Dr. Fred Bruner, the founding pastor of Community Church, and his wife Theresa shared a dream which began at the Ocean Pines Community Center in 1982. The two Sunday worship services were 8am and 10am. The new mission church of the Peninsula Conference was organized as a United Methodist Church and incorporated by a 7-page Articles of Incorporation dated September 2, 1983, by chartered members.
The current property of 20 acres was purchased in July 1985 for $80,000. The loan was paid in full by December 1986, thanks to donations by members, Conference grants, and gifts from community businesses and friends. In August 1987 groundbreaking was held with the building construction beginning October 1. Just four months later on January 31, 1988, the first service "a youth concert" was held in the new building.
A consecration service in 1988 revealed that the newly built multi-purpose center is not only a chapel for Sunday Morning Worship, but rather it is a place where you are in ministry seven days a week. Ministries include the Little Lambs Day Care and Nursery School during the week, the Gardens of the Pines Cemetery, family-focus seminars and counseling service, weekly worship and Bible study. Later ministries and additions were added including: the Labyrinth, Nook-Angels' Attic-Sarah's Pantry, Ernie Stiles Garden, and the expansion of the Columbarium.
Over the years, pastors and associate pastors developed the dream, grew the vision and membership. They led us through changing times. While each minister comes equipped with a different leadership style, the Church has a goal to continually grow with uplifting worship, spiritually nourishing and supporting ministries.