Rev. Dr. Michael R. Bean  was appointed to St. Paul in October 1989.  Under Rev. Bean's administration  a complete renovation of the Church (Phase I), including the undercroft, was completed.  It began in October 1991 and was completed in the spring of 1992. 

During this renovation period, the St. Paul Church Family worshiped at the Congregation Tifereth Israel Synagogue on East Broad Street.  Steward Margaret Armstrong, an employee there, requested the use of their facility on Sundays from 8 ‑ 9 a.m.  The original Austin Pipe Organ built in 1921 was rebuilt and enlarged at a cost of almost $100,000 and two new church buses were also purchased.

Since the Phase I, a handicap ramp, new folding doors for the overflow rooms, renovation of the Church Annex facility, procurement of a state of the art sound system and synthesizer, and several improvement projects were completed in 1996.

Class Leaders                                                  The Class Leader Program came to fruition on Sunday, March 1, 1998 when Bishop Henry Allen Belin preached for the installation service of the class leaders.  All 43 leaders sat together during that worship service and were recognized by the Pastor.  Steward Archie Lewis with her committee of Lavon Banks, James Culp and Dr. Evelyn Luckey worked diligently for several months to coordinate and train leaders.

 Know Your Church Institute

This new members training program was developed by the Lay Organization under the Presidency of Kim Dorsey.  She, Archie Lewis, coordinator, and Dr. Patricia Hicks, Program Activities Director, put together such an organized program that Presiding Elder Thomas E. Liggins requested a copy of their plan for other churches.

Youth Programs

Rev Bean has had the foresight to encourage a new youth learning program call Future Scientists and Mathematicians founded by Dr. Evelyn Luckey which was so successful that it outgrew the St. Paul Annex facility and had to be moved to an elementary school.

Other youth programs which he supported are the Summer Enrichment and Proficiency Testing Tutorial Programs founded by Nancy Winfrey Thomas (sponsored by the YPD), the youth choirs, Voices of Praise, (Kenny Banks the first Director) with Kelly Brown, director and David Farmer accompanist, the Angelic Choir, Debra Payne director; the Junior Usher Board, Merzell McGhee director with Becky Holliman assisting; Allen Christian Endeavor, Larry Clark, long-time director and Tracy Cross, Assistant and the YPD (Young People's Division) Pam Bolte, Director.  

Next Page