Christ United Methodist Church: Columbia, MD

Christ United Methodist Church: Columbia, MD A Reconciling (LGBTQ+ inclusive) and Anti-Racist Church in the Owen Brown Interfaith Center Because of the active women’s movement sweeping the country, Rev.

In 1974, the Baltimore Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church decided that Columbia had grown large enough to need another United Methodist congregation and that it would be established on the east side of Rt. 29 in the newest village of Owen Brown. Mary Kraus was called to lead the new congregation. She arrived in the summer of 1974 and became the first female clergy in the community. W

ith the support of the Columbia Cooperative Ministry (CCM: a consortium of 12 diverse congregations which supported the faith community), Rev. Kraus organized a September coffee with local residents where approximately 40 people agreed to attend a first worship service. Christ Episcopal Church located on Oakland Mills Rd. was a participant in the Columbia Cooperative Ministry (CCM.) They offered to share their space and programming, so in November 1974 services were held at “Old Brick,” and soon after Sunday School was launched as a joint venture with the Episcopalians. The new congregation chose their name in recognition of the support and relationship with Christ Episcopal Church. The ecumenical and socially conscious 70’s influenced Christ UMC worship, outreach and purpose. Strong lay involvement in worship was initiated and continues today. The early services reflected contemporary issues and included monthly guest speakers, folk hymns, liturgical dance and a “clown ministry”…fairly non-traditional as compared to later years. The official Chartering Service was held October 12, 1975 with a joyful celebration involving clergy of many denominations and the reception of 22 charter members. Today one of those original members remain active. After several years at “Old Brick,” both congregations needed more space, so Christ UMC moved to the community room in the senior apartment building Owen Brown Place, worshiping there for almost 4 years. During that time, the city of Columbia was growing, so an invitation from the Columbia Religious Facilities Corporation (CRFC) went out to all congregations that were seeking new space to join in building Columbia’s third Interfaith Center in the village of Owen Brown. Christ UMC and the Unitarian Universalist Society of Columbia answered the call, and after endless meetings, ground was broken in May 1983 and both congregations moved into the Owen Brown Interfaith Center (OBIC) in November 1984. The children and youth have always been a primary focus at Christ UMC and they have been served consistently through a Sunday School program, various youth groups, choirs and the LOGOS ministry which provided a mid-week learning/fellowship experience for school age children. Family retreats were quite popular in the 80’s and 90’s. In its 48 years Christ UMC has had 12 clergy, approximately 16 musicians, and more than 500 members contributing their unique gifts. It is a reconciling congregation and therefore invites persons of all sexual orientations and gender identities to join the faith journey. Christ UMC still remains a smaller congregation with approximately 95 members and remains an active partner and co-owner of the Owen Brown Interfaith Center. March 2023

Christ UMC is proud that our founding pastor was a woman and we have had many women pastors in our 51 year history. We ...
06/12/2026

Christ UMC is proud that our founding pastor was a woman and we have had many women pastors in our 51 year history. We pray for those harmed by the SBC’s decision this week. 💔🙏🏽

"Follow the Follower" Rev. Angela Wells June 7, 2026
06/11/2026

"Follow the Follower"
Rev. Angela Wells
June 7, 2026

CUMC Columbia, MD worship message - "Follow the Follower" - Rev. An...

Trinity SundaySermon: God's PronounsRev. Angela Wells May 31, 2026
06/11/2026

Trinity Sunday
Sermon: God's Pronouns
Rev. Angela Wells
May 31, 2026

CUMC Columbia, MD worship message - "God's Pronouns" - Rev. Angela ...

Happy pride!!
06/01/2026

Happy pride!!

“Holy Disruption" Pentecost Rev. Angela Wells May 24, 2026
05/25/2026

“Holy Disruption"
Pentecost
Rev. Angela Wells
May 24, 2026

CUMC Columbia, MD worship message - "Holy Disruption" - Pentecost - Rev. Angela Wells - May 24, 2026

If you missed yesterday's powerful Pentecost worship service, be sure to check out our video Call to Worship featuring m...
05/25/2026

If you missed yesterday's powerful Pentecost worship service, be sure to check out our video Call to Worship featuring many familiar faces of CUMC!

CUMC Columbia, MD call to worship for Pentecost - May 24, 2026

Wear red tomorrow to worship for Pentecost!
05/23/2026

Wear red tomorrow to worship for Pentecost!

"Disciples Transform the World" Miracle Sunday Rev. Angela Wells May 17, 2026
05/23/2026

"Disciples Transform the World"
Miracle Sunday
Rev. Angela Wells
May 17, 2026

CUMC Columbia, MD worship message - "Disciples Transform the World"...

Two year anniversary of the removal of the ordination ban from UM polity! 🎉🙏🏻❤️
05/01/2026

Two year anniversary of the removal of the ordination ban from UM polity! 🎉🙏🏻❤️

Two years ago today, the United Methodist Church made history by removing language from the Book of Discipline that had mandated the exclusion of LGBTQ+ people from ordination and ministry for decades.

It was over 50 years in the making. We celebrate it fully and without apology.

And we're also realistic about where we are: GC2024 removed mandated discrimination. It didn't end discrimination. Q***r candidates are being ordained in some conferences and are still unsafe to come out in others. Same-gender weddings are being celebrated in some sanctuaries and declined in others. Whether someone experiences a truly welcoming church still depends almost entirely on their zip code.

The policy changed. The work hasn't stopped.

RMN exists for this moment — resourcing, equipping, and leading the movement until every child of God, in every community, finds a church that means it when they say "you belong here."

If this work matters to you, will you help sustain it?
→ https://hubs.li/Q04f83Dn0

04/22/2026

Congrats to our friends at Cradlerock Elementary School on the naming of their Principal, Mr. Dan Notari as Principal of the Year for HCPS!

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7246 Cradlerock Way
Columbia, MD
21045

Opening Hours

10am - 11:15pm

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