About -

about us

our story - our history - our heritage

There’s a place for you at First United Methodist Church of Frisco!

Celebrating 176 Years in Worship & Mission

We are a congregation committed to loving God and loving our neighbors with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength. Just as Jesus loved all those around him, we believe that all persons are of sacred worth and dignity as part of God’s creation.

At FUMC Frisco, we welcome all persons into the full life and ministry of our congregation, regardless of race, culture, ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, family or socioeconomic status, education, politics, physical or mental ability, or faith history.

The mission of FUMC Frisco is to provide a nurturing environment in which to empower members to serve the world, to experience and share the love of God, and to grow an enduring faith in Jesus Christ, through scripture-driven worship, studies, service, and fellowship.

You may be looking or answers, healing, or a way to make sense of our complicated world, and we invite you to come experience a place where you can ask questions, express opinions, and explore your faith, surrounded and embraced by a loving church family.

2025 Leadership Board Roster

Pastor (ex-officio member with vote): Pastor Luke Thomson

Board / Lay Leadership / Annual Conference Member:

Amy Granier (chair)

Trish Whitlock (Lay Leader)

Melanie Thorpe (Annual Conference member)

SPRC:

Troy Lindsey (chair)

Anniel Winston-Hall

Amy Reed

Trustees:

Susan Laird (chair)

Mack Borchardt

Jonelle Barrett

Finance:

Carmina Remorca (chair)

Patricia Thompson-Uher (Treasurer)

Deidra Wooten

our heritage & history

2024 – 25

Over the past two years, FUMC Frisco has experienced something we never expected: a season of division and pain within our church family sparked by division and disagreement within the United Methodist Church. At the present time, we are not worshipping in our own building. And, in response to actions taken by our former leadership, we are involved in a lawsuit to reclaim our property and heritage.

We maintain hope in that endeavor, but we have put it into God’s hands as our case moves toward appeal. As a church, we know that our focus and determination must be set on continuing to grow and move forward in our ministry, service, and love for our neighbors, regardless of our location. Our mission has not stopped.

The greatest gift we have received is the first-hand experience that God’s love prevails. There may be times when it feels as if everything has been stripped away, as if all is lost. But we know that God is with us and He will provide what we need to continue our legacy, whatever the future holds.

Just as God’s love prevails, our love will prevail as well. Walking with God, we will smile through tears, we will sing through storms, and we will rejoice, even in times of fear. We will love through hardships. We will love through conflict. We will share God’s love with all those around us, in every circumstance, in every season, every day — even to those who stand opposite or against us. We will never set love aside, even in the face of division or disagreement.

Our story is long and has gotten messy in the the past few years, but it’s a story worth telling. And often in the messy times, we most profoundly find God.

Explore the timeline below to learn more about the history of FUMC Frisco.

2023

Reorganization

Members who wanted to remain United Methodists gathered in late December 2022 and began to initiate the reorganization of FUMC Frisco, hoping to maintain control of our property.

FUMC Frisco doesn’t currently occupy the property at 7659 Preston Rd. In our place is a congregation of the Global Methodist Church, made up of former clergy, leadership, and a portion of our former congregation.

We were blessed by the support of the North Texas Conference, and by kindness and generosity of Christ United Methodist Church in Plano, who gave us space to meet through the winter and spring of 2023.

As we reorganized, it became clear that our only available path to counter the actions of our former leaders was through the legal system. In the spring of 2023, FUMC Frisco joined the North Texas Conference, as intervenors in the lawsuit.

In June of 2023, we leased space from Faithbridge Presbyterian Church in Frisco and began holding Worship services, Sunday School, and programming on their campus. The congregation of Faithbridge has been incredibly loving and welcoming and has gifted us with the time, space, and facilities needed during this time of rebuilding. Pastor Luke Thomson was appointed as pastor in July 2023 and has been an amazing addition to our church, inspiring and empowering us on this path forward.

2022

Discernment

In 2022, clergy and leadership began a push for FUMC Frisco to disaffiliate from the UMC. In November, the congregation voted to decide our path. The disaffiliation vote failed to pass.

Over the past decade, our nation has experienced extreme political division, and that division has boiled over into The United Methodist Church. Around the country, many UMC congregations have been asked to pick a side in a contentious divide. A protocol was established by the UMC that would allow churches, if they desired, to decide whether to remain a part of the UMC and an opportunity to disaffiliate amicably and retain church property. The protocol included a 2/3 majority congregational vote in order to pass a resolution on disaffiliation.

After our failed vote (and despite the results), church leaders announced that the church would disaffiliate from the UMC and join the Global Methodist Church at the end of 2022, dismissing the established process to disaffiliate (the process understood and expected by the congregation).

Instead, church leaders attempted to disaffiliate by circumventing the protocol and attempting to erase the decades-old relationship with the larger UMC, through legal means. They quietly made changes to the church’s corporate documents and took legal action against the North Texas Annual Conference, claiming the church property as their own.

Those wishing to stay United Methodist no longer felt welcomed, and some were asked to discontinue leadership in programs and ministries in which they were deeply involved.

2012

A Time of Growth

In the early 2010’s, FUMC Frisco was in a period of robust growth in membership, programming, and faith development. Ministries soared and several church members were called into ministry.

The 2010’s saw the expansion of existing programs and the addition of new ministries: Feeding 5000, Hope Team, Kairos Ministries, Cooking Camp, Art Camp, Winshape Camp, KIWY/NRG, Kids Music & Arts, Mission Possible Kids, Disciple Bible Studies, Financial Peace, Divorce Care, Fall Festival, A Night in Bethlehem, Easter Eggstravaganza, Parents’ Night Out, Clothe-A-Child, prayer blankets, and more.

In 2014, the church purchased an additional 6 acres of land on the north side of the church property, increasing the footprint of the church to just under 17 acres.

2000

The New Millennium

By the new millennium, the church was growing and thriving. In the early 2000's, FUMC Frisco began planning for a new sanctuary to increase worship, music, and educational space.

The Mother’s Day Out Program was transformed into a full preschool program (Friends in Christ) and programming for children and families was rapidly expanding. In 2005, the church purchased 3.4 acres of land, adjacent to the current property, to further expand church land.

Plans were made for a new sanctuary, tripling worship capacity and adding a large gathering area, kitchen, choir rehearsal space, and expansive space for the Youth program. Construction was completed in December 2008, just in time for Christmas.

1990’s

Phase II Complete

In the early 90's, construction began on the Family Life Center. The building was completed in two parts, one half of the at a time, and the FLC greatly increased the church's presence on Preston Road.

Once complete, the FLC included a full gymnasium, kitchen, 20+ classrooms, and new offices for the Mother’s Day Out program.

With a quickly expanding congregation, the existing Sanctuary was quickly becoming too small for Worship. Services were moved to the gym for several years, awaiting the construction of a larger Sanctuary.

1985

Incorporation

On March 14, 1985, FUMC Frisco filed Articles of Incorporation with the State of Texas to formally incorporate as a United Methodist Church, affirming the important connection to the worldwide denomination.

As a United Methodist Church, the incorporation documents included a trust clause, as detailed in the Book of Discipline. This clause is a statement declaring that property and assets of a local church are held “in trust” for the benefit of the denomination, ensuring that the property will continue to be used for the purposes of The United Methodist Church.

The Book of Discipline requires that a trust clause appear in all deeds of all UMC properties, as a “fundamental expression of United Methodism whereby local churches and other agencies and institutions within the denomination are both held accountable to and benefit from their connection with the entire worldwide church.” (from paragraph 2501 of The Book of Discipline).

1982

Phase I Complete

In August 1982, FUMC Frisco moved into the newly completed sanctuary, offices, kitchen, and classrooms. With open fields south of the church, the steeple was visible from well into Plano.

In the 1990’s, the Family Life Center was added to the church with a gymnasium, kitchen, and multiple additional classrooms. These additions allowed the expansion of church ministries and programming, accommodating growth in adult programming, outreach, Sunday School, the Mother’s Day Out program, and programs for children and youth.

1978

Preston Road

In the late 70's, it was clear the property on Oak Street was too small to support the growing church. The church purchased 7.17 acres on Preston Road and began planning a new campus.

The building at 6th and Oak was sold to another church and plans were made for a new church campus.

During construction, the congregation gathered each week in the chapel of the local funeral home, anxiously awaiting the completion of our new home.

1968

UMC is formed

The Evangelical United Brethren Church and The Methodist Church merged to form The United Methodist Church and First Methodist Church became First United Methodist Church of Frisco.

It took a few years to finalize the world-wide organization of the new denomination. The United Methodist Church does not have a central headquarters or a single executive leader. Duties are divided among three governing bodies, made up of clergy and laity: the General Conference, the Council of Bishops and the Judicial Council. For more information on the connectional form of governance of the UMC, click here.

1902

Frisco is born

In 1902, a parcel of land was purchased in the land sale for the new town of Frisco and a new church building was constructed at the corner of 6th and Oak Streets, one block off Main Street.

The old buildings at Bethel were demolished and materials were brought into town to construct the new buildings. The church name was changed to First Methodist Church.

A new brick sanctuary was constructed in 1915 but was later partially destroyed by fire. While the walls were left intact, the interior and roof of the church were reconstruction. The building remains standing, under the ownership of another church.

1850-1900

Land Donations

As Bethel Church grew, the need for meeting spaces grew as well. From 1850 to 1874, the Rogers family donated 15+ acres to accommodate the church, an educational building, and parsonage.

In 1852, William Rogers donated 2 acres of land for the first church building, near the present-day location of Bethel Cemetery (north of Eldorado and Rogers Road). The first building, with a dirt floor and log benches, measuring 16′ x 24′. A second building followed in 1859 but was destroyed by a storm during construction. Construction of a new 30′ x 40′ building was completed after the Civil War and remained in use until 1882.

In 1873, Joseph B. Rogers donated 3 acres of land for the first parsonage. Another parsonage was later built near the church site, now known as the A.P. Rogers farm. An educational building was constructed in the 1870’s and later became the site of worship for the growing congregation of Bethel Methodist Church.

In 1874, Joseph B. Rogers donated an additional 10 acres of land adjoining the church property to be used for camp meetings and annual revivals. Lasting up to two weeks, these meetings brought people from all around the area, gathering in worship under a huge brush arbor that had been constructed by church members. There were often as many as 1000 in attendance and the influence was felt for miles. To accommodate the need for additional space, a 40’ x 60’ commodious shed was built in 1888 and used for meetings until 1901.

1848

Bethel Church

FUMC Frisco's heritage began in 1848 when Rev. Joab Biggs came to Texas as a pioneer Methodist preacher. Bethel Church was organized and met in the home of William Rogers for the first few years.

Rev. Biggs, William and Francis Rogers, Peter and Sarah Teel, and Elizabeth Rogers organized Bethel Church in the home of William Rogers, where they would meet for the first few years.

William Rogers donated 2 acres of land on which the first church building was built in 1852, near the current location of Bethel Cemetery (just north of Eldorado and Rogers Road). The first building measured 16′ x 24′, with a dirt floor and log benches. A second building followed in 1859, but was destroyed by a storm before construction was complete. The 30′ x 40′ building was finally finished after the Civil War, and remained in use until 1882.

In 1873, Joseph B. Rogers donated 3 acres of land for the first parsonage. Another parsonage was later built near the church on land that is now known as the A.P. Rogers farm.

In 1874, Joseph B. Rogers donated 10 acres of land adjoining the church property for the purpose of camp meetings and annual revival meetings. Lasting up to two weeks, these meetings brought people from all around the area. There were often 1000 people at the service and the influence was felt for many miles around. For several years, the meetings took place under a huge brush arbor, built by members. A commodious shed, 40’x60′ was built in 1888 and was used for meetings until 1901.

An educational building was constructed in the 1870’s and later became the site of worship for the growing congregation of Bethel Methodist Church.

“But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.”

1 Corinthians 12:24-27