Deacon Ernest Frye (Sherman Hemsley) was a holy terror. He was the headstrong president of the First Community Church of Philadelphia. The insufferable deacon intended to keep the church under his thumb, but the new minister, Rev. Reuben Gregory (Clifton Davis), had other ideas. Every week the Reverend quietly deflated the strutting deacon. Thelma (Anna Maria Horsford) was the deacon's 30-year-old, unmarried, romantically frustrated daughter, who eventually began dating the handsome new pastor; Casietta (Barbara Montgomery) and Amelia (Roz Ryan), chatting sisters who were members of the church board; and Rolly (Jester Hairston), the board's wise old voice or reason.