Our Past
The first pastor of Central Congregational Church was Charles M. Sheldon, a champion of the social gospel, and author of the famous book "In His Steps."
Central was a mission church. We were gathered in 1888 to minister to Tennessee Town, a community of ex-slaves from the South, and Washburn University, a college founded by the Congregational Church.
Sheldon believed the Christian faith should be acted out by politically and personally advocating for social solutions to the oppressive aspects of racism, sexism, and drug abuse.
In 1896 Sheldon wrote "In His Steps". This was one of his popular serial-style sermons. He read a chapter a week, usually ending with a cliff-hanger. The key question of this story was "What Would Jesus Do?"
Central Congregational founded the first African-American kindergarten west of the Mississippi, responded to the 1966 tornado that struck Topeka by opening Doorstep, a helping agency now comprised of over 50 congregations, and addressed technological literacy by creating The Computer Center.
Today, we continue this central focus on the social gospel, providing concrete hope and help for concrete needs, and advocating justice for those who are oppressed by the dominant culture.
Learn about the book Communion Hymn Poems by Rev. Charles M. Sheldon
Central was a mission church. We were gathered in 1888 to minister to Tennessee Town, a community of ex-slaves from the South, and Washburn University, a college founded by the Congregational Church.
Sheldon believed the Christian faith should be acted out by politically and personally advocating for social solutions to the oppressive aspects of racism, sexism, and drug abuse.
In 1896 Sheldon wrote "In His Steps". This was one of his popular serial-style sermons. He read a chapter a week, usually ending with a cliff-hanger. The key question of this story was "What Would Jesus Do?"
Central Congregational founded the first African-American kindergarten west of the Mississippi, responded to the 1966 tornado that struck Topeka by opening Doorstep, a helping agency now comprised of over 50 congregations, and addressed technological literacy by creating The Computer Center.
Today, we continue this central focus on the social gospel, providing concrete hope and help for concrete needs, and advocating justice for those who are oppressed by the dominant culture.
Learn about the book Communion Hymn Poems by Rev. Charles M. Sheldon
