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Come experience the beauty and wonder of God’s love with us every Sunday and throughout the year! Village Presbyterian Church is a thoughtful, inclusive family of faith, where mission outreach, social justice and racial reconciliation are priorities.
We are dedicated to providing inspiring worship services, a world-class music ministry and an exceptional environment for kids, families and people of all ages. Village Church is a member of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and is one of the largest Presbyterian churches in the country. All are welcome. All are included. All are loved. We’re with you, wherever you are. |
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Our Vision
Village Presbyterian Church is a family of faith actively shaped by the life of Christ to love one another, provide leadership for the transformation of our communities, and serve the world.
Our Mission
The mission of Village Presbyterian Church is to see and relate to every person in our communities and the world as loved by God.
We will accomplish our mission by:
We will accomplish our mission by:
- Ensuring the congregation is vibrant and grounded in Christian faith which inspires our desire to grow in faith, shapes our love for one another, and focuses our mission.
- Proactively providing resources to meet the spiritual needs of a changing community in a changing world.
- Shaping our mission and ministry by "defining moments" that embody our vision and demonstrate our faith.
- Securing sustaining resources for mission and ministry.
Village is a Matthew 25 Church
In May of 2023, Village became a Matthew 25 church. In doing so, Village Church pledged to embrace the three goals of the Matthew 25 initiative:
- Building congregational vitality
- Dismantling structural racism
- Eradicating systemic poverty
Our Story
Village Church is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year. The church was founded in 1949 and has become one of the Midwest’s most influential Presbyterian churches. It all started as a grand experiment, with a dynamic pastor and dedicated congregation.
In the late 1940s, after World War II, Kansas City's suburbs in Johnson county were booming with young families looking for community. One such township, known as Prairie Village, had no Presbyterian church nearby.
Most new congregations began in storefronts or parlors, but this time, Presbyterian Church leaders decided to create a new church building from scratch at the corner of 67th and Mission Road.
They sent a young minister, Robert (Dr. Bob) Meneilly, to spread the good news about this village church. Bob and his wife Shirley went door-to-door talking to people and looking for houses where diapers hung on clothes lines, inviting young families to join before the church building was even finished. The first worship service was held Feb. 13, 1949 with 282 charter members.
The church grew massively from that point, propelled by Dr. Bob Meneilly's powerful preaching and by the strong mission, Christian education, music and youth programs that are at the heart of Village Church's purpose and impact today. Meneilly retired in 1994 and died in 2021 at age 96.
In the late 1940s, after World War II, Kansas City's suburbs in Johnson county were booming with young families looking for community. One such township, known as Prairie Village, had no Presbyterian church nearby.
Most new congregations began in storefronts or parlors, but this time, Presbyterian Church leaders decided to create a new church building from scratch at the corner of 67th and Mission Road.
They sent a young minister, Robert (Dr. Bob) Meneilly, to spread the good news about this village church. Bob and his wife Shirley went door-to-door talking to people and looking for houses where diapers hung on clothes lines, inviting young families to join before the church building was even finished. The first worship service was held Feb. 13, 1949 with 282 charter members.
The church grew massively from that point, propelled by Dr. Bob Meneilly's powerful preaching and by the strong mission, Christian education, music and youth programs that are at the heart of Village Church's purpose and impact today. Meneilly retired in 1994 and died in 2021 at age 96.
After an interim period, Dr. Robert W. Bohl became the church’s second senior pastor in 1996. In February of 2004, Rev. Tom Are, Jr. became the church’s third senior pastor, serving in that role for 19 years. Rev. Dr. Rodger Nishioka was named senior pastor of Village Church in December 2023, becoming the church's first senior pastor of color.
Today, Village Church has over 4,500 members. The church also manages the Meneilly Center for Mission at 99th and Mission Road, which includes a Child & Family Development Center and a Food Pantry & Clothes Closet serving the surrounding community.
On Feb. 5, 2017, Village Church became one church at two campuses, holding the first worship service at our Antioch Campus , located at 14895 Antioch Road in Overland Park. The site became Village Presbyterian Church on Antioch on June 25 , 2017.
For more than 75 years, Village Church has been guided by a passion and faith that extends far beyond church walls. It is Village Church's purpose to reflect that image of Christ's love to all we encounter, now and in the future.
Today, Village Church has over 4,500 members. The church also manages the Meneilly Center for Mission at 99th and Mission Road, which includes a Child & Family Development Center and a Food Pantry & Clothes Closet serving the surrounding community.
On Feb. 5, 2017, Village Church became one church at two campuses, holding the first worship service at our Antioch Campus , located at 14895 Antioch Road in Overland Park. The site became Village Presbyterian Church on Antioch on June 25 , 2017.
For more than 75 years, Village Church has been guided by a passion and faith that extends far beyond church walls. It is Village Church's purpose to reflect that image of Christ's love to all we encounter, now and in the future.
Our Founding Pastor
Rev. Bob Meneilly preached compelling sermons about race relations, fair housing and equal rights at a time of neighborhood segregation and racial friction and spoke out against the Vietnam War. He gained prominence as a civic and social justice leader in the Kansas City area throughout the latter half of the 20th century.
In 1993, Meneilly delivered a sermon entitled “The Dangers of Religion” that decried the rise of the radical religious right movement and urged moderation in politics and the separation of church and state. It was partially reprinted in The New York Times and other publications nationally, enhancing Meneilly’s stature as a progressive and insightful leader. Listen to the sermon.
Longtime parishioners and friends remember Meneilly, known fondly as “Dr. Bob,” for his humility, his ingratiating sense of humor and for his inspirational guidance to lead a life devoted to the teachings of Jesus.
In 1993, Meneilly delivered a sermon entitled “The Dangers of Religion” that decried the rise of the radical religious right movement and urged moderation in politics and the separation of church and state. It was partially reprinted in The New York Times and other publications nationally, enhancing Meneilly’s stature as a progressive and insightful leader. Listen to the sermon.
Longtime parishioners and friends remember Meneilly, known fondly as “Dr. Bob,” for his humility, his ingratiating sense of humor and for his inspirational guidance to lead a life devoted to the teachings of Jesus.