Mission statement

Strong in tradition. Strong in vision. Strong in making disciples for Jesus Christ.

History

In the spring of 1856, 10 members of the farming community later to be known as Burwell organized as Shiloh Church, meeting near the present church site. The church merged with members of New Salem to become Shiloh Methodist Episcopal Church, South, during the Civil War. During this time, the first camp meeting was held.

In honor of the church's early members, rich heritage and Georgian Colonial style architecture, the congregation voted in 1974 to preserve the exterior of Shiloh's sanctuary in the original hand-dressed wooden weatherboard.

The 29-acre church campus includes three "tents," or small cottages that are occupied during camp meeting; an arbor built in 1914 to replace the original brush arbor and framed structure used from 1867; a cemetery; a dining hall and upstairs dorm; two cabins for campers; and a covered recreation center. In 1986, a walking trail and gardens were created, becoming one of the stops on the Georgia Tour of Gardens.

On June 24-29, the 142nd camp meeting will be held with Bishop Richard Looney preaching.

Pastor's path

The Rev. Martha Dye, who spent many years traveling as a "Navy wife" after marrying her husband in 1966, began the process of getting her undergraduate degree in 1983 after her three children were in school. She attended classes as she could in the places that she and her husband were stationed. During these past 15 years, Dye has worked in United Methodist churches in Georgia and Virginia as director of youth ministries. She graduated from LaGrange College in 1998 and Candler School of Theology in 2001 and was ordained as an elder in the United Methodist Church in 2006.

Ministries

"Shiloh United Methodist Church is a church that holds tight to tradition, yet keeps an eye on a vision for the future," said Dye. "We work at finding ways to share the love of God and at making disciples for Jesus Christ through our traditional worship services, Sunday school, Bible studies, children and youth ministries, Young at Heart, Methodist men and Methodist women."

Members are involved with an outreach program to the needy called the Bowdon Area United Churches Ministry. Other mission projects cover the local community to the world, including: a free community fall festival; framing a house for Katrina victims; delivering flood buckets to Louisiana; traveling to Red Bird Missionary Conference in Kentucky; and upgrading retreat and camping facilities to be more appealing to the community.

The United Methodist Camp Wesley will be held at Shiloh during the month of July.

The traditional week of camp meeting, set for the last full week of June, will include a youth camp of about 70 children and teens as well as the church's Vacation Bible School program.

Thoughts from the pastor

"Shiloh seems to get her energy from the hearts of the people who attend here and their love and care for this place. There is a wonderful mixture of old-timers who have been here their entire lives, as well as those who are new to the scene. And the healthy tension that exists between the two keeps things moving in a way that I hope is pleasing to God. I think it is. We know where we have been, and it has been very good. God knows where we are going, and if we hold on tight, it will be a holy ride. I'm looking forward to it."

SHILOH UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

Address: 1874 Burwell Road, Carrollton

Phone: 770-258-2255

Services: 11 a.m., 6 p.m. Sundays; camp meeting last full week of June

Worship style: traditional, yet informal

Average Sunday attendance: 110

Minister: the Rev. Martha Dye

Denomination affiliation: United Methodist