Arlington United Methodist Church has stood on Murfreesboro Pike in southeast Nashville for more than 150 years. Under the leadership of Senior Pastor Rev. Susan I. Spieth, the congregation has built a reputation as a house of worship that opens its doors well beyond its own members, sharing space with a Nation of Islam mosque, a Pentecostal Latino assembly, a Sudanese community church, a recovery group, and a grassroots organizing collective.
A Century and a Half on Murfreesboro Pike
The congregation is now celebrating more than 150 years of ministry in Nashville. What began as a small Methodist society in the Arlington community south of downtown has grown into a multigenerational church that still gathers each Sunday on the same road where it started. The motto "Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors" expresses the hospitality that has drawn neighbors to the building for generations.
Sunday Mornings at Arlington
Sunday School meets at 9:00 AM for all ages, giving the congregation an hour of conversation and study before the 10:00 AM worship service. Worship is the weekly gathering the church centers its life around, and the music is shaped by Pianist Josephine Haung-Yeh and Organist William Maul. The service is broadcast live on Facebook and archived on YouTube so members who are traveling or homebound can stay connected.
A House for Many Communities
What distinguishes Arlington United Methodist Church from many congregations of its size is the way its building serves as a gathering place for other faith and community groups. The church describes its space as one where "the landscape of the church represents God's kingdom." Through interfaith initiatives and intercultural partnerships, Arlington shares its facilities with:
- Muhammad Mosque No. 60 of the Nation of Islam, whose members use the building for worship and interfaith dialogue.
- The Iglesia Apostólica de la Fe en Cristo Jesús, a Pentecostal Latino assembly focused on the Oneness of Jesus Christ.
- A Sudanese Community Church committed to helping Sudanese neighbors discover their spiritual gifts through biblical preaching.
- Footprints to Recovery, a 12-step recovery community that meets on the first Tuesday of each month at 5:00 PM.
- A Luta Sigue, a Tennessee organization that supports working-class leaders and youth, and uses Arlington as a welcoming space for members to gather and organize.
Midweek Study and Recovery
Bible Study gathers on Tuesdays at 1:00 PM. The group explores the historical, literary, and religious significance of Scripture and its application to daily life, designed to inspire personal spiritual growth and deepen understanding of the Christian faith.
Footprints to Recovery complements this rhythm on the first Tuesday evening of each month. The program serves people who are working a 12-step program with a sponsor and are ready to move toward a more stable life, and meets in the same building as the Sunday morning congregation.
What United Methodists Believe
Arlington teaches the beliefs common to all Christians and those unique to the Wesleyan tradition. Members affirm one God who exists as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and the conviction that God became human in Jesus Christ, lived our life, died our death, and rose again. The Holy Spirit is present to guide, comfort, and empower believers. Humans are made in God's image with the freedom to accept or reject divine love, and the Bible is the primary authority for belief and life.
The church recognizes two sacraments instituted by Jesus: Baptism, which is offered to people of all ages, and Holy Communion, also called the Lord's Supper or the Eucharist. Communion is open to all who wish to come, regardless of religious affiliation or belief.
The Wesleyan distinctive is grace, God's free and unearned mercy, present in three forms. Prevenient grace comes before any understanding of God and never withdraws. Justifying grace is received when a person consciously gives their life to Christ and experiences forgiveness. Sanctifying grace empowers disciples to grow and mature through the ups and downs of life.
The People of Arlington
Senior Pastor Rev. Susan I. Spieth is a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point who served five years in the Army before attending Ashland Theological Seminary. She was ordained in the United Methodist Church in 1996, served as a pastor and associate pastor for 17 years, and returned to pastoral ministry at Arlington in June 2021. She and her husband, Bob, have two adult children.
Pastor of Congregational Growth Rev. Shannon White earned a Bachelor of Arts in Corporate and Organizational Communication from Western Kentucky University and a Master of Divinity from Vanderbilt University Divinity School. Before entering ministry full-time, she was a bank marketing executive, and she brings those executive skills to her work of growth and development at Arlington.
Marilyn Dunnaway serves as Administrator, and Michelle Greene as Audio Visual Technician, supporting the work of the pastoral team and worship leaders.
Visiting Arlington
The church sits at 1360 Murfreesboro Pike in Nashville. Sunday School begins at 9:00 AM and worship follows at 10:00 AM. The service is livestreamed on Facebook and remains available afterward on YouTube. The office is open Tuesday from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM and Friday from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM. Tithes and offerings can be made online through PayPal. The phone number is 615-361-4896, and the office email is Office@arlingtonum.org.