Who We Are
Our Mission:
To change the world by making disciples who bless others, belong in community, and believe in Jesus Christ.
Our Vision:
We are a Community-oriented Christian Church. We intentionally develop relationships with God and neighbor, one person at a time.
Our Values:
We are:
Externally focused
Boldly taking risks
Genuinely welcoming
Intentionally sharing our faith stories
Lovingly caring for one another
Our History
The roots of University City United Methodist Church are found in the loving, caring, God-first spirit that was transplanted here when the members of Belmont Park United Methodist Church decided in 1988 to relocate and start a new church in the community surrounding the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.
“When those people came here, they came very deliberately and very intentionally not to create a second Belmont Park. They came to create something very new and very different, where the playing field would be level for everyone.” They've unquestionably done that.”
--From the Narrative Church History by Charles Chandler
OUR Staff
Reverend Dr. H. Donnell FitzJefferies
Within the Western North Carolina Conference Donnell has served as pastor of Berry Temple and Wilson Chapel UMCs (Asheville, NC), Metropolitan UMC (Greensboro, NC), St. Mark UMC (Charlotte, NC), Brooks Temple and St. Stephen UMCs (Lexington, NC), and St. Matthews UMC (Greensboro, NC). Donnell has also served on Conference Staff as the Director of Nurturing and Ethnic Ministries.
In addition, he has served as the treasurer of the Western North Carolina Conference Board of Ordained Ministry, Chair of the Brotherhood/Sisterhood of the WNC Conference, a member of the Diaconal Board, Conference Committee on Religion and Race, Conference Worship Committee, and the Conference Mission Teams Committee. He taught church administration at Coker College in Hartsville SC. Donnell is a certified Spiritual Director and currently serves as a teacher in the School of Spiritual Direction at Hood Theological Seminary, and Chair of the Conference Justice and Reconciliation Team.
Donnell is a native North Carolinian, and his wife Kathy was raised in Pennsylvania. They have one son Jacob who lives in Pennsylvania. Donnell is a graduate of Boston University, Duke University Divinity School (M. Div.), and Hood Theological Seminary (D. Min). Kathy is a graduate of West Chester State College, and Boston University (MSW).
Phone: 704-369-8005
Email: DFitzJefferies@ucumc.org
Other Staff Members
Janice Cloninger
Director of Children and Family Ministries
Phone: 704-369-8023
Email: jcloninger@ucumc.org
Matt Guild
Director of Worship and the Arts
Office Phone: 704-369-8011
Cell Phone: 704-996-6507
Email: mguild@ucumc.org
Phyllis Vancleave
Accountant
Board Of Stewards
Consisting of 12 nominated volunteers, the Board of Stewards provides strategic leadership and is the governing body of UCUMC. Serving for three years, with one third new members each year, the BoS is organized in such a manner as to promote efficient and effective decision-making with appropriate checks and balances and levels of accountability and transparency.
Email: BoS@ucumc.org
Cynthia McCormick
Board of Stewards Chair
Mae Forbes
Board of Stewards Lay Leader
Kristen Fuchs
Board of Stewards Member
Michelle Abbott
Board of Stewards Member
Margie Broadway
Board of Stewards Member
Ed Hyland
Board of Stewards Member
Liz Rhines
Board of Stewards Member
Matt Summers
Board of Stewards Member
Ken Fritsch
Board of Stewards Member
James Crosby
Board of Stewards Member
Lynn Comstock
Board of Stewards Member
Richard Robertson
Board of Stewards Member
Our Campus
Our campus is located at 3835 West W.T. Harris Blvd in Charlotte. On the southeast corner of Sugar Creek and W.T. Harris. See the inset map below, or click here to find us in Google Maps.
The map to the right provides a basic orientation to our campus facilities. If you are unsure of where to go, start with the church office, located in the lower level of the Worship Center. We look forward to seeing you!
