Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Merging Churches.

Anyone ever go through the process? Not so easy to do.

Which two churches are merging?

It was a PITA when all Lutheran wanted to. But the MS stayed out. IIRC the LCA and ALC merged but MS could not agree to all theology. Which is not wrong, just how it went.

Churches are much to political if thats the right word....

This thing is pretty simple, Christianity. But people have to complicate it will all kinds of nuances.

You are spot on rost. Man kind make everything hard.

Wabigoon,

I work with churches all day, everyday. Nothing about churches is easy.

What are you trying to accomplish with the merger? What difficulties are you running into?

I am very interested in your experience!

Thank You!

They are closing quite a few rural UMCs here in N.C. The district closes them without negotiation and directs the members to the UMC that the DISTRICT favors. It looks to be backfiring on them, as it should. Lots of corruption and behind the scenes strategy. These little churches get shot clean out the saddle before they know anything is going on. The members tend to buck the system and go the opposite direction, from the direction of the district. It isn’t a pretty thing to watch happen. This is playing out as we speak in our community.

Richard, are you talking two different denominations merging or two churches of the same denomination? The church that a friend's mother attends merged with another of the same denomination. They built (overbuilt - "You always wish you had built bigger the first time!"} a new church upon which they are unable to keep up the mortgage.

Never been through a merger, been through a split though, no fun whatsoever.

Who was right?

Honest question from one who really has no opinion on the matter, and got hammered watching the debate tonight.

Why must one go to church to worship God/Christ/Holy trinity/ghost or whatever? I mean y'all can read I assume, why does someone gotta read it to you at an appointed time on Sunday? I miss the rules that were handed out or something?

OK, I am done stirring chit up. I'll leave this out there: On the day of rest, I'm frigging resting. I want to worship, I'll be good and rested when I wake up. Discuss amongst yourselves. I'm not disparaging any religion. Honest questions, from someone who had to go to early Sunday service, simply because it was shorter. And later found out my parents did not truly believe.

Impossible to answer.

Realistically, differences of opinion are inevitable and often legitimate, I just wish people would be honest and above board about it all. (And that probably isn't realistic)

Sounds like he’s talking about the Methodist decisions this year and split from UMC. Some churches are finding out they don’t own their property, etc. it’s held by them for the interest of the UMC. I’m fairly active in local UMC but have been blessed with some abilities to personally support Youth Trips, etc. so without being an official member get to cast aspersions from the couch.

I understand that they sided with their growing community on key issues. I understand they don’t want to split the larger church on ideological grounds if that’s the right phrase. One might argue they don’t want to lose 50% of their circle of influence. I don’t support the parent structure pulling the “We own your physical property” card.

It’s not a popular theory here but I’m of the stance if I can’t reach a group and others can I don’t judge. I’ve been the Recipient of Grace way beyond what I deserve and don’t deny anyone else the same. It’s not my place to rank sin and I’ve no right to do so. It’s all one root sin anyway. I like what others have said. We try to over complicate the simple. Or as I’ve recently heard Rationalize = Rational lies of which I’m extremely guilty.

Of course, ideology is probably a first world problem. With the benefit of multiple viewpoints based on experience and somewhat fortunate, or at least a semi-stabile Financial situation, I don’t feel I am experienced enough in the hardships to say what the path looks like. I hope your part is illuminated but regardless of how it plays out remember one thing.

Your church is the people and not the place. If your not focused on making Disciples that make Disciples your potentially just part of a social club. Easy to talk to, harder to hold that standard in a non-judge mental, empathetic way.

Apologies in advance if I screw up this explanation. You ever notice when your around certain people your habits and speech reflects them? Could be in just a minor, shared experiences kind of way. You surround yourself with those who share an interest or passion. Hunting clubs, shooting, etc. The “Word” is a map and a mirror not a lens. As soon as some realize that it could reverse the current course. It’s an impossible standard that shows the need for a Savior. You don’t attend church, support charities, etc. for others. You do it as a reflection and in response to the grace you’ve received. It’s a response to a gift, not a fearful obligation. I hope I’ve done some justice to the explanation but fear I haven’t. I tend to over communicate and yet not explain.

Put shorter and directly, if your not offended by anything you read in the Bible you might be worshiping your own ideals and not God’s scripture.

Great question, considering that you are drunk and have mental trauma from the debate. Corporate worship, i.e., going to church, is one part of living a Christ centered life. Your daily devotions and prayer life will be more beneficial than 90 minutes at a convenient time once a week. That must have been very painful to find out your parents don't believe. I'm sorry you had to go through that.

For a good many years, we attended a UMC church, even though I am Baptist and never joined the Methodist church. My wife was raised a Methodist, and besides, it's not your denomination that will get you into Heaven. One woman tried to run the church, partly because that's how she was, and partly because her ancestors had donated the land on which the church was built.

For years, the church was on a circuit, sharing a pastor with another church. This is a Methodist thing, and has both it's good points and bad ones. Anyway, as church attendance kept dropping, the UMC officials suggested the 2 churches merge, but both churches rejected it. The church we attended was in very good financial shape, with a lot of money in the bank, and a very nice building and other property, while the other church was not in either good financial condition, nor had a nice building.

There was a lot of suspicion on the part of members that the UMC was trying do something in the hopes that one or both of the churches would close, and they could then get the money that would be there as a result. The 2 churches then voted to go their separate ways, and do their own thing. The church we were attending is still shrinking in attendance, while the other is growing. We left that church because of the turmoil and the way certain members were acting, and then after seeing the direction the UMC appears to be heading, we are attending the Southern Baptist church that I have been a member of all my life.

I feel somewhat sorry for the small churches, as they have a tough row to hoe. Church attendance is dropping, and the small ones are hit the hardest. The UMC has not helped matters any by the way they're acting, with what appears to be a split coming at some point in time. The smaller rural churches are the ones who are usually the most conservative, and are most likely the ones in the worst financial condition, and therefore, will probably be the hardest hit. Most of the time, people attend a particular church because they feel in tune with the way the other people in that church feel, both in a spiritual sense, and in a sense of community. I would think it would be very difficult to merge 2 churches into one, and to believe everything would go smoothly. But, it might be practical to do so, as far as keeping the doors of a local church open. I guess the hard part would be in deciding which one closed it's doors, and which one remained open.

I hope things work out well for your church Wabigoon.

After living through a church kicking 3 pastors out and a new church forming from that episode I’d say run far away; if it’s a couple of church congregations there will likely be a lot of settling pains. If denominations, I’d suggest going the route that preserves a proper view of justification, law and gospel. Either way there will be a lot of growing pains and hurt feelings within the groups involved.

Sadly, our little Reformed Church of America congregation shut down a couple years ago. A poor decision by the pastor regarding one of our members lead to the church's demise. My wife and I have been looking for a church with the same belief structure we have, and have yet to find a good match. I hate church shopping. These break ups and mergers are never easy.

A question; Do the churches, the real estate, belong to the community or do the belong to the the state national organization?

Pete, at our meeting last night, it was explained to us by the district superintend and this is Iowa, and it may be different in different states with the United Methodist church, real-estate, and other assets are "held in trust" by the local church. Held in trust but owned by the head body.