Welcome

One hundred and thirty-five years ago (1888) under the leadership of the Reverend Henry Haynie, the Methodist Church of Smithville, Texas, was organized with seven charter members: Mr. and Mrs. J.C. Yerger, Mr. and Mrs. B.M. Kite and their two children, Eugene and Georgia, and Mrs. Dolly Burleson.

Services were held in the school until the first building was built, which was later torn down and replaced with a new brick building dedicated on March 30, 1912. Ten years later in January of 1922, that facility burned and worship was held in City Hall until it was rebuilt. Today worship continues to be celebrated in that sanctuary that stands at the corner of Fourth and Olive Streets, and the congregation has added several more buildings through which Christ is offered to the people of Smithville and beyond.

In 2011 this congregation merged with the three remaining members of Hart’s Chapel United Methodist Church, located at the corner of Prima Street and MLK Drive. With this merger FUMC had a prime location from which various forms of ministry was offered to persons living on the Southside of the City and beyond.

In 2017 FUMC made the decision to donate the Hart’s Chapel property to the Smithville Community Clinic which was in need of additional space. Today Hart’s Chapel is used primarily to meet the behavioral health needs of uninsured persons throughout Bastrop County.

By 2017 the Rev. Dr. Karen Boehk had served FUMC as Senior Pastor for 14 years. During those years Pastor Karen served with three Associate Pastors: Rev. Elizabeth Wright, Rev. Wilson Pruitt and Rev. J.D. Herrera. However, in that same year Rev. Boehk was asked to assume a new appointment - Assistant to the District Superintendent of the Coastal Bend District (Corpus Christi area) on a part-time basis.

The Rev. Cindy Layton followed Rev. Boehk as Pastor, but decided to retire in June of 2022. With her retirement, Rev. Boehk was reappointed to FUMC on a part-time basis as she also continues her appointment with the Coastal Bend District.

“I am excited to be serving Christ once again among the people of Smithville FUMC and the greater community of Smithville. God has, and continues to do amazing things in our midst as we work together for the good of all,” states Pastor Karen.

Let Us Know you are Here

We’re glad that you’re here! By scanning the QR code, you can Connect with Us, Meet our Family see Accouchements and much more!

For more regular updates, like us on Facebook.

Giving

Support the work of SFUMC in the heart of the community

Scan the QR code to make a donation

Smithville First United Methodist Church is dependent on the generosity of those who give their time, money, and energy to make the work possible, to maintain our building and reach out to the wider community with the love of God.

If you would like to give financially to support SFUMC’s mission and ministry, your kindness would be gratefully appreciated.