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UCMI History
 In the fall of 1966, with the help of the
Florida Conference of the United Church of Christ, the Rev. Wesley U.
Riedel and six persons, including Wes and his wife, gathered in the parsonage for the first service of the
United Church of Marco Island. Not bad, considering there were only fifty homes on
the island. It has been said that Wes met moving vans at the bridge
inviting newcomers to join our church. Early meetings and services were
held mainly at the Marco Island Yacht Club. Finally by 1968 our church with 47 members was officially
chartered and incorporated. Throughout the history of the United Church
members of our congregation have contributed to
the life and development of Marco Island. In 1972 the church completed
their first church edifice at 320 Barfield Road. This building was
later expanded to form a fellowship hall-dining room and educational units in
1980.
After Rev. Riedel retired in 1975, the church called Dr. Richard Disseler as its
second pastor. Dr. Disseler served this church lovingly and faithfully for
twenty one years until his retirement in 1996 when he was made Pastor Emeritus.
In 1996 a new beautiful (500 seat) sanctuary was built.
The United Church stands in the “free church”
tradition where we value local autonomy. We accept the freedom and the
responsibility to order our own affairs, call our own ministers, control and
utilize our own resources as we feel our Lord would have us do. The
United Church is a member of the United Church of Christ (UCC) and the
National Association of Congregational Christian Churches (NACCC) which
encourages local churches to explore issues of social and theological concern.
 In 1997 the United Church called the Rev. Joy
A. Baumgartner as its senior minister. Under Pastor Baumgartner’s
leadership the United Church is called to provide opportunities for Christian
service, fellowship, learning and spiritual growth for all ages.
Over its short history, the United Church is committed to service.
It has its own pastoral care and there is a representative in the hospital
each day. It provides a meeting place and support to community service
agencies such as Alcoholic Anonymous, Al-anon, Parkinson’s support group and Life Problems Support
Group.
The Reverend Joy A. Baumgartner retired in
2007.
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