Grace United Methodist Church

Specialties

We are a community church with open hearts, open minds and open doors located in the Travis Heights neighborhood of Austin.

Our Vision:

Grace United Methodist Church invites ALL, welcomes ALL, and includes ALL in the Faith, Hope, and Love of God through Jesus Christ.

Welcoming Statement:

Affirming our belief that ALL people are of sacred worth, we seek to include ALL people, regardless of race, nationality, age, mental ability, physical ability, sexual orientation, gender identity and family status in the journey of becoming disciples of Jesus Christ.

Reconciling Ministries Network:

On November 6, 2011, Grace Grace United Methodist Church voted to affiliate with Reconciling Ministries Network. RMN mobilizes United Methodists of all sexual orientations and gender identities to transform our Church and world into the full expression of Christ’s inclusive love.

History

Established in 1897.

In the late summer of 1897, a «brush arbor» revival was held near West Monroe and S. First Street. South Austin Methodist Episcopal Church was born as a result and the congregation built its first church building on West Johanna near Wilson Street, with volunteer labor. The cornerstone from that site, date October 14, 1897 was incorporated into the present site in 1914, along with some building materials from the first church. Its name was changed to Fred Allen Memorial Methodist Church. On October 8, 1939, the name changed again to Grace Methodist Church. When the Methodist Church and Evangelical United Brethren Church joined together in 1968, it became Grace United Methodist Church. In recent years, the church has taken steps to become more inclusive (as reflected in our Mission Statement), increasingly involved in outreach ministries, and is continuing to be sensitive to the needs of the community. Grace has become known as «an old church with new ideas».

Meet the Manager

Linda K.

Manager

Reverend Linda Kessie was born in the state of New Hampshire, raised in Connecticut, and came to Texas in 1979. In her first career, she was a Medical Assistant in an ophthalmology practice. In Texas, her career was staying home with the children and volunteering at the church — Wimberly United Methodist Church. Soon, she was part-​time church secretary, which later evolved into secretary at Dripping Springs UMC, then at First UMC, Austin. Then, God finally got her attention; she finished up her undergraduate degree at St. Edward’s University and began attending Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary in 1996.

The Kessie family has two ministers in the household. Linda’s husband is The Reverend John Paul Kessie, a clergyperson of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, who serves Oak Grove Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Andice. They live in Georgetown and have four daughters and five grandchildren. Linda enjoys horseback riding and has a horse named Spit.