Golden Colorado's First United Methodist Church

First UMC: Loving Christians- Growing in Spirit, Acting in Faith!

REV. EUGENE D. WORTH
PASTOR AT GOLDEN FIRST UMC, 1969 - 1979.

Golden First UMC Home
History Home | Pastors and Ministers Home | Senior Pastors

Early Years | Early Ministries | Golden Ministries | Other Ministries
Retirement | Bibliography

Early Years...

Eugene Dwight Worth was born in 1921 in Claremore, Oklahoma. ¹ Gene says of Claremore

"It's a place made famous by me and someone with the last name of Rogers!" ¹

That is, of course, Will Rogers!

Gene's grandfather, Rev. Howard Thomison, was the Methodist minister in Claremore. Gene was born in the parsonage. ¹ Gene's grandparents

"...took me over to the church soon afterward and dedicated me to service in God`s name." ¹

Rev. Eugene D. Worth

Rev. Worth says this about his call to ministry,

"My own personal understanding and experience of call into the ministry came about as I attended summer camps in Wyoming and especially in my relationship to the First Methodist Church in Cheyenne. ¹

Gene's father was in the United States Army stationed at Fort D.A. Russell, which later became Fort Francis E. Warren. Gene graduated from Cheyenne High School in 1939. He then attended the University of Denver, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in 1943.¹

It was at the University of Denver's Mary Reed Library that Gene met Marjorie L. Stegman in 1942. Both worked there as student assistants. Gene and Marjorie married in June, 1944. Marjorie graduated from D.U. with a degree in librarianship in 1946. Gene graduated from the Iliff School of Theology with a Masters Degree in Theology that same year.¹ The timing was perfect for the Worth's were about to undergo a new kind of education:

"We received our ma and pa degrees in parenthood that August when our first child Susan was born." ¹


Early Ministries...		Rev. Worth began his ministry as a student minister with an exhorter's license at Jefferson Avenue Methodist Church in Wheat Ridge, Colorado, on January 17, 1941.¹

Gene's next student appointment was as pastor to the Barnum Methodist Church in west Denver. Barnum is now Bethany United Methodist.

Dr. Walter Williams, a professor at Iliff and pastor at Simpson Methodist Church in Denver, asked Gene to be his assistant in June, 1945.¹

"I was also the choir director. When the President of the Iliff School of Theology died mid-year, Dr. Williams became Interim President, leaving me with full duties at Simpson. In June, at the annual conference, I was ordained Elder and became a full member of the annual conference. I was appointed to my first full-time pastorate at Holly, Colorado." ¹

Holly is a small plains community located just inside the Colorado state line along the Arkansas River.

"It is interesting that the Romer family were very active. Roy, later Colorado's governor, sang solos for weddings and funerals and worship services when in town from his student days at CSU in Fort Collins." ¹

The appointment to Holly was a learning experience for Rev. Worth.

"I learned the difference between wheat, broom corn, etc. One year I worked in the wheat harvest and a bunch of farmers and ranchers took up a collection and bought us 2/3rds of a new car. It was the only truly new car I ever had!
I called on families in sod houses, country farms and ranches and homes in town. We built an addition to the church for fellowship, educational and community activities. It was finished by members and friends completely without debt." ¹

It was at this time that the Worth's second child, Ted, was born in Lamar, Colorado. That was February, 1948.

The Worth's moved to Salida in 1951. Rev. Gene would serve the Salida Methodist Church for the next five years.

Two sons, Richard and Kent, were added to the Worth family during Gene's Salida pastorate. Gene says of this time

"Salida`s Chamber of Commerce reminded anyone and everyone that it was 'The Heart of the Rockies.' The first year there I joined two other ministers and we called ourselves an Alliance. Each year we participated in the parades during the Whitewater Races on the Arkansas River and assisted those who came into the community in need." ¹

Rev. Worth became the first full-time associate pastor at First Church of Colorado Springs in June, 1956.

The Bishop and the Pastor

"One of our bishops once told me that if I was going to climb the ladder of success I`d better accept the appointment he and the cabinet had offered me. I told him that I probably defined success differently than some, because I was already successful, I was with a congregation that wanted and needed me!
At conference that year he introduced me to do the daily "nod to God" as the young preacher who said 'no' to the bishop and made it stick! I was always able to make the most even of the worst decisions the cabinet or I made. It's been a good run..."

Continue with this story here [click].

At First Church, Gene was responsible for singles, career, servicemen, college students and working persons, as well as calling on all new members and others as needed. Gene was also asked to take responsibility for the church school, arranging for teachers, officers, etc.¹ Gene says of this,

"The experience was unique, as this church was the largest in the Western Jurisdiction at that time. My army brat upbringing helped with the work with soldiers from Fort Carson Army Base as well as personnel from Ent Air Force Base and Peterson Field." ¹

Pueblo's Bethel Methodist Church was the next appointment for Gene in June of 1959. Bethel had built a new church school and Rev. Worth was able to bring his recent church school knowledge and organizational skills to the situation. During Gene's tenure, Bethel was able to pay off the debt on the new addition.¹ Gene says of the church,

"Bethel was a good family oriented neighborhood church. We fostered many family, youth, scout, and fellowship activities." ¹

While at Bethel, Rev. Worth was asked by the God and Country Committee of the Colorado Council of Churches to head its main committee. He was later honored by the Boy Scout District as a recipient of the Silver Beaver Award.

In June, 1964, Rev. Worth was appointed to Grace Methodist Church in Denver. This was Gene's shortest tenure.

"It was a rough year and I went to Montrose Methodist in 1965. We enjoyed the western slope very much." ¹

Rev. Worth would serve at Montrose for 4 years from 1965 through 1969.

Golden Ministries...

Rev. Eugene Worth would serve 10 years at Golden First UMC. Rev. Gene's service is the longest tenure of any pastor in the 144 years of Golden Methodism! He has told friends that

"...I was the longest-time pastor in the longest-time church in Colorado Methodism!"

Gene has also often referred to himself as

"...the short-winded preacher from Wyoming!"¹

Rev. Eugene Worth in his Golden First UMC office

Above: Rev. Eugene Worth (1976).

As with any new appointment, Rev. Worth was forced to 'hit the ground running' in his initial days in Golden. Gene noted the following:

"According to my "Daily Suggester", a Cokesbury daily calendar for Methodist ministers, my family and I arrived in Golden on June 25, 1969, and began the process of moving into the new parsonage at 2707 Lookout View Drive. My first Sunday worship service was June 29th.
Monday, the 30th, I conducted my first funeral service. On Thursday another funeral and in the evening two wedding counseling appointments, then a wedding on July 5th.
It is interesting to see the many weddings, membership calling, hospital visits, funerals, committee meetings, district and conference meetings, workshops, continuing education events counseling sessions, community events that fill these little "Daily Suggester" mornings, afternoons and evenings! This little daybook ruled my life and now speaks of the busy and industrious nature of a great church/people/community." ¹

Less than one month after Rev. Gene Worth arrived in Golden the church celebrated Heritage Sunday. July 20, 1969, marked the 110th Anniversary of Methodism in Golden, Colorado!

Rev. Gene commented about ministries of the church to which he'd been appointed:

"Golden First UMC had great music programs, musicians, choirs and missions programs. The youth work was outstanding. Scouting was well managed and various young adult and seniors programs were constantly growing and serving our church and community.
I appreciated the great help which our secretarial staff, church officers, student assistants and volunteers provided during my ten year pastorate.
During each year, I took 35mm slides of people involved in the many programs and activities at church and in the community. At the celebration of each church year when the church conferences were held, the slides made up the bulk of my pastoral report. As slides were shown, they were given to whoever wanted them. I have only a few that were not claimed." ¹

It was while the Worth's were in Golden that their four children proceeded to leave: by marriage, to the army and navy, and one to Wyoming in pursuit of career in radio and electronics. ¹

"Several events stand out as I went over my daily notes:

In June of 1974, First UMC, Golden, hosted the Rocky Mountain Conference in its annual meeting.

March 8-17, of the same year, I led a Methodist Heritage tour to England.

May7-22, 1976, Margie and I went to Hawaii on our dream
honeymoon." ¹

During the Worth's time in Golden, Margie worked in the Tresize Library and Margie and Gene helped form a book discussion group.

Rev. Worth also shared this interesting story:

"Dr. Paul Bartunek, CSM professor, accompanied me once to Estes Park for a clergy retreat which featured talks and discussions with Iliff professors, our bishop, and several district superintendents, etc. He had become very interested in our church and anything spiritual and after a full day of inspiration at the retreat, said,
'I feel like a mosquito in a nudist camp!'
I think he expressed about what we all feel when our church community is at its best. Many new approaches to community service, youth activities, Christian education, missions, conference and district responsibilities that make up the work and fullness that we experienced, as we were all the First United Methodist Church of Golden." ¹

Rev. Gene Worth's appointment to Golden First UMC ended in June, 1979, just a few days short of the church's 120th anniversary.


Other Ministries...		Rev. Worth's next church was Evanston UMC near the University of Denver. Both Margie and Gene's families were nearby and the Worth's greatly enjoyed the two years they spent near the D.U. and Iliff campuses. ¹


Las Animas, in 1981, was the last church that Rev. Eugene Worth served before retiring in June, 1984. Through the years, Gene had also worked on a conference level in Missions, Youth Camps, on the Television Radio and Film Commission, on the formation of a new Credit Union, Conference Claimants, and on the Board of Ordained Ministry. ¹ Overall, Rev. Eugene Worth served three student appointments and nine full time appointments after being elected Elder and becoming a member of the Rocky Mountain Conference of the United Methodist Church. Gene pastored a total of 43 and 1/2 years. ¹


Retirement...		Margie and Gene moved to Fort Collins in June of 1984. While officially 'retired', Gene continued to preach. He filled in at Ault, Nunn, Willow Springs, Willard and other churches when pastors were sick or wanted Gene to preach. He noted that,
"I was greatly thrilled upon one occasion to preach for a Baptist minister friend. I even served communion!" ¹


		Rev. Gene's conference relationship was with First UMC in Fort Collins for eleven and one half years. Gene began teaching a newly formed adult Sunday school class shortly after moving. While in Ft. Collins, Gene worked as a volunteer on the Crisis Information Helpline, AARP, Office on Aging (as chairman for several years), helped charter the Foundation on Aging, helped in the Probation Office, and worked in the Transfort Program. Amateur Radio and the Military Affiliate Radio System (MARS) were among other groups Gene was involved with. ¹ Left: Gene's amatuer radio station setup.


Gene has been a radio operator since 1949 and has been affiliated with the Colorado/Wyoming MARS for over 50 years!
Margie and Gene were also active with the Friends of the Library and its book discussion group. Rev. Worth had been in on the ground level work that resulted in the creation of Frasier Meadows Manor, a United Methodist retirement home in Boulder, Colorado. It was only natural that in 1995 Margie and Gene would decide to sell their Ft. Collins home and move there. The Worth's have lived at Frasier Meadows Manor North since January, 1996. ¹ Gene says that the Manor life has been a true blessing with its services, activities, and challenges. Gene served as president of the resident council and they enjoy Green Room responsibilities, van trips, new and old friends, and again being close to their two older children in Erie and Littleton. Rev. Gene's conference affiliation is now with Boulder's Mountain View UMC. ¹		Above: Margie and Rev. Eugene Worth.


Bibliography
¹	Rev. Eugene D. Worth.
		Autobiographical materials provided to the Golden First United Methodist Church and its Historical Web Ministries. December, 2002.

Top
Golden First UMC Home
History Home | Pastors and Ministers Home | Senior Pastors

Golden, Colorado's First United Methodist Church
Last Revised: March 30, 2005.