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The History of North Cleveland Baptist Church

9: Dr. J. Timothy Sumners, 1975-78

Love is the Theme
The Pastorate of Dr. J. Timothy Sumners, 1975-78

"But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no 1 aw. " Galatians 5:22-23

Rev. J. Timothy Sumners

Four months after Rev. Campbell's resignation. North Cleveland called Rev. Timothy Sumners as her pastor. One of the church's youngest pastors, to that date, Sumners, 31, came to North Cleveland from an associate pastorate at the First Baptist Church in Morristown, Tennessee. After hearing a favorable report from a pulpit committee composed of Kenneth Andrews, Bill Cochran, Kenneth Russell, Hoyt El rod and T.J. Cawood, North Cleveland voted, by standing vote, unanimously to call Sumners. Beginning his tenure on September 14, 1975, Sumner served as pastor for three years, till August 28, 1978. While at North Cleveland Sumners received a doctoral degree from Luther Rice Seminary in Jacksonville, Florida in May, 1978.

A quiet but thoughtful individual, Sumners led the church to consider several matters relating to the furtherance of the local ministry of the church. The deacons also took an active role in several of these concerns. In February, 1976, the church approved the formation of a Church Council "to coordinate and plan the activities of the church." In establishing this council, church leaders hoped the church program could flow smoother and be more effective without confusion or overlapping. Later in the year, the church approved that the following church officers serve as the Church Council: Pastor, Associate Pastor, Minister of Youth, Minister of Music, Sunday School Director, Training Union Director, Women's Missionary Union Director, Brotherhood Director, Director of Library Services, Church Host or Hostess, and the Chairman of the Deacons. While the council functioned as a planning committee, it also served as an advisory body.

Later in 1976, the church began to consider the necessity of a church constitution. Although she had operated effectively without a written statement of purpose for thirty-nine years. North Cleveland members recognized the need for defined set of guidelines and schedules. As a result, she appointed Glen Greene, Mrs. J.L. (Francine) Haney, James Hendrix, John Morrow, Mrs. Danny (Libby) : Douglas, Mrs. Earline Gannaway, Tony Teague, Mrs. Ressie Hancock, T.J. Cawood, Ralph Dean Earby and Walter Townsend as Constitution and By-Laws Committee. Primarily the proposed Constitution would detail North Cleveland's purposes, her Article of Faith, provisions for memberships, ordinances, and requirements for church organizations and church members, Organized in May, 1976, the Constitution committee worked throughout the rest of the year, and submitted a finished draft for the church's consideration in September, 1977.

Generally, the church's primary objectives are stated in the Constitution's Preamble
"We the members of the North Cleveland Baptist Church, Cleveland Tennessee, in order that we may secure to ourselves and those who come after us the rich blessings of joining our efforts together that we may better serve Christ, the living Son of God, in peace, and in love, to provide for the presentation and security of the principles of our faith, to insure that this church may be governed in an orderly manner consistent with New Testament teachings to preserve the liberties inherent in each individual member of this church, and the freedom of action of this body with respect to its relation to other churches of the same faith, to preserve and protect the highest kind of spiritual unity and Christ-love and fellowship which we seek to know and share with each other, and that we may not forget our privilege of taking Christ to the lost here and everywhere, do declare and establish this Constitution and these By-Laws. All previous action, customs, and procedures by the members of this church have either been embodied in or deleted from this Constitution and By-Laws in their entirety, and therefore became null and void upon the adoption of this article except in the case of legal obligations of the church.

After a series of revisions and additions, the church approved the Constitution and By-Laws, and agreed to implement the provisions for a ten-month trial period, Further discussion on the matter took place during church business meetings held on May 5, and July 19, 1978, when the church apparently agreed that revisions needed to be made in the By-Laws, In January, 1979, however, the deacons recommended that the 1977 Constitution be utilized for an indefinite period of time. Although the church appointed a By-Laws Revision Committee on October 15, 1979, and elected another similar committee in December, 1980, little action on the necessary alterations seems to have transpired.

The Constitution details North Cleveland Baptist's purpose as one of taking the message of Christ to mankind, of reflecting God's righteousness and honor in all matters, of providing the potential for spiritual growth among its members and for all men everywhere, and of representing Baptist doctrine and polity worthily. In that respect. North Cleveland wholeheartedly supports the "Baptist Faith and Message" statements of the SBC annual meetings in 1925, and in 1963, respectively. The church also promises to support, "insofar as it is practical," the efforts of the Bradley Baptist Association, the Tennessee Baptist Convention, and the Southern Baptist Convention in their particular service and mission endeavors. In this document. North Cleveland provides for her local ministry and membership as well. Membership in North Cleveland Baptist is open to those who "believe in a sovereign, democratic, and New Testament church," who profess Christ as Lord and Saviour, who are approved for membership by church vote, and have made adequate provisions concerning
baptism.

Stipulating that church property and financial matters are strictly the responsibility of the entire church membership, the Constitution gives the pastor, deacons, and other appropriate leaders the authority to faithfully represent the church in making and executing church decisions. These actions, however, transpire only after some type ofchurch approval.

In respect to committee action, the Constitution states:
The church shall elect such standing committees and special committees as it may deem necessary to carry on the various phase of the church program effectively and efficiently. All committee members and the chairman of all regular committees-- unless otherwise specified�shall be recommended by the Nominating Committee and elected by the church."

At the time of its approval, the Constitution included provisions for these Committees: Nominating, Finance, Budget Promotion, and Control-Counting; Building and Grounds; Music; Flowers; Nursery; Usher; Benevolence; Library; Personnel; Kitchen; Youth; Baptismal; Lord's Supper; Wedding; Recreational; Transportation; Insurance; and Auditing.

The Constitution also made allowances for special committees based on church action. While the church considered and utilized the Constitution, she continued to provide for the church facility. During October, 1975, the Church voted to acquire several of the new Baptist Hymnal (1975), which would be financed by individuals wishing to purchase hymnals as a memorial or honorary tribute. In February, 1976, the church authorized a Memorial Fund. This fund was established to finance the purchase of new musical instruments, especially a piano, to replace older equipment used in the Sanctuary.

In November, 1977, the church voted to purchase, with Memorial Fund receipts, a seven-foot black Baldwin piano for $7,900.00. At this time, an additional $1,000.00 was also appropriated to renovate the platform to accommodate the piano.

After the piano was acquired, the church dedicated it "to the Lord's work and to His glory" on June 6, 1978. Six months later. North Cleveland decided to acquire a sound box and stereo console system to enhance the acoustics in the Sanctuary. Approved by the church on April 19, 1978, the project cost $5,000.00. In many ways, this new sound equipment encouraged the development of an active tape ministry. Also in 1978, the pastor urged the church to convert an old Sunday School classroom, located under the front steps of the Sanctuary, into a prayer chapel. Once approved by the church, renovation was completed in May, 1978. During these various additions, the church continued to finance the numerous repairs and restorations that acquired necessary attention in 1977 and in 1978.

Eugene "Gene" North

In June, 1976, the church issued a call to Eugene North to become North Cleveland's fifth full-time Minister of Music and the church's third Minister of Music and Youth. A former Cleveland resident. North came to North Cleveland from the Beuchtel Park Baptist Church in Louisville, Kentucky, where he had served as Minister of Music while attending Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. North Succeeded the position vacated by C.R. McDowell, who resigned in April 1976. Between April and North's arrival in August, North Cleveland called Dan Alderman, a music student at Bryan College in Dayton, Tennessee, to serve as an interim music director.

During Sumner's pastorate, North Cleveland also took an active role in carrying the "gospel of Jesus Christ" overseas. In May, 1975, the church learned of anopportunity to aid the missionary work of Eugene and Betty Oody. The Oodys were former North Cleveland members who had helped start the East Cleveland Mission, and had only recently returned to the mission field in Monrovia, Liberia, West Africa as Southern Baptist Missionaries. On May 4th, the church raised $1,038.10 in a special "Oody Day" offering. Later in the year, several North Cleveland members expressed a desire in helping the Oodys on a more permanent basis. As a result, the pastor suggested that $1,200.00 be placed in the church budget for the Oody Mission. After church approval of the proposed 1976 budget. North Cleveland contributed $100.00 per month to the project. Eventually these funds enabled the construction, at least, of two churches by Liberian villagers. Under the Oodys' leadership, the villages constructed primitive houses of worship with materials financed by North Cleveland contributions. Nortjn Cleveland continued to support the Oodys and these rural- churches with such donations until January 7, 1980.

Tim, Dottie, Beth and Robin Sumners

Sumners served as North Cleveland's pastor until August 30, 1978, when he resigned to accept the associate pastorate of the Forest Park Baptist Church in Joplin, Missouri. After announcing his resignation, he made the following observation:
"I envy those who are able to put down roots in a place and stay there for life. Moving from one place to another is a difficult thing. There is difficulty from the physical effort involve, but the real difficulty is leaving people you love so much. So many people have become just like part of our family."

Following Sumner's resignation, the church appointed Buford Dantzler, Joe Cannon and Ralph Johnson as an Interim and Supply Committee. (155) This committee served two functions: (1) To secure suitable speakers to fill the pulpit for Sunday and Wednesday church services, and (2) to acquire an individual to serve as an interim pastor.

Rev. R.T. Roberts

On January 7, 1979, this committee recommended that the church elect Rev. R.T. Roberts as interim pastor. His duties were to be as follows: ..in charge of both Sunday services, Wednesday night services, and will be available on request to counsel and advise all committees. As needed, he will also be available for visitation, counseling, funerals, weddings, and similar pastoral duties, and will maintain limited hours in the church office,...(156) The church unanimously approved Roberts' election. The church also approved that he be paid a weekly salary of $125.00. (157) He served in this capacity until March 11, 1979.

Chapters

» Foreword
» 1: Early Baptists in Bradley County
» 2: Rev. Lewis -- 1937-1945
» 3: Rev. McDonald -- 1946-1957
» 4: Rev. Frazier -- 1957-1962
» 5: The Interim Pastorates of Dr. Livingstone
» 6: Rev. Robinson, 1962-1966
» 7: Rev. Byler, 1967-1970
» 8: Rev. Bernard Campbell 1970 - 1975
» 9: Dr. J. Timothy Sumners, 1975-78
» 10: Dr. Don Long March 1979 - January 1981
» 11: Rev. Omer Painter 1981 - 1985
» Epilogue

Appendix

» Acknowledgements
» Associate Pastors
» Brotherood Directors
» Charter Members
» Church Clerks
» Church Musicians
» Church Training Program Directors
» Daycare Directors
» Deacon Chairmen
» Deacons
» Education Ministers
» Librarians
» Music Directors and Ministers of Music
» Pastors
» Preschool Directors
» Secretaries
» Student Ministers and Youth Directors
» Sunday School Directors
» Treasurers
» Women's Missionary Union Presidents