| | | | | | | | | | | | PRACTICAL WISDOM FOR LEADING CONGREGATIONS |
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| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Back in 2007, when the Rev. John Wilkinson and the Rev. Judy Lee Hay met regularly for coffee at the South Wedge Diner in Rochester, New York, they often talked about the plight of a growing number of the city's churches from their denomination, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).
Wilkinson, the pastor of Third Presbyterian Church, and Hay, then the pastor of Calvary St. Andrew's Presbyterian Parish, lamented the dwindling membership and financial decline at so many of Rochester's PCUSA churches. Their own congregations were holding steady, but others weren't doing so well. Two had already closed. Two others were barely holding on. Five were without pastors.
They knew that the decline they had been witnessing wasn't unique to Rochester -- or to the PCUSA. It had been happening across the nation and throughout mainline Protestant churches for decades.
Both graduates of McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago and both trained in community organizing, Wilkinson and Hay knew the importance of relationship building for any organization. They wondered: What would happen if Rochester's PCUSA congregations moved toward an uncertain future together, instead of separately and alone?
Yes, they were all part of the same denomination, but as with most denominations, individual congregations typically worked in isolation, operating as though they were independent "franchises."
"Presbyterians have a connectional polity, but rarely do we live that out as congregations living toward their futures," Wilkinson said.
Whatever the future might bring, how could the city's PCUSA churches work collaboratively in ministry, mission and outreach to help a city with serious social ills? And how could they help and support fellow congregations facing closure work through that decision and perhaps explore other alternatives?
"Nothing can guarantee church growth or success," Wilkinson said. "But both for relationship building and strategic planning, we thought, 'We're better off together.'"
Read more about Rochester's PCUSA churches » |
| | CAN THESE BONES PODCAST: YOLANDA PIERCE |
In this episode of "Can These Bones," co-host Bill Lamar talks with the Rev. Dr. Yolanda Pierce, the new dean of Howard's divinity school, about why she's excited about the challenges of theological education.
Read or listen to this podcast »
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| | IDEAS THAT IMPACT: CHURCH MERGERS |
In this article, a pastor reflects on his experience of guiding a congregation through the process of merging with another and of the hope he found in the process. At the end of the article, Alban consultant Alice Mann contributes principles for leaders to keep in mind as they guide this kind of congregational change.
Read more from Brett Opalinski » |
More than a decade ago, one Seattle church sacrificed itself to another for the benefit of future generations in this remarkable story of trust, generosity and grace.
Read more about Quest Church » |
Church Mergers: A Guidebook for Missional Change by Thomas G. Bandy and Page M. Brooks
Church Mergers offers churches of all sizes and traditions practical advice on how to merge successfully. Authors Thomas G. Bandy and Page M. Brooks draw on decades of experience to illustrate why and how missional mergers are possible.
Church Mergers guides congregational leaders and regional planners through the process of successful mergers. It shares the stories of four churches in the merger process, explaining the steps to assess their situations, build trust, and discern vision. The book offers guidance to assess the potential for merger, explore contextual relevancy and lifestyle compatibility, overcome internal and external obstacles, define strategic priorities, create new boards, build leadership teams, combine assets, and more.
Church Mergers shows that a faithful, healthy, missional merger is possible, and it illustrates that the whole can indeed be greater than the sum of its parts.
Learn more and order the book » |
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