Central United Methodist Church
23 E. Adams * Detroit, Michigan
313-965-5422
PREACHING FROM THE PULPIT
Because Central offers its meeting space to any group not advocating the violent overthrow of the government, it has often been called the 'Church of the First Amendment'.
Central's pulpit has attracted such notable international and world leaders as:
  • Normal Thomas,
  • Walter and Victor Reuther
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  • William Sloane Coffin
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  • Phillip Berrigan
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  • Matthew Fox
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  • Malcolm Boys
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  • Rosemany Radford Reuther
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  • Harvey Cox
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  • Ralph David Abernathy
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  • James Lawson
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  • Benjamin Spock
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  • Martin Marty
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  • Yvonne Delk
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  • Martin Luther King Jr.
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  • Bernice King
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  • Joseph Lowery
    • and
  • Deborah Prothow Stith
    • .

Dr. King preached his last sermon in Detroit from Central's pulpit just two weeks before his untimely death
At the occasion of the centennial of the present building in 1967, former pastor Dwight Large wrote, 'History doesn't just happen; it is determined by people who make a response to what God is doing.'
Poised on the cusp of a new century, we are not only celebrating the past but seeking new ways to be the church, new ways to be empowered through worship, and discerning new ways God would have us serve. Thus we carry the torch of our peace and justice witness into the next millennium - a beacon of hope on Woodward and Adams radiating out to all the world.

Dear Each of You,
This is a very intimate, personal, ardent 'heart-message' to You!
Although I write you quite openly, because what I want to say involves so many of you, I hope you won't generalize my words to the extent of missing the poignancy of the personal note.
First of all, let me tell you how deeply grateful I am for your share in making these past two decades so unforgettably vital, valorous, and creatively adventurous. Your loyalty, your understanding, your generosity, your cooperation, your undiscourageable Christian idealism, your unfaltering faith in a Christ-like God - for all this - and much more, you have made these last twenty years golden indeed - quite literally 'The best years of our lives'. We are very, very thankful - to You!
To reciprocate as royally as I can, I would share with you again the very essence of my most obsessive conviction - that you might forever hold it close to your heart as my most cherished gift to you. Of course, I have tried in innumerable ways to express this titanic truth as clearly and as cogently as I could. Doubtless you have already 'Got' the idea. But I want more than that. I want the idea to 'get' you completely. Once that takes place you possess the Pearl of great price, and what is more, you are possessed by It.
The key word of the universe that unlocks more barriers, opens more doors of opportunity, solves more problems, reflects more beauty, releases more power, reveals more truth, and redeems more mortals, is love.
Love is the fulfilling, not only of the law, but of life itself. Really to live is to love greatly, wisely, beautifully. Love e is not merely one of life's functions; it is life's essence. Where there is no lover, there is no life.
This world and the heaven above it is for lovers. To default in love is to defy the cosmic forces and to court defeat in all human enterprises. When we love nobly, wholly, loyally, gladly, we have all the ten commandments, moral precepts and high religious principles operating in our hearts.
We have it on the highest authority that God Almighty is Love Almighty. So love is essential power, goodness, truth and beauty. These are the ultimate virtues and they are invincible. He who would in the world must risk all he is and has and hopes to be - on love. This is precisely what God himself did - in Christ. 'Go thou and do likewise!'
CURRENT CHURCH MINISTRIES