Regional Council of Churches of Atlanta

Oakhurst Baptist Centenniel

“By God We’re Still Here”

Oakhurst Baptist Church Celebrates 100 Years in Decatur

Oakhurst Baptist Church, a progressive and inclusive congregation, celebrates 100 years of ministry September 21-22, 2013. All are welcome to attend our centennial celebration and worship services.

Highlights of the celebration weekend include the following:

History displays and art show
Service opportunity
Storytelling and conversations
Saturday homecoming dinner
Performing arts evening
Sunday worship and reception following

The Oakhurst congregation took a controversial stand in 1967 to welcome African American members during a period of white flight. Afterwards, the 1,300-member congregation dropped to 500, and the church gave up plans for a new sanctuary, moving all of its activities from several new buildings back to its East Lake Drive location near today’s MARTA station. This decision allowed more resources to be used for missions than for construction. In 1972, Oakhurst ordained its first two women deacons, and in 1974, the church ordained a female, long-time educational director to the ministry, adding her to the pastoral staff. Several years later, Oakhurst again caught national attention when it offered the church property as bond for an ill, escaped Indiana inmate who had been living peacefully in Atlanta the prior 10 years.

By 1980, the neighborhood had declined. Houses surrounding the church were sold for $1 by the federal government to encourage home ownership. Through these years, the church resettled refugees, tutored children, gave refuge to the homeless, and advocated for peace, justice, literacy, and other causes.

But it was the decision to change its covenant to include anyone, regardless of sexual orientation, that moved the Georgia Baptist Convention to oust Oakhurst Baptist in 1999.

Oakhurst Baptist Church or its members have founded or been instrumental in local ministries such as Oakhurst Recovery Program; Decatur Emergency Assistance Ministry; Decatur Cooperative Ministry; Decatur’s sister city relationship with Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso; and Good Fellowship Club for Oakhurst neighborhood. National ministries have included Baptist Peace Fellowship, SEEDS (a magazine and education ministry about hunger), Baptists Today, and the Alliance of Baptists.

For more information on centennial events visit www.oakhurstbaptist.com or call 404-378-3677.

Centennial Celebration Schedule

Saturday, September 21

All day Saturday and Sunday

Art and church history displays in the Fellowship Hall

9:00 a.m. Mission service project

1:00-3:30 p.m. Storytelling and memory sharing, including folks who were involved in groups such as SEEDS, Hospitality House, Cuba Partnership Mission Group, Oakhurst Recovery Program, Baptist Peace Fellowship, Hess Drive Group Home, Cuban Detainee Support, and Baptists Today

4:00-6:00 p.m. Homecoming Dinner. Reservations only. Rs.v.p.here

7:00 p.m. Evening of performing arts, a special evening of performances, anchored by a short piece by home-grown playwright Lauren Gunderson

Sunday, September 22

9:30 a.m. Coffee and conversation in the Fellowship Hall

9:45 a.m. Church School classes meet—visitors welcome

11:00 a.m. Centennial worship service, with many former staff members recognized and participating

12:30 p.m. Reception in the Fellowship Hall

Share your memories and stories

Please gather, write, and contribute your Oakhurst Baptist Church memories and stories, for a sequel to Stories of Oakhurst. Send stories by email or postal mail to Oakhurst Baptist Church, (farmerdl@msn.com), Attn: Lynn Farmer, History Committee, 222 East Lake Drive, Decatur, GA 30030.

Oakhurst Baptist Church Centennial

Lynn Donham, Centennial Celebration Steering Committee Chair,

404-441-7297. Please contact Lynn for hi-resolution images if needed for print. Low-resolution images are included with this email.

Oakhurst Baptist Church

For more information see www.oakhurstbaptist.org

Melanie Vaughn-West, Pastor

Lanny Peters, Pastor

222 East Lake Drive
Decatur, GA 30030

Phone 404-378-3677

Fax 404-378-3225

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First Five Freedoms is proud to join Georgia Lawyers for the Rule of Law, The Temple, and All Saints Episcopal Church for "Faith, Law, & Democracy: A Community Conversation on the Public Good and the Rule of Law" on Tuesday June 2. We hope you will consider joining us for this important discussion. Americans across the political spectrum are grappling with a shared unease: the feeling that something foundational is slipping. Trust in institutions is eroding. The norms that once governed public life are contested. And the concept of the public good — the idea that we share a common stake in fair, just, and accountable governance — is increasingly hard to find in our public discourse. This program brings together faith leaders, legal experts, and engaged community members for an evening of honest conversation about what is at stake. Hosted at All Saints Episcopal Church and co-presented by The Temple, Georgia Lawyers for the Rule of Law (GLRL), and First Five Freedoms, the event weaves together spiritual reflection, legal analysis, and civic dialogue to address one central question: What does it mean to protect the rule of law — and why does it matter for all of us, right now? The evening will include reflection, analysis, and discussion designed to:

Connect faith, law, and civic responsibility in an accessible, nonpartisan framework
Examine current challenges to the rule of law and their implications for democracy
Create space for authentic dialogue across perspectives and institutions
Foster relationships and identify opportunities for collective action

Faith, Law & Democracy, Tuesday, June 2, 2026, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m., All Saints Episcopal Church, 634 W Peachtree St NW, Atlanta 30308. Featured speakers include: Rev. Natosha Reid Rice, Minister for Public Life, All Saints’ Episcopal Church; Rabbi Lydia Medwin, Associate Rabbi, The Temple; Jill Steinberg, former U.S. Attorney for Georgia’s Southern District; Al Pearson, former University of Georgia Law professor; Richard Griffiths, retired journalist, and president emeritus of the Georgia First Amendment Foundation. Registration for this event is free. Complimentary parking, food, and refreshments. REGISTER HERE