In 1916, the emerging community of Jackson Heights realized that plans for the worship of God were required. The first worship services were at the Southwest corner of Polk Avenue and 25th Street (now Capital One Bank at 37th Avenue and 82nd Street). Officers were elected on November 27, 1916 and charter members received on March 4^th, 1917. 74 Charter members were received. After two years, the services went to a larger room farther east on Polk Avenue.  

In 1919, Queensboro Corporation offered a tract of land to the denomination that would be a partner and the City Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church accepted the invitation and donated $40,000. The land was donated and ground breaking occurred on July 11, 1920. The cornerstone was laid on September 24, 1922 and the building on 81st Street was dedicated June 10, 1923. In war and in peace, worship has since hallowed this ground. 

Methodism flourished in it’s new environment. By 1942, 2000 persons arrived for Easter worship. Three services were held every Sunday and 900 children participated in Sunday School. Space was in short supply. In 1954, Dr. Karl Moore led the congregation to build the many rooms of the 82^nd Street building. They house the Religious and Weekday education programs that are our hallmark forty five years later. Almost 2,000 children have received their early childhood education at Community Church. Another 1,500 children have gotten a head start on the next grade through Community Kids Summer School.

 The largely European-American attendance of the church peaked in 1962 and then followed many other churches of New York City with a long period of decline. Most churches died when neighborhoods changed. Rev. Austin Armitstead emphasized how the church must always reflect the peoples of the community. The emphasis on “community” saved the Community United Methodist Church. We determined to look like the neighborhood and growth returned -- in the English ministry and new ones emerging! 1995 through 2009 saw continued growth and change for the English ministry with Dr. Ronald D. Tompkins as pastor, and his liberal passion on justice issues and  conservative passion on theology. His leadership with the “Millennium Campaign” and subsequent “Prayer Garden” campaign leave an important legacy for our church and its future. 

Chinese Ministry Starts
By the blessings of God, on August 3, 1975, Rev. Solomon Kao started the Chinese Ministry in the Jackson Heights United Methodist Church.  There were 15 people at the service. With  four years’ cultivation, the Chinese ministry grew and 30 people attended on Sunday.  After Rev. Kao left for continuing education on June 22, 1980, Rev. Chuang-Ching Peng continued the ministry. Unfortunately, in the next five years, Chinese ministry stagnated because of changing several pastors.

Rev. Paul Hsieh arrived in 1984 and the Chinese ministry rejuvenated. In the next three and half years (84’-87’), Chinese ministry had reached average 45 people attending on Sunday service and formed core-member meeting to develop Chinese ministry. Before  Easter of 1987, Rev. Solomon Kao continued Rev. Paul Hsieh’s mission, and retired in June of 1995. Rev. David Peng came to the church in 1995 as the first full time pastor in Chinese ministry.  In August of 1998, because of the need to reach more people and the growth (average 75 people attending Sunday service) Chinese ministry moved from room 5 to the bigger social room.  And Rev. Paul Lim joined the pastoral staff in October, 2000 to 2002.. The Rev. Roxana Yuen followed him and The Rev Chun-Cheng Hwang started his ministry in 2008. May God bless our church to lead more Chinese non-believers to become God’s people.

Spanish Ministry Starts
The first Spanish services at Community United Methodist Church were in 1985 in Room 2 under the leadership of Rev. Noe Torres. This church opened its doors to Spanish immigrants . Rev. Juan Sosa was appointed in 1986. Ever since that time, the congregation has served in different ways by offering a house of worship and many social services. Rev. Cotto-Thorner was appointed in 1989 and the congregation has grown, first filling Room 7 and now the upstairs sanctuary. At the present time, we have members representing most of the countries in Central and South America and the Islands of the Caribbean. Through our outreach, Spanish families are sixty percent of the PreK attendance. The Rev Dr. Enrique Lebron continues to build this important and growing New York City congregation.

Korean Ministry
Services started in 1989 to meet the spiritual needs of Korean people in the Jackson Heights area.  As the ministry grew, the church faced the difficulty of limited space for worship services on Sunday morning.  After obtaining permission from the District Superintendent of the Metropolitan South District of the UMC, this group left the church and became an independent church.

Upon leaving, Korean people in the Bayside Korean UMC moved into this church in July 1995, but they later moved out in the fall of 2002 ending the thirteen year Korean ministry at this location.

Change and Transition
As different services started, rooms around the buildings were consecrated by prayers and hymns. And then we grew. Room after room was used -- # 2, # 5, #7, the Social Room and Chapel.  Change and transition are always awkward. In the early days of this grand experiment in Christian unity, everyone felt like a stranger. Many arrangements were tested to get the best possible fit. Both in spiritual life and in the administration of the church, the pastors covenant now to lead the church in fairness, in friendship, and in unity.

Pastors of Community United Methodist Church

Rev. Fred P. Corson was the first appointed pastor of the Community Methodist Episcopal Church of Jackson Heights, later a bishop in Pennsylvania. The new members recorded backgrounds included 26 Methodist, 3 Presbyterian, 2 Baptist, 2 United Presbyterian, 1 Episcopal, 1 Congregational, 12 Community Church and 4 Confession of Faith.

 The church incorporated on December 14, 1919 with Fred P. Corson as Presiding Officer and Irving Lattimer and Clifton Clinton as signers. The state registration was completed on January 19, 1920.

 The new church immediately raised $35,000 and took 2 mortgages for $60,000 and $13,000.

Rev. Robert J. Kent    11/27/16 – 4/18
Rev. F. Stanley VanEps   4/18- 2/04/19
*Rev. Fred P. Corson – 1^st UMC pastor  April, 1919-1924
 *Later Bishop, Philadelphia Area
Rev. Frederick F. Voorhees   1924-27
*Rev. Leland P. Cary    1927-30, membership 165
 *Later Executive Secretary, NY City Mission Society
Mr. Harry N. Holmes   1930-31
Rev. Lewis E, Christian   1931-38
Dr. Lester Ward. Auman   1938-50  1,356 members
Dr. Karl F. Moore    1950-74   2,112 members
Rev. Austin H. Armitstead   1974-95
Rev. Solomon Kao 1975-80 & 1987-95
Rev. William Peng 1980-81  
Rev. Paul Hsieh 1984-87  
Rev. Juan Sosa  1986-89
Rev. Hyun Joon Kim 1989-95
Rev. Alfredo Cotto-Thorner  1989-2008
Rev. Charlie Yun    1995-96
Dr. Ronald D. Tompkins   1995-2009
Rev. Jong Jen Peng    1995–2000
Rev. Yong Hwan Kim   1996-2001-
Rev. Dr. Paul Lim    2000-2002
Rev. Young Kirl Kim 2001-2002-
Rev. Roxana Yuen 2002-2008
Rev. Chun-Cheng Hwang 2008-2010
Rev. Dr. Enrique Lebron 2009-
Rev. Delois Davis 2010-
Rev. John Chung 2010-