Cumberland Presbyterian Center - A New Denominational Headquarters

A New Denominational Headquarters

At the meetings of their General Assemblies in 2005 and 2006, Cumberland Presbyterians voted to either build, purchase, or lease a new denominational headquarters. The decision was not without opposition. Factions within the denomination were divided over the deposition of the historic midtown Memphis structure that had served since 1951. Some Cumberland Presbyterians felt that the denomination would be better served by remodeling the existing structure. Arguments against renovation included the fear that asbestos employed in the original construction was a potential health risk to the occupants and that the structure was no longer in a desirable location. The majority of the denominational boards and agencies housed at the property were strongly in favor of renovation and that the Memphis firm Chandler Demolition Company, Inc., later hired by Chick-fil-A to demolish the building, did not consider the asbestos to be a health risk.

The General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church appointed a task force to raise funds for construction and to select a site for a new denominational headquarters. At the same time, the assembly affirmed their support for a centralized denominational staff. Although the process was more difficult than had been anticipated, on February 22, 2008, a site for the new Cumberland Presbyterian Center campus including two partially constructed buildings, a grassy area, and a portion of Rock Creek, was purchased near the intersection of Interstate 40 and Germantown Road in Memphis. Denominational offices were able to move to the new site at 8207 Traditional Place in September 2008.