For more than a century, Goshen City Church of the Brethren has stood at the corner of Clinton and Fifth Streets in Goshen, Indiana, a red-brick reminder that a congregation can take root in one place and stay there across generations. Founded in 1895, the church moved to its current location four years later, in 1899, and has remained at the heart of the city ever since. Today the congregation describes itself as progressive, inclusive, and multigenerational, gathering to follow Jesus, reflect God's love, and welcome all. Its building sits in the heart of Goshen on purpose: members speak of being proud to be part of the city's life in a humble Brethren way.
A Progressive Brethren Voice in Goshen
Goshen City Church belongs to the Church of the Brethren, a Christian denomination rooted in the Anabaptist and Pietist streams of the Protestant tradition. For more than three hundred years, Brethren have sought to follow Jesus through a faith marked by peace, simplicity, service, and community. As one of the Historic Peace Churches, the denomination teaches that following Jesus calls followers to be peacemakers, not only in what they believe but in how they live, guided by Scripture, working toward reconciliation, serving neighbors, and sharing Christ's love for the common good.
The Goshen congregation takes that heritage and names it plainly. The church is open and affirming, welcoming people of every race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, ability, age, economic status, and life situation into full participation in the life of the congregation. A formal diversity and inclusion statement affirms that everyone is a beloved child of God and that those who have experienced marginalization matter. A peace and justice statement names violence in all its forms, physical, emotional, spiritual, economic, and systemic, and commits members to nurture the dignity and wholeness of all people. Service is described as an essential expression of faith, following the example of Jesus by serving others, seeking healing and wholeness, and working alongside neighbors.
Members also practice the priesthood of all believers, the Brethren conviction that ministry is not limited to pastors. Every person is encouraged to discover and use their God-given gifts to serve the church and the wider community. A formal land acknowledgment recognizes that the building sits on the traditional land of the Bodéwadmiakiwen/Potawatomi and Miami Peoples past and present, ceded coercively and unjustly, and the congregation names its ongoing learning to be a better steward of land and community relationships.
Sunday Mornings at the Corner of Clinton and Fifth
The week centers on Sunday morning. Sunday School begins at 9:30 a.m., with children's classes organized by grade and adult classes organized by topic. At 10:30 a.m., the downstairs fellowship hall fills with coffee, light snacks, and conversation, a half-hour of unhurried community before worship.
Worship begins at 11:00 a.m. and is described as traditional but relaxed, open yet grounded in faith and community. The schedule may shift on second Sundays of the month. The sanctuary and restrooms are wheelchair accessible. Nursery care is available during worship, and hearing devices are offered for those who need them. Visitors are welcome to come dressed however they feel most comfortable.
For those who cannot attend in person, services are livestreamed on Zoom, with login details available from the church office. Past sermons are also posted on the church's YouTube channel.
A Congregation in Pastoral Transition
Goshen City Church is in a season of pastoral transition. The congregation has begun the process of calling its next pastor, and during this time the elected leadership and members continue to guide the shared life, worship, and ministries of the church. Visitors are warmly invited to worship, serve, and grow alongside members as the congregation follows Jesus together.
Day-to-day ministry is carried by an Advisory Team of volunteers and by Ministry Teams made up of members who are called and elected by the congregation. The Leadership Team plans, integrates, and supervises ongoing programs. Church Operations oversees the building and coordinates special events. The Deacons support the spiritual, physical, and emotional well-being of the church family. The Endowment Team handles grant requests in support of projects, programs, and missions. Missions creates connection opportunities for members and the community. The Nurture Team provides Christian education and faith formation for all ages. The Worship Team shapes and welcomes the congregation's spiritual development.
Several named leaders round out the visible ministry: David Evans serves as Tech Deacon, Madalyn Metzger as Social Media Minister, Dr. Anna Weaver Grady as Medical Director, Rhonda Griffin as Choir Director, and Simon Kauffman Hurst as Pianist.
Service, Peace, and Justice in the Wider Community
Service is woven into the congregation's identity, and members support an unusually wide network of local, regional, and global ministries. Locally, the church is connected to Holy Alliance, the Jail Ministry of Elkhart County; Goshen City Behavioral Health; Interfaith Hospitality Network; Habitat for Humanity of Elkhart County; Center for Healing and Hope; The Window of Goshen; Everence Sharing Fund; Chamberlain Elementary; Camp Mack; Church Community Services; and LaCasa. Beyond Goshen, the congregation walks with Church World Service, Heifer International, Brethren Disaster Ministries, Brethren Volunteer Service, On Earth Peace, Manchester University, and the Brethren Mennonite Council for LGBT Interests, along with the Supportive Communities Network. These partnerships shape a congregation that puts peace, justice, and neighbor-love into practice well beyond its own walls.
Choir, Bible Study, and Blessing Box
Music is a living part of the church's rhythm. The choir shares special music at various times throughout the year, and singers of all ages and skill levels are welcome, no audition required. Those interested are encouraged to contact the church office.
Faith formation continues beyond Sunday morning. A Women's Bible Study meets during the week, working through studies such as How (Not) to Read the Bible. The church hosts a Blessing Box Sunday each month, gathering supplies for a community blessing box. First Fridays bring the Evergreen Singers and dessert to the wider community. Craft Activity Saturdays draw makers together for creative work. The calendar of events is updated regularly and is open to anyone looking to connect.
Generosity and Stewardship
Giving is treated as a faith practice, a way of sharing time, talents, and resources in mutual support. Tithes and offerings can be given electronically through a bank's bill-pay system, by check mailed to the church, or in person during worship when onsite services are running. Members who wish to support the church through a donor advised fund or other charitable giving vehicle are encouraged to talk with their financial professional. Time and talents are equally valued: members help with childcare, Sunday school teaching, audiovisual needs, worship leading, music, committee work, and special projects.
The congregation also holds an endowment fund, a permanent investment set up to sustain ministries for the long term. Members can include the endowment in their will or estate plan, supporting the church's work beyond their own lifetime. For more information about the endowment, members and friends are encouraged to reach out to the church office.
A Building Open to the City
The physical building at 203 N 5th Street belongs to the whole city, not only to its members. It hosts worship, Sunday School, fellowship, choir practice, and the steady flow of ministry-team meetings that keep a congregation running. The church office is open Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Eastern Time, and the staff welcomes questions, prayer requests, and suggestions at office@goshencitychurch.org or 574-533-1884. A map and directions are available online.
At every turn, Goshen City Church of the Brethren returns to the same idea: that a faith community is built by people who share their gifts, follow Jesus together, and stay rooted in the city that has held them for more than a hundred years.