At the northwest corner of U.S. 231 and Mitch Daniels Boulevard in West Lafayette, just west of Purdue Horticulture Park, First United Methodist Church West Lafayette stands at 1700 Mitch Daniels Blvd. This historic United Methodist congregation is known for its Reconciling identity, a blended Sunday worship service at 11:00 AM, and an extensive network of family, music, education and neighborhood ministries. Its welcome names people at every stage of life and explicitly includes people of every sexual orientation, gender identity, nationality, race, ability, bank balance and background.
One Unified Sunday Service at 11:00
First Church has chosen to continue one unified Sunday worship service at 11:00 AM. Pastors and church leaders weighed congregational feedback, attendance patterns and the demands placed on pastors, musicians, childcare workers, greeters, audiovisual volunteers and other servants of the worship rhythm. Their choice reflects the energy, joy and sense of connection that can grow when different generations and backgrounds gather together in one place.
Each service brings together modern and classical hymns, liturgy, Scripture, prayer and a message led by one of the pastors. Music rotates among the Chancel Choir, Bell Choir, First Up Praise Band and instrumentalists, giving the worship service both traditional and contemporary expressions. The sanctuary is the Christian Life Center within First Church’s larger complex of worship, education and community space.
Children of any age may participate in Kids Sunday School during the 11:00 AM service and return to worship before it concludes. First Church worship is also available through a YouTube livestream, and a collection of recent services is available there as well.
Finding the Church and Hearing Every Voice
The church building occupies 22 acres near the Purdue University area. From campus, an easy walking path leads from the Purdue residence halls through Horticulture Park to First Church. The church office can also arrange van transportation for people in the Greater Lafayette area who need a ride.
All levels of the building are accessible by elevator, and restrooms are wheelchair accessible. These features allow the same worship, education and community spaces to be used by people with a range of mobility needs.
Hearing loops operate in the Sanctuary and Activities Center. People whose hearing aids have a properly adjusted t-coil can receive sound directly through those aids. Those not using a hearing aid can receive a receiver from church staff and listen through a headset. The system gives people using both types of assistive listening equipment a way to hear the sanctuary and activities sounds directly.
From West Bank Class Meetings to First United Methodist Church
Methodist meetings in the Lafayette area date to about 1825, and a first church was built in 1830. Informal class meetings soon began on the west side of the river, first gathering in private homes. The group later met in a one-room frame school building near North and Salisbury streets and then in Castor’s wood shop at Main, now Chauncey Avenue, and South Street.
On April 6, 1869, the Presiding Elder of the Lafayette District appointed a board of trustees, formally constituting the congregation. Its first building was a one-story, 35-by-60-foot frame structure with a steeply pitched roof, designed by W.H. Brown. Dedicated on January 23, 1870, the building cost $3,200 and was completely paid for when the congregation began. Known as Chauncey Methodist Episcopal Church, it had an original membership of 24.
By the 1890s, the congregation had outgrown that building. A larger church opened in 1898 at Chauncey and South streets for $26,000. Its nave could seat 1,400, even though fewer than 500 people were then members. Parts of its large bronze bell and pipe organ survived later renovations. The congregation passed through several names: West Side M.E. Church in the 1890s, The First Methodist Church by the 1920s, and later First United Methodist Church.
Membership reached more than 1,000 by the mid-1930s, with a Sunday school enrollment of 700. It exceeded 1,600 by the end of World War II, and the congregation eventually needed three Sunday services. A parsonage, organ enlargement, choir loft and education wing followed over the decades. The present $1,049,708 church complex was completed in 1968 and incorporated the 1898 nave, the 1957 education wing and the earlier organ. As the building aged, maintenance needs and changing neighborhood conditions led the congregation to move again. A member donated the 22-acre property west of the Purdue campus, where a new administrative and education wing and the Christian Life Center were constructed.
A Reconciling Congregation by Deliberate Choice
First Church’s inclusion is presented as a deliberate congregational commitment, not simply a general attitude. Its Reconciling identity affirms full participation in the life of the church regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, nationality, race, ability, bank balance or background. People are invited to bring their identities, cultures, histories and present circumstances into fellowship rather than leaving part of themselves at the door.
A broad discernment process began in 2017. Members described experiences of being diminished or rejected by other churches and considered how full inclusion fits the church’s understanding of Wesleyan grace. On August 26, 2018, the congregation voted to become a Reconciling Congregation and join the inclusion work of Reconciling Ministries Network within The United Methodist Church. Lead Pastor Duane Carlisle connects this choice with the church’s commitment to justice and with Jesus’ willingness to welcome outsiders and engage people pushed to society’s margins.
The congregation’s shared values give that welcome a practical shape:
- Welcome, acceptance and support through all stages of life.
- Christ-centered worship that is relevant to the community and inspiring to all.
- Spiritual growth toward discipleship through nurturing learning and respectful dialogue.
- Active Christian service that seeks people who are hurt or marginalized.
Its mission is to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. First Church describes that mission as joining open minds and open hearts to pursue knowledge, build inclusive Christian community and serve both locally and beyond.
Classical Music and a First Up Praise Band
Music is a defining part of First Church’s worship and arts ministry. The church celebrates the variety of musical gifts in its congregation and welcomes people to sing, play and share their abilities. Its repertoire spans sacred choral music, handbells, contemporary Christian music and instrumental accompaniment.
- The Chancel Choir leads worship with traditional sacred choral music and also performs at special occasions.
- The Bell Choir creates melodies and harmonies with handbells for worship and special events.
- The First Up Praise Band contributes energetic contemporary Christian music on Sundays.
- Instrumentalists use varied instruments to enrich worship and church events.
Charis Vander Plaats directs Music and Arts and leads the Chancel Choir. Kathy Lind directs the Bells Choir, and Associate Pastor Kory Pritchett leads the First Up Praise Band. Together, these groups make the worship blend intentional rather than treating traditional and contemporary music as competing identities.
Children at the Center of Sunday
Children are described as a vital part of First Church’s community, with the goal of building a firm Christian foundation while helping every child understand what it means to be a child of God. Kids Sunday School meets from 10:00 to 11:00 AM each Sunday except the first Sunday of each month, when First Sunday Brunch takes its place.
The program serves children from ages 3 through 18 and divides learning into three groups:
- Littles, ages 3 to 5, explore Bible stories and foundational topics of faith.
- Middles, ages 6 to 11, study core Scripture and its application to daily life.
- Bigs, ages 12 and older, beginning in sixth grade, engage diverse Scripture and theological principles.
Lessons use music, fellowship, hands-on activities and biblical stories to help children connect Christian principles with everyday life. The curriculum emphasizes community, service and radically inclusive love. A nursery is provided downstairs, while the age-based classes for children and youth gather upstairs, beginning in the Youth Room.
Parents and caregivers may stay with a child, volunteer in the class or explore other opportunities during this hour. Children later rejoin the 11:00 AM service. Confirmation class and Vacation Bible School extend children’s formation beyond the Sunday School hour.
Small Groups for Learning and Fellowship
Adult Education at First Church is organized around small-group classes intended to strengthen current members while welcoming newcomers. Classes use open minds and hearts to explore Christian learning, strengthen faith and connect classroom ideas with daily life.
Fellowship groups offer another route into spiritual growth and friendship. Participants share life’s joys and challenges while exploring contemporary and biblical topics in relaxed settings, either in person or virtually. The church’s approach balances learning with supportive relationships.
Women’s Ministry seeks to know God, experience freedom as whole persons through Jesus Christ, develop creative supportive fellowship and participate in the wider mission of the church. Its groups are called Circles. Men’s Ministry meets for fellowship, including breakfast gatherings on the first Saturday of each month.
First Church also hosts a Monthly Euchre Fellowship on the second Wednesday from 6:00 to 8:00 PM, with doors opening at 5:45. It is open to anyone who has attended or supported First Church and its missions, as well as people learning the game. The evening combines cards, friendly competition and connection.
Freedom School and Klondike Kids Club
Purdue CDF Freedom School
First Church hosts the Purdue CDF Freedom School, a six-week summer program for students in grades K through 5. The program pairs an integrated reading curriculum in the morning with STEM activities, field trips and social action in the afternoon. Its approach celebrates diversity, encourages a love of reading and treats learning as intellectual, social and personal growth.
College-aged mentors and community volunteers guide scholars at a ratio of one teacher for every ten students. Volunteers aged 16 and older can assist in classrooms, serve as Read Aloud guests or contribute in other program roles. Parents take part through empowerment sessions and volunteer opportunities, extending the program’s educational support beyond the classroom.
Klondike Kids Club
Klondike Kids Club is an after-school homework club created with Klondike Elementary School and the Point West Mobile Home Community. It provides tutoring in reading, language arts and mathematics to 30 children, many of whom are learning English as a second language. The club offers a safe and nurturing place for study, support and relationship.
Klondike meets Monday through Thursday from 4:30 to 6:00 PM and follows the Tippecanoe School Corporation calendar. Grades K through 3 attend Monday and Wednesday, while grades 4 and 5 attend Tuesday and Thursday. If school is canceled, Kids Club is also canceled.
Volunteers aged 16 and older are welcomed. The program asks for an open heart, a willingness to spread kindness, the ability to read and basic knowledge of addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. Volunteers receive a background check at no cost.
Purdue Neighbors and International Students
First Church is a foundational partner of Wesley Foundation at Purdue, providing financial support, volunteering for service projects such as Purdue Winterization, mentoring, scholarships and shared worship. The church also encourages special programming for new students and international scholars.
An annual August gathering opens First Church’s doors to nearly 200 newly arriving international graduate students. Volunteers provide a warm meal, practical information and a welcoming start to their time at Purdue. That combination of food, useful guidance and personal connection reflects a church that sees international students as members of its wider neighborhood.
Food, Fellowship and the Wider Lafayette Area
Local food insecurity is addressed through durable partnerships as well as direct assistance. First Church works with Lafayette Urban Ministry and Food Finders Food Bank. Volunteers buy and package food that 20 or more Edgelea School children take home on Fridays.
Three times each year, volunteers and food donations support the Tippecanoe United Food Pantry, helping feed more than 70 people each week. Food-box support also reaches families connected with the church’s education partnerships, while participation in Lafayette Urban Ministry’s annual Hunger Hike raises awareness and funds for hunger relief.
LGBTQIA+ Belonging and Justice as Ongoing Work
Reconciling commitment reaches beyond worship into public fellowship. Each October, First Church hosts We’re Out, an annual LGBTQIA+ event centered on joy and belonging. Local resources, food, games, music and opportunities for connection turn the event into a community gathering rather than a single worship service.
The church also hosts meetings of We All Belong Greater Lafayette, a community-led coalition committed to defending democracy, civil rights and an inclusive and just society. The coalition explicitly rejects Christian nationalism and works for the dignity and freedom of every person in Greater Lafayette.
These efforts embody the congregation’s commitment to active Christian service. First Church names justice, diversity, equity and inclusion not as abstractions but as reasons to seek out people who are hurt or marginalized and to build relationships across the differences that can divide them.
Faith Milestones and Church Membership
Visitors who want to learn more about First Church’s life can join a small-group membership class led by the senior pastor. The class introduces the foundational principles of The United Methodist Church, helps newcomers know the congregation and gives representatives from several ministries an opportunity to explain their goals and activities.
First Church understands baptism as a sacrament of initiation into the Body of Christ and holds that United Methodists believe in baptism of both infants and adults. Baptism takes place in worship and may be scheduled for a Sunday other than a Communion Sunday. Parents are asked to meet with the pastor beforehand.
Holy Communion is a special observance within the church’s worship life. Weddings are arranged through the church office, and pastors provide counsel to people preparing for marriage. For families who lose a loved one, the church encourages a service of resurrection in the sanctuary, with arrangements made through the office and pastors.
A Foundation Meant for the Long Term
The First United Methodist Church Foundation was established as a nonprofit corporation in 1982 to support the mission and programs of the church in perpetuity. It accepts current and deferred gifts, bequests, legacies and donations, investing them in endowment funds. Income from those funds supports projects and recurring ministry needs.
Ministry Enhancement Accounts let donors direct gifts toward particular purposes. Established areas include buildings and facilities, youth ministries, children’s ministries, music and worship arts, mission ministries and scholarships. Foundation support has assisted mission trips to Africa and Haiti, mortgage reduction, Vacation Bible School, special music performances and long-term ministry needs.
Giving to the church is also available through secure online giving, including one-time or recurring contributions. Gifts may also be made during worship or mailed to 1700 Mitch Daniels Blvd., West Lafayette, IN 47906. The emphasis on endowments, designated ministry accounts and planned gifts reflects First Church’s conviction that today’s ministry can be sustained for future generations.
Pastors and Ministry Leaders
Duane Carlisle has served as lead pastor since March 2020. He describes the congregation’s deliberate reconciling process as central to its identity and to its sense of home in West Lafayette. Associate Pastor Kory Pritchett serves alongside him and leads the First Up Praise Band.
Charis Vander Plaats directs Music and Arts and the Chancel Choir, while Kathy Lind leads the Bells Choir. Mindy Kuney serves as Director of Administration and Missional Services. Family Ministry Instructional Coordinator Talitha Huber leads instruction, Jorge Perez de Jesus serves as Bridge Builder for Family and Community Ministries, and Amelie Coolman is a Family Ministry Team member.
This combination of pastoral care, worship leadership, music, family formation and community service gives First United Methodist Church West Lafayette its present shape. The church continues as one gathered Sunday community, with room for many forms of learning and belonging, and with ministries rooted in welcome, justice, education, music and service.