We Really Are Better Together!: A Case Study On A Church Merger Forming New Life At Calvary.

By Rick Gillespie-Mobley

We are living in a time in which church mergers are becoming more and more a reality of ministry. Church mergers are most effective when they are part of a church's vision rather than a necessity for a church's survival. This book is a case study of two urban churches from the same denomination that chose to merge together and form a new congregation.This book will lead you through the steps that were taken in order for us to get from two separate churches to one church. You will be provided with the documents that we used to communicate with the congregations on all the various steps the committee took and why those steps were taken. You will also be presented with the bible studies that we used to help prepare our people to think about merging together and the bible studies we used after we voted to pursue the merger for a final vote. You will get a glimpse of what the new church was like two and a half years after the merger.The congregations could both have easily continued on without the other as long as they were willing to reduce the number of pastoral hours they were receiving. The first church had about 217 members averaging 233 on Sunday, whereas the second church had 83 members averaging 80 people on a Sunday. The second church had the better facility and location. If the merger was to take place, it would require the larger congregation to leave its building, and move into the other church. The second church had to be prepared to have a massive influx of people into its facility that could very easily upset the current balance of powers in all phases of the church's life.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1520889305
• ISBN13: 9781520889306
• Release Date: March 2017
• Publisher: Independently published
• Length: 145 Pages
• Weight: 0.98 lbs.
• Dimensions: 11.0" x 0.4" x 8.5"