Lee's Summit United Methodist ChurchOur Service Times: Saturday 5:30pm Contemporary, Sunday 8:00 and 11:00am Traditional, Sunday 9:15 and 10:40am Contemporary

Our History

Understanding and remembering how God got us where we are allows us to better understand our vision and encourages us to trust God with our future. For more than 85 years, LSUMC has served the Lee's Summit community from the current 2nd and Douglas location, and served this community for more than 140 years. 

1845 - Methodism came to this area with the arrival of settlers from Virginia and Kentucky. In 1847, a regular preaching appointment called Big Cedar was made with circuit riding pastors holding services in private homes

1865 - William B. Howard founded the city of Lee's Summit. He deeded the land used for building of the 4th Street Methodist Espiscopal Church (north) and St. Paul's Episcopal Church (south)

1867 - The Methodist Episcopal Church (north) was founded

1868 - The Methodist Episcopal Church was dedicated as The 4th Street M.E. Church

1871 - St. Paul's Methodist Church (south) was established

1901 - St. Paul's was rededicated with a large William B. Howard memorial window

1921 - The 4th Street M.E. Church moved to a new, larger location at 2nd & Douglas and became known as the First Methodist Church

1941 - St. Paul's M.E. Church united with the First M.E. Church at 2nd & Douglas as a result of the Methodist uniting conference, and was renamed the Methodist Church of Lee's Summit

1955 - First floor and basement of Education Building constructed

1965 - Second floor added to Education Building

1968 - Name changed to Lee's Summit United Methodist Church due to the union of the Evangelical United Brethren and the Methodist Church

1978 - This was a significant year in the history of our church. A third worship service was added to accommodate growing membership; a children's ministries weekday program began; and the congregation affirmed their connection to the downtown area by voting to build a new sanctuary

1982 - First service held in new sanctuary by Pastor Lee Soxman, Jr.

1999 - Consecration Service and Cornerstone Ceremony held for newly built Center Building, part of an expansion program which included enlarging the narthex, chapel, offices, parking and playground

2002 - Rev. Jim Preisig became senior pastor

2004 - Church attendance increased 48% within two years; United In Vision Capital Campaign developed to pay off debt and search for land to replace exisiting site 

2006 - Congregation approved by 81% to purchase 42+ acres at the corner of View High & Chipman

2007 - LSUMC purchased 42+ acres for eventual relocation; Imagine capital campaign began