Arson suspected at Yellow Springs UMC

UNTIL NOW, members of this 100-year-old Abingdon District church felt "so safe, so connected," says the Rev. Katye Fox. But when the picturesque church burned on Feb. 4 and authorities began to suspect arson, parishioners felt "deeply hurt, because it must be someone local."

Local authorities do not believe that the fire at Yellow Springs United Methodist Church is related to the 10 incidents in rural Alabama, where Baptist churches have been destroyed or damaged by suspicious fires since Feb. 2, according to the Bristol Herald Courier.

However, some authorities do suspect that vandalism occurring the same weekend at two nearby churches could be related to the Yellow Springs fire, Fox said. On Feb. 3, electronic equipment was stolen from Blackwell Chapel UMC, and a sign was spray-painted at Seven Springs Presbyterian Church.

"All of these churches are connected by the same road," Fox said. "The more we find out, the more I think they could be linked."

Fox learned of the fire shortly after firefighters responded to a call at 10:45 p.m. on Feb. 4. The flames quickly consumed the wooden church, even obliterating the solid oak pews, according to the Rev. Kim Goddard, Abingdon District superintendent.

"The fire started in the center aisle," Goddard said. "The sanctuary is completely gone, and there's little left of the addition that was put in when Chuck Starks was pastor."

Snow has hampered the congregation's ability to recover some of the church's possesions, Fox said. "There are mostly pages of hymnals that are left," she said. "We found four inches of the pulpit, which had dropped below the floor. We found the bell. It will probably never ring again, but it can be repaired."

The pulpit Bible was found — closed, rather than open, as it was usually left. "But it is so charred that it probably won't be opened again or it will fall apart. We're still searching for the altar cross and candlesticks, which may have melted."

Police called the fire arson after finding traces of fuel in the rubble, according to the Bristol Herald Courier. Yellow Springs members were devastated, Fox said, because the country church had seemed so safe, secluded, and important to the community. The congregation has 25 in average worship attendance.

"They feel so wounded that somebody local could have done this to them," she said. "They're afraid that it might be someone they've taught in school or someone they've known for years.?

However, members have already "worked in their hearts" on forgiveness, she said.

"Whoever did it, I hope someday they realize what they've done," parishioner Sharon Gobble told the Herald Courier. "We shouldn't have any animosity or hold a grudge to them. I'm sorry they felt the way they did."

On Feb. 12, Yellow Springs members worshipped at their sister church, Meadowview UMC, also pastored by Fox. For the next several weeks, the Yellow Springs congregation will decide where to hold worship on a Sunday-by-Sunday basis, Fox said. "We're taking everything one step at a time."

The congregation has been uplifted by more than 100 offers — through phone calls, e-mail, and letters — from churches and community groups, offering worship space, financial help, and other services. An Emory & Henry College professor and his students have offered to create a web site to help keep the public informed of Yellow Springs' progress.

The congregation is proceeding slowly on decisions concerning the future, Fox said.

"There are a lot of people who have strong emotions about what we should do," Fox said, "but we need to pay very close attention to where the Holy Spirit is leading us in this community. It might be doing something new and unexpected — in the prophecy of Isaiah 43:18-19." She cited the verse, "Behold, I am doing a new thing. Do you not perceive it?"

Goddard, who was scheduled to meet with the congregation on Feb. 19, said that she felt sad for the congregation. "Right now, they're just grieving. At some point, they'll decide how they want to proceed."

On Feb. 6, Goddard sent letters to Yellow Springs members, expressing condolence. She recounted her last visit to the church.

"It was a warm fall evening, and I remember thinking how beautiful and peaceful it was. I was there for a meeting, and during that time, I saw the work that was recently completed in the sanctuary and was given a tour of the rest of the building. It was obvious that as a congregation, you had great love for your church building and the ministry it provided."

Goddard concluded her letter with these thoughts: "Though the physical building no longer stands, you are blessed to have the memories of lives touched and changed, of joys and sorrows shared, of prayers spoken and answers received, and of the Holy Spirit's power made known through your worship and work in a building that will never truly be gone."

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