Dr. C. William Nichols
Senior Minister Emeritus of Central
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1973-1979
C. William Nichols answered the call to Central Christian Church in January 1973. It had been a long, anxious wait for new leadership. The dedicated interim ministers had courageously held us in place with prayer, good preaching, and loving attention to our needs. However, the entire congregation needed new direction beyond our historical precedents. With his wife, Claudine, and daughter, Claudia, the Nichols family immediately set to work to gain the love and respect of Central members and the city of Decatur.
In the early fall of 1973, Rev. Nichols began a weekly radio broadcast entitled "Good News From Central." This program drew wide support throughout Central Illinois.
Just prior to the opening of the public schools of Decatur for the 1974-1975 school year, a gigantic explosion in the rail yards of a local industry damaged the nearby Brush College Elementary School. After searching for a suitable place to begin the school year, it was decided that Central Christian Church would be used to house Brush College School until repairs could be made. This was a very successful experiment in "church-school relations."
In April 1975, Rev. Nichols was awarded an honorary doctor of divinity degree from Phillips University, of which he was a graduate. In October 1976, he introduced the Lay Minister of the Week program. Twenty-three men were involved in the first training session. Charles Brown, Duane Barnard, Roy Schilling, Dallas Beyer, Charles Marquand, Larry Otis, Jim Seefeldt, Dr. Mort Crew, Lyle Campbell, Don Sauer, Jim Bryan, Don Lawson, Bruce Campbell, Harold Irwin, Jon French, George Chester, Ned Fristoe, Gene Martin, Frank Elston, Frank Kincaid, Forrest Roe, Fred Vanderlaan, and Al Johnson made up the initial training class.
After a period of instruction, under the leadership of Dr. Nichols, each of these men served one week as a "lay minister of the church," calling on the sick and shut-ins, counseling with prospective members, taking communion to hospitals, studying, worshiping, and serving in various areas of ministry. This program was very successful in developing spiritual leadership for Central Christian Church.
1980-1991
In January 1983, Central celebrated with a Blue Ribbon Sunday to honor the ministries of C. William and Claudine Nichols on their 10th anniversary at Central Christian Church. It seemed an appropriate way to express the great love this congregation had developed for this exciting ministry.
Central's general membership and commitment to
God's work grew steadily during the 70's and 80's. In March 1986,
the congregation approved a new building program that had been
in the planning stage for three years. The total cost of the
project was $1,875,000 for a new entrance to the church and the
addition of an educational wing to the main building. On March
8, 1987, the ground-breaking service was held with the first
spade of dirt being turned over by Matthew Withrow representing
the youth of the church. Matthew would use the same shoveling
tool used by his mother along with another group of youngsters
to turn the first dirt for the original building in the spring
of 1953.
The new building was dedicated on September 25, 1988, and the new education wing was called the Nichols Education Wing. Just prior to this date, a new organization for senior citizens began known as the Elderberries. This active group meets monthly for lunch and discussions of topics related to seniors.
Call to National Disciples Leadership Service
In
October 1991, the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) met
in Tulsa, Oklahoma, for its General Assembly amid much controversy
and agonizing over a particular candidate who had been nominated
for the office of general minister and president. After a long
and arduous campaign in which the candidate openly submitted
to a doctrinal inquest, the candidate was not elected with a
sufficient majority to serve the office for which he had been
nominated. It became necessary to find a leader who could fill
a two-year term as interim general minister and president. Because
of his wide reputation as a Christian leader, preacher, counselor,
and healer, the assembly asked C. William Nichols to accept this
major appointment. After hours of prayer and consultation with
his family, Bill accepted. This decision would have major consequences
for Central Christian Church.
After 19 years, Bill Nichols announced his resignation on November 3, 1991. New duties began immediately after the Tulsa Assembly, however, Bill returned for his final sermon to us on December 29, 1991. A special farewell program was delivered to the Nichols family amid many tears of sorrow at their leaving after such an exciting and fruitful ministry with us. Tears of gladness were also shed knowing that we now shared with all of North America and Canada the love and commitment of two wonderful disciples of Christ.
In 1996 Bill Nichols returned to live in Decatur. In retirement, he has been honored with the title of Senior Minister Emeritus at Central Christian Church.
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