ROCKDALE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

ROCKDALE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH. Founded by Richard Waller and a group of LEAD miners in 1835, the congregation first worshipped in the log church located in modern-day WASHINGTON PARK and then in members' homes. Articles of incorporation were signed in 1836. A temporary log church and school were later constructed on the site of the present church at 1500 Old Mill Road.

The present brick church was constructed in 1874 at a cost estimated to be $2,000. On the day of its dedication, a picnic was held followed by several sermons. Contributions collected at the picnic paid off the $500 still owed the contractor, and the church began free of debt. A bell tower was added in 1874. In 1960 the addition of a kitchen and fellowship hall was completed.

The 1987 through 2014 Dubuque City Directory listed 1500 Old Mill Road.

In 2023 a total of 83 Iowa churches belonging to the United Methodist Church left the denomination over a split on same-six marriage and ordaining openly LGBTQ clergy. The denomination has repeatedly upheld bans on both, but others defied them. In 2023 the Iowa Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church approved a new vision that allowed Methodist ministers to host same-sex marriages and made way for gay clergy to serve without fear of church charges.

Conservatives then launched a new Global Methodist Church where they were determined to maintain and enforce the bans. Across the United States, 3,755 churches left the denomination including the 83 in Iowa. The Iowa conference then voted to allow the 83 church with 11% of the state's total Methodists to split off and join the new denomination or become independent. In the Pictured Rock District, including Dubuque, the churches splitting of included CENTER GROVE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, GRANDVIEW AVENUE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, and Rockdale United Methodist Church. (1)

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Source:

1. "Here are the 83 Iowa Churches Leaving the United Methodist Church over the LBGTQ Disagreements," Des Moines Register, May 24, 2023