By mid-April, 1954, the pressures of the building program and the pastoral demands of the two growing congregations within Community, added to the Wright View charge, led Mr. Morris Gustin and others to recommend to Bishop Werner that Rev. Imhausen be given sole responsibility for Community, and that another pastor be assigned to the Wright View charge. After some deliberation, Bishop Werner agreed to the separation to begin in 1955, with the understanding that Community Methodist would now be on its own and would require no further help from the Dayton District in paying the salary of its pastor or in the upkeep of its parsonage. Mr. Donald Kear, a member of Community Methodist and a licensed lay pastor, agreed to assume the pastoral duties of the Wright View (then renamed to St. Luke) church until it could support a conference-ordained pastor. Mr. Kear would serve three years at St. Luke.
Before the Religious Education building was completed in November, 1954, some members of the congregation began planning for the purchase of an organ for the sanctuary, Together with friends from Grace Methodist Church. a campaign was started to buy an organ in honor of Dr. and Mrs. Harry E. Palmer, both deceased, but very prominent in the early history of the mission at Springfield and Irving Streets and at Eastwood. The dedication of the lovely organ as a memorial to these two outstanding saints of the church was held on May 27, 1956, with Dr. Robert E. Weaver, District Superintendent, leading the dedication service.
In 1955. Morris Gustin, who had been a prominent member of the Eastwood Church since 1932 and had served as Chairperson of the Building Committee for the new church, became Lay Associate pastor of Community Methodist with responsibilities mainly in the department of visitation and evangelism. In spite of his very painful handicap, Morris was tireless in seeking out and encouraging prospects to become members of Community.
For a number of years Mr. Gustin had been a real estate salesman in the East Dayton area, but on his appointment as lay associate pastor, he now devoted full time as a "salesman for Christ and Community Methodist." For his outstanding achievements in evangelism in 1954, he was the subject of an article in Shepherd's Magazine.
As mentioned earlier, only one month after completion of the Religious Education building, growth in attendance had necessitated holding two sessions each for both worship and Church School each on Sunday mornings. Even so, overcrowding resulted. In fact, some classes were meeting in entrances and exit ways, contributing to a serious safety hazard. Some worshipers who normally attended the second worship service were urged by the pastor to consider attending the first one to help relieve the congestion. This helped but did not solve the problem. On June 13, 1955, an appeal was made to the congregation to rally behind a $60,000.00 building fund campaign to finance the expansion of the church facilities at the earliest possible moment. Mr. Donald Kear was elected General Chairman for the appeal, Robert Durham as Visitation Chairman, and Morris Gustin in charge of special gifts. The $40,000 loan backed by Grace Methodist on the first Religious Education building was completely paid off by Christmas, 1956. There was a balance due of slightly more than $19,000 to repay the loan backed by the Church Extension office in Philadelphia.
As an alternate step, and to temporarily delay the second phase of Master Plan. the Board of Trustees, in a resolution dated February 16, 1957, took first steps toward purchasing two adjacent lots north of the church from Paul and Sally Rensch. A building was on the lot located at 319 Meyer Avenue. This acquisition would accomplish two objectives: ease the overcrowded conditions in the Church School and provide additional space for parking and expansion in the future. he resolution specified that the total price not exceed $19.000. In the same resolution. the Church Corporation was to enter into a loan agreement with the Third National Bank of Dayton for a total of $20,000. The $1 ,000 over and above the purchase price of the property would be used to renovate the existing building so it would be suitable for Church School use. The Church Office was to be located in the first floor of the building. A special Quarterly Conference, held the same date, adopted the resolution.
In 1958, Mr. Morris Gistom began to see the need for Toatsmaster's training among the membership of Community Methodist Church. He wa a Past-President of the Dayton Toastmaster's Club. After several organizational meetings, the East Dayton Toastmaster's Club at Community Methodist received its charter on January 13, 1959. It has been meeting continuously since its founding. Originally, the entire memership was from Community and many of the charter members of the club are still members of Community. This club provides a unique means of learning and improving one's communication abilities within an atmosphere of fellowship and fun.
Mrs. William Goetz, the first WSCS president of Community Methodist, and for a number of years custodian of the building at Eastwood, died on December 19,1958, only nine days after the death of her husband. Some of her many friends decided to make a memorial gift in honor of her long service to the congregation, and after much study, decided that a prayer room in the church would be a fitting tribute. The small room just opposite the kitchen in the basement of the sanctuary was fitted with a small altar and appropriate furnishings, and a plaque was permanently installed on the wall. This room was intended to provide a quiet place where members of the church, individually or in small groups, could retire for meditation and prayer. The Goetz Memorial Prayer Room was dedicated on Sunday afternoon, May 31,1959, with Pastor Imhausen directing.
In a meeting held on April 11,1959, the Board of Trustees of Community Methodist passed a resolution to enter into a purchase agreement with Mr. Mrs. Swerking for property of approximately one and one-tenth acres on which a home was located at 309 Meyer Avenue. With some modification on the unfinished second floor this building would provide a better parsonage than the one owned by the church at 24 North Sperling Avenue, and, at the same time, allow the minister to be closer to his congregation. The total amount was not to exceed $19,000. At the same time, the Board of Trustees recommended that the parsonage property at 24 North Sperling be sold with the proceeds of the sale to apply towards the purchase of the new parsonage. A special Quarterly Conference held on April 16,1959, approved the resolution. Additional authorization for a loan of $23,000 would allow also for the .remodeling of the newly acquired property. Because of the transfer of Pastor Imhausen in July, 1959, the first family to live in the new parsonage was that of Pastor William W. Reiley, who moved into the home in August, 1959.