FAQs about the merger of Falcon Heights Church and New Life Presbyterian Church
Falcon Heights Church and New Life Presbyterian Church are exploring a merger of the two congregations. Here are some answers to commonly asked questions.
Q. From what I’ve seen of New Life and Falcon Heights (watching services, reading pastor’s columns in our newsletters), it looks to me like the two churches have slightly different theologies, more traditional/orthodox or more open/liberal. How would we reconcile our respective approaches to how we think of and talk about God?
A. We often notice the theology of a local church in the language used for God in worship, governing documents such as a constitution and bylaws, etc. Not all UCCs have the same local theology, and neither do all PCUSAs: some tend toward the conservative/traditional end of the spectrum, and others tend toward the liberal/progressive end. Overall, the PCUSA as a denomination tends to have more local churches that embrace traditional language for God, and the UCC as a denomination tends to have more local churches that embrace non-traditional/inclusive language for God.
But what matters is the local language: how can we reconcile these differences and create a shared language in the future?
Q. Are the Communion practices similar in both churches, and how will we celebrate Communion and how often, if we merge?
A. In our shared Reformed Protestant heritage, the elements of bread and cup are seen primarily as outward and visible signs of the body and blood of Jesus Christ, but not seen as literally changing materially, the way they are in the Catholic Eucharist, for example.
How we celebrate Communion in our two local churches may differ right now: a common cup for grape juice vs. trays of small glasses; a loaf broken and shared vs. wafers or pieces of bread cut up and taken from a tray or plate; the elements served in the pews vs. coming forward to receive the elements.
A good approach, as with our language/theology, might begin with a group with people from both congregations who get together to share stories, traditions, and methods as they’ve experienced them. And then move from that to developing the way to celebrate and frequency of Communion in collaboration with the clergy.
Q. Which denomination will the newly-merged church be part of, and therefore, where will our denominational financial support go?
A. The new church will be dually affiliated with the PCUSA and the UCC, participating in the Presbytery and the Conference, respectively, and the same with other settings of the wider denominations. For the purposes of membership affiliation in both denominations, 50 percent of the members of the new church would be counted as PCUSA, and 50 percent would be UCC. Our denominational support funds would also be divided 50-50 between the two denominations.
Q. What will happen to Every Meal, the DIW Food Shelf, and other mission and outreach partnerships?
A. Since our two churches now have many of the same organizational partnerships, the shared ones will remain as long as they continue to align with the new church’s identity, vision, and mission. New ones can be formed and established ones can be dropped by the decision of the new church, depending on how they align with the new church’s identity, vision, and mission.
Q. Will we still have the same size staffs we do now? How will the newly-merged church decide which positions and people to keep? Will there be merged staff requirements? Other than pastoral duties, how will other paid staff positions merge or be redefined?
A. No one knows yet.
Q. Will the congregation simply be twice the size?
A. That is possible right after the merger, but it’s not uncommon to lose as well as gain members as a result of the merger. Our hope and plan is for the new church to grow as the result of a dynamic plan to reach the wider community.
Q. The merger isn’t going to happen all at once, is it? When will different stages of the merger process happen?
A. Right now, we’re exploring and even negotiating a possible merger, sort of like our two churches are dating and even taking part in a courtship, of sorts. Another way to understand where we are right now is to say that we are “merged in principle,” which means that we’re looking at this as a real possibility for effective, sustainable ministry. A meaningful next step would be to form a “vision team” and get our different groups together to build trust, discern vision, do the research, and explore the options. No proposal or plan has been developed or voted on by either congregation, at this point; we’ve simply decided to explore the possibility together.
Q. Will new ministries be added or existing ones ended?
A. The simple answer is yes, to both possibilities: there will be changes, and some things will remain the same. The more complex answer is, at this point we don’t know how much change there will be, or what specific things will change.
Q. Will there be a new governance policy? How will the two governance and ministry structures be merged? How will chairs/leaders be chosen?
A. Yes, there will be a new governance structure, developed by a team drawn from both congregations, and a new Constitution and Bylaws will be written and voted on as part of the merger plan. It’s likely that the governance structure will reflect a more Presbyterian one because the requirements in the Presbyterian Book of Order are more specific. The governing board of the new church will have a Session, which is the PCUSA term, invested with the powers and responsibilities of that body in a local Presbyterian church. In both the PCUSA and the UCC, however, the relationships to the wider church are covenantal, with mutual rights and responsibilities.
Q. Will there be an outside mediator for roadblocks to the merger?
A. The plan is to employ an outside consultant from the beginning of the identity, visioning, missioning process to alleviate the need for mediation. Think of it as proactive mediation, if you will.
Q. Will the new church have a new name (including internet domain name), and will there also be marketing for it such as logos, signs, website and other PR?
A. Yes, the new church will have a new name and internet URL, and there will be branding/marketing under that new name. The new church would be introduced to the wider community and our denominations in its new identity.
Q. How will the church choose a new name? Will there be a congregational vote on it?
A. The church will choose a new name through a joint process that begins in identity, visioning, and missioning, selected from a few final options, and then finalized as part of a Plan for a New Church presented well in advance of the congregational votes.