives to international armed conflict. Many church members and clergy openly professed pacifism.

Movement Toward Union (1940-1967) | Español
Although Methodists, Evangelicals, and United Brethren each had published strong statements condemning war and advocating peaceful reconciliation among the nations, the strength of their positions was largely lost with American involvement in the hostilities of World War II.

Developments and Changes Since 1968 | Español
When The United Methodist Church was created in 1968, it had approximately 11 million members, making it one of the largest Protestant churches in the world.
 
From The Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church - 2004. Copyright 2004 by The United Methodist Publishing House.