Dr. John Kuykendall, (1965) Assoc. Pastor/Campus Minister and AU professor of religion, served the church in many capacities until he was called to be president at Davidson College in 1984	George B. Telford (1970-1973)	M. McCoy Franklin (1974-1989)

William L. Arthur (1990-1995)	Dr. Harry Daniel (interim 1995-1996)	Dr. W. Frank Covington (1996- )

The early 1960s were turbulent times in the life of the church, the University, and the community, as the civil rights issues came into prominence. Under Mr. Evans' leadership, the church played a significant role in helping the community respond to the issues responsibly. Mr. Evans was called to Richmond in 1964 to serve the Church's Board of Christian Education.

Wallace M. Alston, Jr. was called to Auburn in August of 1964. He was joined in the summer of 1965 by John W. Kuykendall, who was ordained on August 1, 1965, and installed as associate pastor of the church and Presbyterian Campus Minister. With Dr. Alston's guidance, the church "remained a beacon of sanity in the midst of turmoil and racial hysteria." The general Assembly instructed the Presbytery to enroll two black churches that lay within its boundaries. The Presbytery was slow to act, and a formal protest to the General Assembly was signed by every church in the Presbytery except FPC. Later in the same year many churches protested the General Assembly's support of the National Council of Church's stand on social issues. FPC responded with its own resolution criticizing the other churches for working against the General Assembly and endorsed the actions of the General Assembly. Also, during this time period, FPC started a kindergarten in which black children also were enrolled, started a tutoring program for black children who transferred to previously all-white schools, and entered into an agreement to house the Head Start program, a relationship that lasted until 1989. Members of Westminster Fellowship (now Presbyterian Student Fellowship) assisted in tutoring.

Under Dr. Alston's leadership, the Presbyterian Community Ministry (PCM) was organized in 1969 to conduct a ministry of compassion in Auburn and Lee County in which human needs are served in the areas of residential housing, health, child care, home arts, transportation, and education. PCM is an ecumenically-supported, non-profit charitable organization. Interest-free loans and, in some cases, grants, are made to low-income residents for housing repairs and renovations and for housing-related and other personal emergencies.

Between its inception in 1969 and the beginning of the new millennium, PCM disbursed more than $1.9 million to assist families in building houses. Inside plumbing and bathrooms were added in 300 homes, roofs were repaired or replaced on 270 homes, and hundreds more families received assistance to forestall eviction or foreclosure, maintain utility service, and meet an assortment of emergencies, most of which affect housing. PCM is funded by the First Presbyterian Church, repayment of loans, and membership dues and contributions. It is headquartered in the church's education building. Dues are $15 a month or $180 a year and membership is open to persons of all denominations and faiths. Interested persons are invited to contact the PCM office by calling (334) 887-3777 or writing PCM, 143 East Thach Avenue, Auburn, AL 36830.

An interesting bit of history that not many people know... In the early 1970s an Auburn University graduate from Americus, GA, who had become interested in housing for low income families heard about PCM and the Lee County self-help housing program. The interested person, Millard Fuller, visited Auburn and Lee County to study both programs. He liked the interest-free loan and the self-help features of PCM and the East Alabama Cooperative Housing program. Soon thereafter, Fuller founded Habitat for Humanity which has become a well established and widely recognized international housing program.

In 1965, a new manse was constructed on Sehoy Circle, and the old manse was removed from the church property. Construction of a new Presbyterian University Center was begun on the site where the old manse had been. It was completed in 1969. The church has since sold the manse. Right:    Presbyterian University Center The Presbyterian University Center served Auburn students until 2001 when it had to be torn down because of an electrical fire that did extensive damage to the east side.

Dr. Alston was called to the pastorate of First Presbyterian Church of Durham, North Carolina, in June of 1969. Mr. Kuykendall continued to work in Auburn until the summer of 1970 when he left for Princeton University to continue graduate study. He returned to teach in the newly established Department of Religion of Auburn University in 1973. In 1984, Dr. Kuykendall was called to Davidson College in North Carolina to serve as its fifteenth president.

George B. Telford, Jr. was called to the church as pastor in the summer of 1970. He had served as Campus Minister here during 1956-57 and 1959-60. Glenn S. Edgerton was called a few months later to serve as associate pastor and Presbyterian Campus Minister. Mr. Telford left in August of 1973 to serve our denomination's General Executive Board in the area of Corporate and Social Mission. Dr. Edgerton continued his work here until June of 1974 when he was called to the pastorate of the Faith Presbyterian Church of Morehead, Kentucky. Dorothy Henson began her service to the church in Christian Education during this transition period and continued to serve the church in this area until her death in 1989. Under her leadership, a rich and innovative program for children, youth, and adults was developed.

M. McCoy Franklin was called to the church as pastor in December of 1974. He served First Presbyterian Church, Auburn, until June of 1989, when he was called to First Presbyterian Church, Tupelo, Mississippi, as their senior pastor. Under his guidance, FPC continued its tradition of social awareness and reaching out to other groups. When the State legislature wrote the annual budget in 1980 in such a way to curtail social programs, the Session sent a letter to the Governor, local legislators, and the press stating, "It is unconscionable that such drastic measures would be taken that affect the people least able to deal with it, the poor and the elderly." In 1982 the Session endorsed "A Call to Prayer and Reconciliation" during a growing breach between the University president and the faculty that ultimately resulted in the resignation of the president. In 1987 the Church and Community Committee initiated a Loaves and Fish program to serve a noon meal to needy people. The same year, Session granted Korean residents permission to use the University Center chapel for Sunday worship. In 2005, the Korean congregation continues to worship in FPC. In 1989, the Jewish community was invited to worship at FPC. It also was during Coy Franklin's tenure that the church budget was challenged with needed repairs which included renovations to the parlor and University Center, removal of asbestos, and complete replacement of the heating and cooling systems in the sanctuary and University Center.

In 1984, Marleah Hobbs and Frank Vandegrift volunteered to design and construct six iron forms for the sanctuary windows that would reflect the meaning of Advent. Each would be approximately six feet high and medieval in style and would be based on the stained glass windows in the Saint Denis Basilica. Session unanimously approved and so gave these creative talents an opportunity to enhance the worship service of the church.

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William L. Arthur began his ministry February 1, 1990. During 1991 and 1992, several renovations and improvements were made to the church buildings: Fellowship Hall was redecorated and carpeted; the library was refurbished and moved to the first floor of the Education Building providing not only more room for books, but an attractive and well utilized meeting room for Session, committees, and other groups; and, the church's administrative office was moved and updated. The "Session office"/reception room was developed in what had previously been the Church Secretary's office.

Former pastor, Dr. John Haddon Leith, for whom the Leith Lecture Series are named, returned to Auburn to deliver the 1991 Leith Lectures and was delightfully surprised to learn that by action of the congregation, approved by the Presbytery of Sheppards and Lapsley, he had been designated "Pastor Emeritus".

A special event on November 3, 1991, honored Dr. J. William Tamblyn on the occasion of his retirement as Organist and Director of Music. Noting his long years of devoted and gifted service, the Session designated him "Organist and Director of Music Emeritus" of First Presbyterian Church. Dr. Tamblyn served as church organist from 1938 to 1991 except when he was in the U.S. Army during World War II and while doing graduate studies in music at the Eastman School of Music at the University of Rocherster.

In the Spring of 1992, the Beth Shalom congregation, the Jewish community of East Alabama, gratefully presented a plaque of appreciation to First Presbyterian Church, expressing their gratitude to our church for sharing our facilities with them during the initial years of their organization.

Early in 1994, a Visioning Steering Committee, moderated by Wanda Dobie, was appointed to study present and future needs of the congregation and develop a clearer picture of the church's mission. The committee arranged evening gatherings for members of the congregation, interviewed a cross-section of the membership, conducted a church-wide survey, held a final "Town Meeting/dessert party" for the congregation, and held a workshop for the Session. After this intensive effort, the Vision Statement was adopted by the Session early in 1995. The preamble stated, "First Presbyterian Church of Auburn is a vital Christian community dedicated to helping people form a special connection to God, form a loving relationship with each other, and form a committtee connection to great causes. Empowered by the Holy Spirit, we seek to live out this mission in the following areas: worship and nurture, Christian education, outreach, and stewardship." Ten years later, in 2005, another Visioning Committee has been appointed to reassess the church's mission.

The year of 1994 saw a major effort on the part of the congregation to support the Good Shepherd Hospital in Zaire. This project was initiated upon the return of church members Frank and Catherine Vandegrift, and Frank's brother Jerry, from Zaire where they had helped repair the hydroelectric plant they had installed in 1985. The congregation sent 37 footlockers full of medical supplies and raised $11,000 for a new generator. This effort continued in 1995 and 1996 when volunteers rolled bandages, packed more footlockers with supplies, and transported the footlockers to the airport. Members of FPC contributed more than $10,000 for medical supplies and shipping costs. Left:    Frank and Catherine Vandegrift Right:    Jerry and his electric crew

The Zaire mission in pictures (descriptions below right)...
		Zaire Mission.   Left to right from top:  Helping pack trunks; loading trunks for shipment; Catherine with 27 trunks in Zaire; unpacking trunks; distributing supplies; Frank keeping records; construction crew; completed dam and hydro-electric plant; Jerry checking power at generators; "premie" benefitting from electricity; church Session at Zaire Mission; Sunday service.

Change continued to be the word in the life of First Presbyterian in 1995. Jean Lancaster assumed the responsibility as Acting Director of Education following Anita Prim's departure; Dr. Chang Whan Kim came to be pastor for the Korean Fellowship; and Senior Pastor William Arthur left to serve as interim pastor at Market Street Presbyterian Church in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. In June, Dr. Harry Daniel arrived to serve as interim pastor. His energetic and enthusiastic leadership kept the church sharply focused and on its mission.

1996 continued in that trend with the calling of Dr. W. Frank Covington as Senior Pastor on August 18. He was officially installed September 29, 1996. The Korean Fellowship also obtained a new pastor, Dr. Gyeong M. Kim, and applied to, and was later granted approval by, the Presbytery of Sheppards and Lapsley to become a New Church Development. In January, 1997, by invitation of the Alabama Presbyterian Campus Ministry, Inc., Robert Prim became the State Campus Minister for Development for Alabama Presbyterian Campus Ministry, Inc., representing campus ministry throughout Alabama. Half of his time continued to be devoted to the Campus Ministry duties at Auburn University. During this time period, the University Center fellowship room and kitchen were beautifully renovated, thanks, in part, to an $18,000 grant from General Assembly.

In October, 1996, Frank and Catherine Vandegrift traveled to Kikyu, Kenya, for three months to help oversee the construction of an orthopedic hospital and rehabilitation center at the Presbyterian mission there. A Kenyan Mission Fund was set up to help finance the project. They returned in January, reported on the work there and announced their intentions to return and help with construction of a hospital. The congregation gave spiritual and financial support to this mission as well as sending more foot lockers containing medical supplies. The Sunday School classes collected toys and games for the Kenyan children, filling three footlockers. Pictures below (left to right by row):    Youth packing toys; Dr. Harry Daniel helping pack foot lockers; Catherine with lockers in Kenya; orthopedic hospital under construction; doctor at orthopedic clinic and children.

In June, 1997, Rev. Marianne Forbes joined the staff as Minister of Education. She was officially installed September 21, 1997. At almost the same time, the Session approved the proposal for a Child Development Center as an extension of our church's ministry to children. The new center opened September 2, 1997, following completion of renovation to the ground floor and west end of the Christian Education Building.

With the absence of a campus minister, an internship program was instituted. Interns - Natalie Reed, Robert Hay, Jr., and Ellen Carr, all undergraduate students at Auburn University - acted effectively as substitutes until the arrival of Rev. Shauna Silmon in September, 1998. Rev. Silmon was installed as the first full-time Presbyterian Campus Minister (PCUSA) at Auburn University on October 25, 1998.

The millennium ended with a sense of change and anticipation in the air as the Session and ultimately the congregation wrestled with the dire needs of the physical plant. A committee was appointed to identify and "provide for the immediate and future needs of the congregation and community by addressing accessibility, space and aesthetic concerns." At a called meeting of the Session, the committee reported on its findings and Architect Neil Davis provided drawings of structural changes being considered. The preliminary budget total $1.18 million. After much deliberation and consideration of several options, Session approved a motion to initiate a capital funds campaign. The church also was looking forward with anticipation of its Sesquicentennial Celebration during the year 2000. A Sesquicentennial Centennial Planning Committee was hard at work.

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