Who We Are: Our History
Rose Hill’s story begins in 1913 with a Sunday School class held in an old school building. Within a few years, a graduate of Columbia Theological Seminary, W. F. Daniels, began to preach and teach regularly. Under his leadership, the group became formally organized as a congregation on October 31, 1919. The church’s sanctuary was completed a couple of years later in 1921 and remains in use as our place of worship today.
Our denomination, the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA), originated in 1973 when a number of congregations left the Presbyterian Church in the United States (PCUS) because of a steadily increasing disregard for the authority of Scripture and acceptance of unorthodox theological views. Rose Hill left the PCUS and affiliated with the Presbyterian Church in America on May 22, 1983. Another significant event in our history took place in 1997, when a sister congregation (Southeast PCA) merged with us.
Rose Hill has been active over the years, helping to sponsor new church plants, foreign missionaries, and a variety of local ministries. In 1987, we helped church planter Tom Wood start a new work that eventually grew into Metro North PCA. More recently, on April 28, 2013, we were privileged to ordain one of our former ruling elders, Andrew Halbert, as a foreign missionary. Andrew and his wife Julie currently serve in Costa Rica with United World Mission. As Rose Hill’s history unfolds, we give glory to the Lord Jesus Christ for His faithfulness to us as a church and look forward to His continued work among us!
“And he who was seated on the throne said, ‘Behold, I am making all things new!’”
— Revelation 21:5
What We Believe
- The Bible: We believe the Bible is the written word of God, inspired by the Holy Spirit and without error in the original manuscripts. The Bible is the revelation of God’s truth and is infallible and authoritative in all matters of faith and practice.
- The Holy Trinity: We believe in the Holy Trinity. There is one God, who exists eternally in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
- Human Need: We believe that all are sinners and totally unable to save themselves from God’s displeasure, except by His mercy.
- Sovereign Salvation: We believe that salvation is by God alone, as He sovereignly chooses those He will save. We believe His choice is based on His grace, not on any human individual merit, or foreseen faith.
- Jesus Christ: We believe that Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God, who through His perfect life and sacrificial death atoned for the sins of all who will trust in Him, alone, for salvation.
- Covenant Promises: We believe that God is gracious and faithful to His people not simply as individuals but as families in successive generations according to His Covenant promises.
- The Holy Spirit: We believe that the Holy Spirit indwells God’s people and gives them the strength and wisdom to trust Christ and follow Him.
- Christ’s Return: We believe that Jesus will return, bodily and visibly, to judge all mankind and to receive His people unto Himself.
- Christian Life: We believe that all aspects of our lives are to be lived to the glory of God under the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
Leadership & Staff
Senior Minister
Rev. Dr. Max Rogland
Our senior minister is Rev. Dr. Max Rogland, a native of Tacoma, Washington. Dr. Rogland is a graduate of the University of Washington (B.A., B.Mus.), Covenant Theological Seminary (M.Div.), and the University of Leiden (Ph.D.). He served Rose Hill Presbyterian as Interim Pastor from the spring of 2012 until August 2013, when he was elected by the congregation to continue on as her permanent pastor.
Dr. Rogland is ordained in the Presbyterian Church in America and previously served as the pastor of Trinity Presbyterian Church in Rochester, Minnesota. In 2007 he accepted a call as Professor of Old Testament at Erskine Theological Seminary‘s campus in Columbia, where he taught until being called by Rose Hill to full-time ministry at the church. He is married to Lara, and they have four children.
Music Director
Kaaren Miller
Our music director, Kaaren Miller, provides accompaniment for our worship services and conducts our choir. Kaaren began studying the piano when she was seven years old and performing at eight. Her joy in playing music led her to complete an undergraduate degree in Piano Performance from Furman University and a Master’s degree from the University of South Carolina School of Music, with additional studies at the Brevard Music Festival and in masterclasses with a number of premier artists.
To get in touch with Kaaren, please contact the church office.
Church Office
“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights.” ~ James 1:17
Our Elders
- Bob Featherstone
- Jeff Hawley
- Craig Parks
- Brad Carnahan
- Max Barker (Elder Emeritus)
Our Deacons
- Mark Ready (‘26)
- Eric Scheffing (‘26)
- Jim Tollison (‘27)
- Matthew Francis (‘27)
- Lee Drummond (‘28)
- Dewey Daniels (Deacon Emeritus)
- Willis Moyer (Deacon Emeritus)
- David Taber (Deacon Emeritus)