Sunday Praise & Worship 10:00
Christian Education - 10:00 - Casual Dress - Loving Childcare

The Peninsula-Delaware United Methodist Conference chartered Skyline Church on September 25, 1966 to meet the spiritual needs of people in the Pike Creek Valley. Over sixty charter members had been meeting for worship in the basement of a model home in the Hills of Skyline since June, 1966. The Pastor appointed to organize the church, Ron Bergman, preached about "building a church before we build a building."

Welcoming so many people moving into the area from different places, Skyline Church has indeed become a family of Christians growing together in our faith, regardless of where we met for worship.

We quickly moved from a basement to Skyline Junior High School. Every summer, since the early 1970's, the church has worshiped God under a grove of trees on the church property. In March, 1976, the congregation met for worship in its first church building, having completed much of the interior work with volunteer labor.

The Skyline Church community encourages every member to exercise the gifts God has given them to love and serve the world in Christ’s name. We serve in the Wilmington area through the Methodist Action Program, involvement in CROP/Church World Service, Meals on Wheels, Habitat for Humanity, Friendship House, Limestone Presbyterian Food Closet, and other outreach programs. Christian education for all ages, including an annual Church Family Retreat at Camp Pecometh (since 1968), congregational outings and programs, dozens of short- and long-term small groups and a variety of musical groups have helped our congregation to grow and develop a real sense of supportive community.

In 1993, our church leaders articulated a vision God gave us for Skyline’s future: "Spirits on fire with contagious enthusiasm for Christ." In February 1995, the congregation adopted a streamlined leadership structure (ten Pathway Ministry areas) and rededicated ourselves to offer Christ to the 36,000 Pike Creek residents who are not part of any church community.

A few months later, on April 2, 1995, another gathering of Methodist Christians in the Pike Creek area held its first worship service in the Cokesbury Village Auditorium. Over a hundred people attended. They called themselves Hope. They dedicated themselves to reach out to spiritual seekers by offering contemporary, informal worship gatherings. Their pastor, Jim Hawkins, and many of their leaders came from Hockessin United Methodist Church.

Over the next two years, Hope Church grew into a caring faith community, always meeting in rented spaces and creating holy ground and a welcoming atmosphere wherever they gathered. When their pastor accepted an appointment to another church in May, 1997, the people of Hope Church saw the potential for a great match by merging with the Skyline congregation. Skyline leaders were eager to welcome the people of Hope Church and adopt many of their successful outreach strategies.

Our two congregations began worshiping God together in the Grove at Skyline on July 6, 1997. That same Sunday, our husband and wife pastor team, Vicki and Bo Gordy-Stith, joined the Skyline family as co-pastors. The spirit of contagious enthusiasm for Christ continues to sweep the Skyline community and beyond, opening the way to new opportunities for community and mission.

Our vision continues to fuel a season of growth unprecedented in Skyline’s 34 year history.  In January, 1998, Skyline began two regular Sunday worship services.  By the fall of 1998, the church began offering two Sunday School class sessions.  We launched a $1.6 million building campaign on Easter 2000 and look forward to completing new fellowship, worship, and education space by Christmas 2002.

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Last modified: 02/11/08