History
In 1957, the Diocese of Washington instituted a mission development program called "Let's Raise our Sites". The program's purpose was to address the need for new parishes in the growing suburbs of Washington. As part of that program, Rock Creek parish raised funds to purchase a site for a new mission in the Colesville section of Silver Spring and on November 22, 1959, the first service was held in the Colesville Recreation Center across the street from the present church.
Initially, there were eight families in the parish. Bishop William Creighton appointed D. Laurence Getman as Seminarian-in-charge and then Vicar of the new mission. Services were held in homes and the Recreation Center until a church building and hall were occupied in 1962.
Having made a commitment to the neighborhood in which it was planted, Transfiguration began early on to welcome African Americans—though not without controversy. It was also actively involved in the civil rights movement. In 1968, the mission achieved parish status and its first rector resigned to move to New England. Lloyd Clarke became the second rector in 1969 as the parish expanded and built a second unit called the Community Building with the hope that the surrounding community would make use of the facility. The title was important in that it signified the parish's commitment to the community in which it was located. That building has been home to an alternative school for over 25 years—a symbol of the parish's commitment to young people.
The controversies of the 70's led to the parish's decline during that decade and to the resignation of its second rector. A new rector, Richard Kukowski arrived in 1979. The parish renewed its commitment to both the full inclusion of children and to the possibility of truly integrated living. It has grown in numbers and diversity since that time, welcoming West Indians and Africans and, in recent years, people of Hispanic origin. It is slightly over half people of color and has maintained that ratio for a number of years.
In addition, Transfiguration has been a teaching parish affiliated with Virginia Theological Seminary since 1981. During that time it has welcomed black and female seminarians, helping to train them for future ministry within the church.
Realizing the need for further service to the community, Transfiguration expanded its facilities once more in 1992. In 1995, it became the object of a study on its diversity, the results of which were released in 1996. Hopefully, this study will further the parish's commitment to fight racism in all its forms and its commitment to diversity.
The parish has continued its commitment to diversity and seen in the adoption of its Vision Statement in 1997. (See the masthead of the parish newsletter, the "TranScript" for this statement.) In 1999, Transfiguration joined with a consortium of seven other parishes and received a grant to begin studying and raising up models for lay and ordained multi-cultural ministry. The parish is also a founding member of Action In Montgomery, a non-partisan political action group that seeks to better the lives of the residents of its community. Additional links on this topic:
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