PEOPLEs church of flint has a
long and rich history.

In the 1960s, First Baptist Church (c 1853) began doing business as Woodside Church, a reflection of the times, its mission and sensibilities, and its new location on East Court Street — next to several acres of woods.

In 2014, Woodside called Pastor Deb Conrad and began a years-long process of redefining its mission, clarifying its community presence, and coming to terms with the changing realities of both Woodside and of Flint. In 2018, Woodside left East Court Street and, after a hiatus in Central Park, landed in Carriage Town just 2 blocks from where it first built in 1872.

The move away from the woods was a metaphor of sorts for its move away from the bucolic, pastoral “suburban” life. With its new mission tagline, “Joyfully Defiant for the Sake of a Just World,” the congregation leadership began another conversation about whether a new name might better suit this congregation as it emerged prepared for ministry in the 21st century.

The Statement of Faith, the newly drawn Garland Declaration, and the new location all seemed to point to a congregation committed to the well-being of people — not simply individual people who crossed its path (although there is that), but a world of people drowning in the excesses of capitalism and dying from lack of the things that hold life together. The congregation, following the lead of Jesus, of Isaiah, of scripture, had put the Common Good at the center of its life.

“Peoples” has a long history of pursuing justice for oppressed and marginalized folks. Examples came to mind: The Peoples Law Office in Chicago that defended the Black Panthers; Peoples Grocery in Memphis, where Ida B Wells witnessed racist hatred and began her journalistic crusade against lynching; Peoples Clinic in Austin, where so many sought free health care in an unaffordable economy; The Peoples Water Board in Detroit, which has been fighting for years for safe and accessible water, protecting people from the ravages of corporate indifference.

So this new name, Peoples Church of Flint, then, is first a reflection of a long history of this congregation caring for people, standing for justice, working for well-being; and second a restatement of our commitment to what is right — the vision of God of a world that works for all.

Welcome to Peoples Church.

our "flag of humanity"

As you enter the worship space, you can see the Flag of Humanity, a home-grown Peoples Church of Flint symbol of what we believe – that we are in the world to make it a better place. The flag has been our calling card at any number of protests, from Selma to Standing Rock, from Washington DC to Vassar, Michigan. We’ve rallied for immigrant children, for marriage equality, for an end to race-based injustice, for fair housing, for healthcare, safe and affordable water, income equality, for civil rights issues wherever they are. And they never seem to end.

We do all this because we believe the church is supposed to be about something bigger than itself. We have events like our book groups, the "Let Those With Ears" preaching series, featuring preachers of color, and our not-really-annual fall community festival to spark conversation, but we also gather for worship every week, learning to connect the dots of faith and citizenship, of personal and public belief, of the reign of God on earth and in heaven. We invite people to consider questions of faith: who is God, what does Jesus have to do with us, what does it mean to believe in something – in anything?

Besides all that, we like each other for the most part. We don’t just carry the Flag of Humanity around; we also try to show up when a fellow worshipper is in need of care, and we do what we can to help with more tangible needs in the greater community. As part of our worship each week, the Flag of Humanity is one more reminder of the cause of God: tikkun olam, world repair. 

“Our” Mural

The mural overlooking our back parking lot isn’t actually ours; the building belongs to the Flint Downtown Development Authority; the work was commissioned by the Flint Public Art Project. Still, we love the view and share the hope that it represents, and we are thankful to the FPAP for conversation and collaboration. The artist, Ivan Roque of Miami, describes his vision this way:

The work symbolizes the transition of a troubled society to a place of prosperity and peace.

The black rose symbolized the death of the old ways that led the city astray.

The fireflies are a symbol of the hope that dwindles in the darkness as we transition.

The cat is the Canada Lynx, a threatened species in Michigan, a symbol of seeing into the future and paying attention to what’s going on around you, as greatness is awaiting those who can visualize it.

The scarlet pimpernel symbolizes change through those who become active and are heroes within their home to bring about the change.

The daffodil is the triumphant defeat of everything that was destroying its environment and an homage to the future that awaits. The butterflies represent the freedom of those who have suffered for so long and can now enjoy the fruits of their labor for generations to come.

We think that sounds a lot like Isaiah and the vision of God that drives us. Thanks, Ivan and FPAP!