St. Paul’s is dedicated to carrying on God’s mission by being a visible and vital leader in the greater Flint community. We are diverse - a healthy mix of ages, races, cultures and backgrounds sharing the love of Christ through worship that is traditionally Episcopalian, yet alive for all generations. We honor the wisdom of senior members, develop and deploy the leadership of adults and embrace the energies of youth. We strive to share God's love by serving our members and the greater community, to enrich lives and minister to those who need our compassion.
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St. Paul’s Episcopal Church has a 138 year-old Gothic style building with two adjoining paved parking lots. The worship space, with seating for 300 worshipers, is a traditional cathedral style with a high altar, two adjacent chapels, and beautiful and historic stained glass windows. A balcony large enough to accommodate a choir and instrumentalists is at the rear of the nave. The church is air-conditioned in the summer making it a comfortable place for worship. |
The main instrument for worship is the Alice B Johnson, Dalton Memorial Organ. Its brilliantly fashioned pipes are prominently displayed on the south and west walls of the nave and the north wall of the chancel. A “trompette en chamade” is located above the balcony.
| An ambulatory connects the church with a large formal parlor. The Rector’s office and sacristy are adjacent to the parlor. Adjoining the parlor is Barth Hall, a large dining room served by a commercial styled kitchen. Sunday “Fellowship” hour is held in Barth Hall as well as our Friday Lunch Program. Barth Hall along with parking in two adjoining parking lots and on surrounding streets enables us to use our building for concerts, civic events and other non-liturgical purposes. | 
BARTH HALL |
The second floor above the parlor and administrative offices contains the children’s chapel, nursery, eight classrooms and additional office space. The basement houses the Columbarium, meeting space, a bridal room, choir practice and vesting rooms and offices for the Music Director and Facility Manager.
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The building is in excellent condition, after undergoing a significant restoration following a successful $1.6 million capital campign during the late 1990s. The congregation and staff pride themselves in having maintained the historical integrity of the building and grounds, and we are pleased to share our church with visitors and residents of Flint. St. Paul's does not own a rectory. |
The current full time parish staff consists of a Priest-in-Charge, a non-compensated Deacon, Bookkeeper, Secretary, Facility Manager, Head Custodian and a Music Director. There are four casual-time positions in the Music Department and one casual-time custodian. There are at least a couple of imminent retirements in the near future which will allow the parish to re-examine staffing to ‘right size’ it to current parish needs.
The vestry is made up of 9 persons elected by the congregation to terms of three years. Vestry members select the wardens and committee elders. Terms over-lap so that one third of the vestry is newly elected each year. Members may be re-elected, so that they serve two, full, consecutive terms.
| Martin S. Field | 2003 - 2011 |
| Loren B. McClanahan | 1989 – 2000 |
| Peter A. Jacobsen | 1980 – 1987 |
| Michael Schulenburg | 1970 - 1980 |
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church is proud of the high standards it maintains for liturgy, worship and music. Well planned and executed liturgies are a hallmark of our church. The Rector and Director of Music meet weekly to plan upcoming liturgies and supporting music. St. Paul's Liturgy and Worship Committee also provides additional guidance. The 1979 Book of Common Prayer (BCP), 1982 Hymnal and Lift Every Voice, with supplements are used for all Sunday liturgies.
We are primarily a Eucharistic based congregation. Occasionally, the Order for Morning Prayer is used followed by the Eucharist. Sunday worship is scheduled at 8:00 (Rite I) and 10:00 AM (Rite II with music). Eucharist is also offered on Wednesdays at 12:10 PM. Additional services are scheduled for special feasts and certain national holidays.
St. Paul’s liturgical music program is one of the finest examples of English Cathedral Style music in the Diocese of Eastern Michigan. The organ provides the support for our Chancel, Gospel, and Bell Choirs. Each choir provides service music and anthems at least once monthly. In addition to worship, the Music at St. Paul’s Concert Series provides an important contribution to the cultural life of Flint and Southeastern Michigan.
Much activity occurs around the committees chaired by members of the Vestry and other parish leaders:
| Stewardship and Administration | Buildings and Grounds |
| Service and Outreach | Liturgy and Worship |
| Altar Guild | Christian Formation |
| Absalom Jones/Diversity | Pastoral Care |
| Hospitality | Finance |
| Publications and Information Sharing | Evangelism and Newcomers |
St. Paul’s is proud to be a part of Flint Area Congregations Together (FACT), a confederation of Flint area churches whose goal is to advance systemic change in housing, education, health care, public safety and employment in Flint and Genesee County.
| A committed group of church and community volunteers host St. Paul's Friday Lunch Ministry in Barth Hall. Free hot meals are served to Flint's homeless and needy every Friday at noon. | 
FRIDAY LUNCH MINISTRY |
The Greater Flints Arts Council sponsors the Flint Art Walk and St. Paul's hosts the art or crafts of a different local artist on the second Friday of each month. Parish volunteers serve refreshments, greet guests and conduct tours of our own magnificent stained glass windows. Hosting upwards of 900 people in a single evening provides St. Paul's excellent opportunities to invite visitors to worship with us or attend one of our education or music programs.
Events at St. Paul’s that center around the sharing of cultures include the Absalom Jones Celebration and a harvest celebration.
OUTREACH MINISTRY WHITE ELEPHANT SALE |
Members of St. Paul’s are also active volunteers with St. Andrew’s Soup Kitchen, Love In the Name of Christ, Food Bank of Eastern Michigan, My Brother's Keeper and various activities at Christ Enrichment Center. |
St. Paul's was a founding member and continues to provide support for Crossover Downtown Outreach Ministries. The Whaley Children’s Center, originally founded and supported through St. Paul’s, is now an independent entity with St. Paul's remaining the trustee of its original endownment fund.
Ordinary people doing extra ordinary things in God’s name fill pews once occupied by Charles Stewart Mott and other early members of General Motor's Board of Directors.
The total Active Baptized members reported in the Parochial Report of December 31, 2010 is 316. The number of communicants in good standing is 221. Our average Sunday attendance is 106. In 2010, there were 4 Baptisms and 3 marriages.
Although we are a diverse congregation, our demographics do not match the City of Flint's 56% African-American, 36% Caucasian, 4% Hispanic and 4% other minorities. Many of our members drive in from surburban Genesee, Livingston, and Oakland counties and several pass more than one Episcopal church on their way to worship at St. Paul's. Because of our surburban members dedication to St, Paul's and urban ministry, our congregation more closely matches Genesee County demographics of 73% Caucasian, 21% African-American, 3% Hispanic and 3% other minorities.
The average age of St. Paul’s congregation is 49 years old. The average age of adults over 21 is 61 years old. The last unfortunate statistic relates to the age of the majority of our worshipers. There were 11 burials in 2010.
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church is located in downtown Flint at 711 South Saginaw Street. Flint is the county seat and largest city in Genesee County. The city's population of nearly 102,500 is approximately 56% African-American, 36% Caucasian, 4% Hispanic and 4% other minorities.
BISHOP INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT |
Situated near the major crossroads of I-75 and I-69, Flint has become an important transportation hub. Nearby Bishop International Airport is home to five major airlines providing 27 daily flights to various cities. Flint also enjoys AMTRAK rail connections to Chicago and Toronto. |
| Flint was established in 1817 during Michigan’s logging and lumbering boom at an important river crossing on the Pontiac Trail. In the late nineteenth century, the city became linked to the transportation business. Local factories turned out road carts, wagons, and private carriages by the thousands. William Durant, owner of the Durant–Dort Carriage Company, joined forces with David Dunbar Buick and switched to horseless carriages. In 1908, Flint became the home of Durant's newly formed General Motors Corporation. For more than 100 years, Flint’s rise was directly linked to General Motors (GM) business success. The city and the corporation grew and prospered together. A dynamic central city was built, complete with skyscrapers, major shopping and banking offices. Neighborhoods of modest working-class homes were built around the central city and for a while, Flint boasted more millionaires per capita than any city in the mid-west. | 
DURANT-DORT CARRIAGE FACTORY |
About 30 years ago, GM began decreasing it's presence in Flint. Local GM employment fell from a high of 80,000 in 1978 to about 8,000 today. The loss of so many high paying jobs and shrinking tax base took its toll on many neighborhoods and as the population dropped, city and school budgets declined. Added challenges are high unemployment (13.7% in 2010), a crime rate higher than the national average, high poverty and low high school graduation rates.
WNEM TV STUDIO |
On the bright side, downtown Flint is undergoing a significant revitalization, bringing new commerce, residents and opportunities to this historic area. Buildings have been restored to their original beauty and converted into multi-use facilities that house modern loft apartments, restaurants, office buildings, and even a television station. |
| The Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, Ruth Mott Foundation and Community Foundation of Greater Flint, well known for their philanthropic work, call Flint home. | 
C.S. MOTT FOUNDATION HEADQUARTERS |
FLINT INSTITUTE OF ARTS |
Flint’s Cultural Center is located in a park setting a short distance from the city center. Its centerpiece is the Flint Institute of Music, home of the Flint Symphony Orchestra, Festival Chorus, School of Performing Arts and Youth Theater. Performance center for the Symphony, the 2043 seat Whiting Auditorium also presents dazzling performances from classical music, theater and dance, Broadway shows and legendary entertainers. Also located in the Cultural Center is the Flint Institute of Arts, Longway Planetarium, main Public Library and the world famous Sloan Museum. |
| Crossroads Village and the Huckleberry Railroad, a re-creation of a mid-nineteenth century rural community, lies just beyond the city limits and is a major tourist attraction. The Flint Children's Museum, on the Kettering University Campus, gives parents and children another fun opportunity for hands-on-learning. | 
THE CHILDREN'S MUSEUM |
C.S. MOTT ENGINEERING AND SCIENCE CENTER AT KETTERING UNIVERSITY |
Flint is home to Kettering University, the University of Michigan–Flint, Baker College-Flint and Mott Community College. |
Universities that also have satellite campuses in Flint include Central Michigan, Cleary, Davenport, Eastern Michigan, Ferris State, ITT Technical Institute, Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, Northwood, Spring Arbor, and the University of Phoenix. Together, resident colleges, universities and satellite campuses offer higher education opportunities for more than 30,000 students.
| The University of Michigan-Flint Campus occupies a portion of the downtown area along the Flint River, and has recently added dormitories that facilitate current record enrollment and over 200 international students. | 
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN PAVILION |
Three major hospital systems provide state-of-the-art health care services to Genesee County. The medical community is now the largest employer in the area and continues to expand! Hurley Medical Center and McLaren Regional Medical Center are located in Flint.
GENESYS REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER |
Genesys Regional Medical Center is located just outside the city. |
Flint schools consistently turn out outstanding student athletes. Mark Ingram, the 2009 Heisman Trophy winner, hails from Flint. The Perani Arena and Event Center hosts the Michigan Warriors, our local professional hockey team, and many other events.
ELITE RUNNERS STARTING THE CRIM 10 MILE |
Every August thousands of runners converge on Flint to compete in the internationally famous Crim 10 Mile and Festival of Races named for Flint native Bobby Crim. |
| Our automotive heritage is celebrated in June at the Sloan Auto Fair, a competitive event for vehicle restorers, and in August the Back to the Bricks Cruise and Bikes on the Bricks Weekend showcase vintage cars and motor cycles. | 
BACK TO THE BRICKS |
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church has been a part of Flint’s history for 172 years. It is one of several large churches that form the nucleus of Christian worship in the downtown area. St. Christopher’s of Grand Blanc, Trinity of Flushing, St. Andrew’s of Flint and St. Bartholomew's of Swartz Creek were once mission churches of St. Paul's.
CHRIST ENRICHMENT CENTER
Christ Enrichment Center (formerly Christ Episcopal Church) and St. Andrews Episcopal Church currently receive funds from St. Paul's to support their ministries and programs.
ST. ANDREW'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH
