The shepherd of our flock - Reverend Frederick Gilbert
His passion for the LORD began as an early teen as he read the Bible and listened to different religious services on the radio (when he was not listening to the Beatles).
Reverend Gilbert brings a unique mixture of teaching and artistic vision to the pulpit. Independent Methodist Church has been known for vibrant holiday displays and well thought out services full of praise, learning, and tradition.
Our congregation is so blessed to have such a strong leader of our church! Please read more below our the Reverend’s background.
50 years of Pastoral Experience
Reverend Gilbert felt his calling early in his life. He began his college education in the arts as he received his Associates of Commercial Art from Community College of Allegheny County. From there he continued is pursuit of the arts with a Bachelor’s of Arts from La Roche college in Pittsburgh.
Reverend walked towards his heavenly calling as he attended Wesley Seminary in Washington, DC. There was a great deal of commitment and travel from PA to DC as he studied. The Reverend received his Masters in Divinity and was ordained as a Pastor for the United Methodist Church.
Reverend Gilbert began his Pastorate at Noblestown Federal United Methodist Church in 1973 until 1980. In 1980, the Reverend began his ministry in the New Castle area taking over the pulpit for Savannah United Methodist Church. In 1988, the Independent Methodist Church was founded (September 11, 1988) and Reverend Gilbert has continued to lead this church for nearly 40 years. Reverend is one of the longest tenured Pastors in not only the city of New Castle but Lawrence county.
The Trinity
There is but one living and true God, everlasting, without body or parts, of infinite power, wisdom, and goodness; the maker and preserver of all things, both visible and invisible. And in unity of this Godhead there are three persons, of one substance, power, and eternity—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.
Some of our values (from the 24 articles of Religion)
Communion
The Supper of the Lord is not only a sign of the love that Christians ought to have among themselves one to another, but rather is a sacrament of our redemption by Christ's death; insomuch that, to such as rightly, worthily, and with faith receive the same, the bread which we break is a partaking of the body of Christ; and likewise the cup of blessing is a partaking of the blood of Christ.
Baptism
We believe in one baptism for the remission of sins. Baptism is not only a sign of profession and mark of difference whereby Christians are distinguished from others that are not baptized; but it is also a sign of regeneration or the new birth. The Baptism of young children is to be retained in the Church.
Jesus
The Son, who is the Word of the Father, the very and eternal God, of one substance with the Father, took man's nature in the womb of the blessed Virgin; so that two whole and perfect natures, that is to say, the Godhead and Manhood, were joined together in one person, never to be divided.
The Church
The visible church of Christ is a congregation of faithful congregants in which the pure Word of God is preached, and the Sacraments duly administered according to Christ's ordinance, in all those things that of necessity are requisite to the same.
Biblical Truth
The Old Testament is not contrary to the New; for both in the Old and New Testament everlasting life is offered to mankind by Christ, who is the only Mediator between God and man, being both God and Man. Wherefore they are not to be heard who feign that the old fathers did look only for transitory promises.