Exploring Combining Strengths
From August 2006 through December 2006, Christ Church UCC in Temple and Good Shepherd UCC in Tuckerton were in discussions to consider the possibility of our two congregations mergering together to form a new united congregation.
Those conversations ended with the decision to remain as two separate congregations; however, we will continue to share in a variety of ministries together, as we have done in the past, including VBS, Lenten Services, Ascension Day Services, Relay for Life, and perhaps hopefully even more. Thank you to all who worked so hard to explore this possibility.
The following is information regarding the steps in this process, and to provide a brief history of these discussions.
Christ Church UCC in Temple and Good Shepherd UCC in Tuckerton share a history of working together in ministry with one another. We have begun discussions about exploring the possibility of further combining our strengths by merging our congregations together to become a one church. This page is to provide you with information and up dates about these discussions.
Special Note:
The Bright Future Initiative, which was initiated in June 2006, has been put on hold while we are in the process of discussing the opportunity and possibility of merging. The following is a brief desciption of this initiative.
The Bright Future Initiative task force is to propose to Consistory a long-range plan for facilities, staff, and programming which will lead us forward in our common vision of leading all to experience, live, and share the love of God; and to provide leadership for the presentation, promotion, implementation, and progress reporting of the proposal. The time-line goal is to make a proposal to Consistory which can be discussed and voted on by the congregation prior to the end of the 2008 calendar year.
A. The Initial Bulletin Announcement:
Exploring Possible Merger Discussions
During the week of our combined VBS in August 2006, members of Christ Church UCC and Good Shepherd UCC had the opportunity to interact with one another and began some casual conversations about the advantages of merging to become one church. At the regular monthly meeting on Wednesday, August 16, 2006 the Consistory of Christ Church was in consensus to meet with the leadership of Good Shepherd to explore the possibility of merging. At the regular monthly meeting on Monday, August 21 the Church Council of Good Shepherd was in consensus to meet with the leadership of Christ Church. On Wednesday, August 23 four lay members from each church and both pastors met to begin the process of exploring the possibility of combining our two congregations into one united church.
The exploration of the possibility of merging is to combine the strengths of our two congregations into one, that we might have an even more effective ministry. We already share in VBS, Lent, Ascension Day, Relay for Life, and more very successfully, and we would continue to build upon those strengths and those relationships. Wanting to meet greater needs and anticipating changes yet to come, Good Shepherd had begun a capital campaign to build a new facility. Wanting to meet greater needs and anticipating changes yet to come, Christ Church was in the planning process of our next capital campaign to install an elevator and air conditioning, increase our handicap accessibility, expand our parking, raise a steeple, as well as a number of other improvements and upgrades needed. There is the anticipation that in the long run, by coming together we will not need to put as much resources into property and buildings, enabling us to do more in other areas of ministry and mission. In non-profit organizations throughout the country, there are fewer and fewer persons willing to step into leadership positions, and our two churches have been experiencing that, as well. By combining, we would not be stretching our lay leadership quite so thin, giving them more rest, energy, flexibility, and enthusiasm for the ministry they have been leading us in so faithfully, as well as expanding the ministry we can provide for our community. Both congregations are experiencing the challenge of there being more pastoral responsibilities and the challenge of limited resources to expand staffing. Both congregations are competing for the same new area residents, whereas we could be combining our evangelism resources and maximizing combined growth. Both congregations have been developing and strengthening their ministries, and the lay leadership and pastors of each believe that it is worth exploring bringing our strengths together and to do so before we have spent more time, money, and energy into two individual facilities.
At the end of this process, the recommendation to merge or not merge will be presented by the lay and ordained leadership, but the actual decision will be made through a prayerful vote by the general membership of each congregation.
This process will be different than the five way consolidation process we both participated in three years ago. Following this initial meeting, some of the shared expectations at this point of those who met are listed below. There will of course be further discussion at our respective Church Council/Consistory meetings, but the following will help to share with you a basic beginning starting point for future discussions. Those shared expectations include:
(1) This will be an equal merger, not one church taking over another.
(2) We will be building a new building together, incorporating both of our historic
pasts, as well as the vision of our shared new future.
(3) The location of the new building will be one that is reasonably close to both
churches, and we are actively considering the site Good Shepherd has been
planning to build their new facility.
(4) We will be discerning a new name together.
(5) Our current pastors will continue to serve as full-time equal co-pastors of the
new church to provide leadership, pastoral care, and continuity.
(6) The lay leadership will be equally shared, as well.
(7) We will be communicating our merger discussions to the Reading Association
and the Pennsylvania Southeast Conference staff, but the staff will not be an
integral part in the actual process itself. We will be more self-directed in this
process than in the previous consolidation process.
(8) We will not be opening this process to other churches beyond our two
congregations.
(9) We will continue to be a UCC church within the Pennsylvania Southeast
Conference.
(10) We will continue to strengthen and develop the ministries of our individual
churches, in order that we will continue to be two strong congregations at the
time of the potential merger, while keeping in mind and being sensitive to how
our ongoing development may affect a potential merger.
This is just preliminary information, as we are at the very beginning of exploring this process. There will be ongoing information provided in our newsletters, bulletins, and worship services. Please be prayerful of this tremendous opportunity that lies before us, that we may be led by the Holy Spirit to do God's will in being faithful stewards and disciples of the Body of Christ, his church.
Terminology:
*Church Council
- the term used by Good Shepherd to refer to their Board of Directors
*Consistory
- the term used by Christ Church to refer to their Board of Directors
*Lay Leadership
- those leaders who are not ordained ministers
*Merger
- when two or more churches join one another as equals
B. The September Bulletin Announcement:
Merger Discussions & Long-Range Planning
All members should have received a "non-binding poll" in the mail regarding the merger discussions. If you have not, please contact anyone on the Merger Discussion Committee. Please remember to return that poll on or before Sunday, October 1.
At the June 2006 Consistory meeting, the Consistory created the "Bright Future Initiative." You the members have been moving Christ Church in a very positive direction. We have been growing in mission, ministry, members, stewardship, attendance, youth group, and more. We are coming together more fully to be engaged as one body, working on God's vision for us to lead all in our community to experience, live, and share the love of God.
We were and are feeling very positive about our future, and in June we were gearing up for the next step. The following is the description of the task force created in June by our Consistory:
This task force is to propose to Consistory a long-range plan for facilities, staff, and programming which will lead us forward in our common vision of leading all to experience, live, and share the love of God; and to provide leadership for the presentation, promotion, implementation, and progress reporting of the proposal. The time-line goal is to make a proposal to Consistory which can be discussed and voted on by the congregation prior to the end of the 2008 calendar year. Members and chairperson of the task force are appointed by Consistory.
Originally, we were going to be putting this information in the September newsletter, requesting volunteers to serve on this task force, and begin organizing this committee this fall. During a May 2006 combined leadership meeting we had discussed some preliminary vision and needs assessments. By November of 2006 we would have been further surveying the congregation to get your needs assessments, as well.
As you already know, in August Christ Church's Consistory and Good Shepherd's Church Council opened dialogue with one another about the possibility of merging. Good Shepherd had already begun a capital campaign for a new facility, but are now suspending those plans until we consider whether or not to pursue a possible merger. The capital campaign plans of Christ Church have also temporarily been suspended, and instead of forming a "Bright Future Initiative Task Force," we formed a "Merger Discussion Committee."
We have a bright future, we are continually growing in our mission and ministry and in our ability to lead all to experience, live, and share the love of God. We are exploring whether or not we can do this even more fully, more completely, and with better use of resources of time, finances, and people by merging our strengths with the strengths of Good Shepherd UCC.
Whether we merge and develop ministries and build a new facility, or whether we remain on our own and develop ministries and begin a capital campaign to improve this facility, the next step in our process will be to give the members an opportunity to share with the Consistory your perspectives on our current programming and facilities and what you would like to see in the future. In our discussions, we will value and consider carefully all of the comments and suggestions we receive from you, the members of the Christ Church congregation.
In the near future you will be receiving a questionnaire that is based on the one used by Good Shepherd UCC five years ago when they began their facilities feasibility study. If we proceed with merger discussions, it will be helpful to have used similar questionnaires to help us better compile and compare the responses given by members of each of our respective churches.
Please continue to look for ongoing updates in the bulletin, in special mailings, in the newsletter, and in the e-newsletter.
Sincerely,
The Merger Discussion Committee
C. Results of the October Poll:
Results of the Oct 1, 2006 Non-Binding Poll
At the national General Synod meetings of the United Church of Christ, which meets every two years of representative members from UCC churches throughout the country, one of the standing rules is no demonstrations. When a vote is taken applause and cheering is not permitted by whichever group has had the majority for the vote, nor demonstrating by those in the minority, in an attempt to be sensitive and humble with one another. As the Apostle Paul writes, as the Body of Christ, when one part of suffers, we all suffer, and one part experiences joy we all share in its happiness. As we look at this first step, I would encourage the same for us, as the consideration of a church merger can be and is a very emotional event. As we continue to take votes, they will affirm hopes for some and sadness for others - and undoubtedly a mixture of both for most of us. Let us strive to be sensitive to both the experiences of grief and joy as we move forward in exploring the possibility of merging our two congregations, that regardless of the outcome of this process, that we may move forward as one Body of Christ. Let us above all prayerfully seek out God's will, acknowledging of course our own hopes, desires, fears, and dreams, but seeking to put God's will first in our lives and especially in this process above all other considerations, as we seek to discern what will be the best decision to glorify God, to serve His people in our community and throughout the world, and witness in word and deed to the grace revealed through Jesus Christ.
Prayerfully In Christ, Pastor Ben Motz
A. How supportive are you of the idea of the two churches exploring the possibility of merger together as proposed in the sheet entitled, "Exploring Possible Merger Discussions"?
Christ Church Good Shepherd
5 Very Supportive 31 62
4 Moderately Supportive 17 24
3 Neutral -- Not Sure 10 12
2 Somewhat Opposed 10 7
1 Very Opposed 9 3
Total 77 108
B. We are proposing equally designing and building a new facility together that would be founded on the vision of our shared new future, as well as incorporate both of our historic pasts. What are your thoughts on this proposal?
Christ Church Good Shepherd
5 Very Supportive 32 39
4 Moderately Supportive 11 30
3 Neutral -- Not Sure 10 14
2 Somewhat Opposed 7 14
1 Very Opposed 16 7
Total 76 104
C. Good Shepherd UCC has purchased approximately 3 acres of land on the other side of the cemetery along Tuckerton Road for the purposes of building a new facility. As you read in the announcement, the location of the new building will be one that is reasonably close to both churches, and we are actively considering this purchased land. What is your current perspective?
Christ Church Good Shepherd
5 I am open to considering a new site location, 31 32
including the site mentioned above.
4 I am open to considering a new site location, 4 0
not including the site mentioned above.
3 Neutral - Not Sure - I need more information 16 6
2 I would only consider the new site mentioned 4 58
above.
1 I would only consider staying at one of our 15 5
current sites.
Total 70 101
The results of the above poll were shared between churches on Tuesday, October 3 at a combined meeting. The results and information will be shared with both congregations during the announcements on Sunday, October 8.
Please continue to ask your questions, and please continue to keep the leadership and membership of both of our congregations in your prayers. The committees of both churches are looking carefully over the comments and questions that were offered on the polls. Thank you for your input. Thank you for your continual prayers.
D. An End to the Discussions:
December 3, 2006 Announcement
Good Shepherd's Merger Committee decided that the best course of action for them was to recommend to their Church Council to end the merger discussion process. Their Pastor contacted our Pastor, and their Council President contacted our Consistory President. On December 3, 2006, the President of our Consistory and the President of Good Shepherd's Church Council announced that the merger discussions had come to an end.
Later that week our committees got together to pray with one another, to formally have closure, to wish each other well, and to express our hopes and desires to continue to work with one another as we have done in the past, and perhaps to be able to do even more together. As expected, we ended that meeting on very good terms, as brothers and sisters in Christ.
Constitution Preamble
