Ministry Alignment Informational Session #2 Recap
Wednesday February 25th
On February 25th, we held our second Ministry Alignment Informational Session. For those who couldn't attend or want a refresher, here's a summary of what was covered.
Where we've been
The three-church merger conversation isn't new. The earliest mention in ad board notes goes back to 2011. For years, the topic came up once annually and went nowhere. That changed in Spring 2024 when all three ad boards (Cobb, Livingston, and Montfort) voted independently to explore what a merger might look like.
By August 2024, we recognized our communication structure wasn't working. Four ad board meetings per month across three churches was unsustainable. That's when we formed the unified ad board: four members from each congregation, with treasurers automatically included due to their financial oversight roles. The unified board held its first meeting in September 2024.
Where we are now
We're in what merger experts call the "declaration stage." Think of it like an engagement. We've moved past the dating phase (exploration) and the courtship phase (negotiation). Now we're sharing detailed information about what this merger would actually look like.
The target is to make a decision near April or May 2025, before the Annual Conference in Madison in June. That's where the bishop would sign the paperwork making it official.
The Numbers
Attendance data collected over thirty weeks shows strong cross-church participation. The top fifty regular attendees represent all three congregations fairly evenly. Average Sunday attendance sits around sixty-one people. Regardless of which building hosts worship on a given Sunday, attendance stays consistent. That says something about how well this congregation has already come together.
Christmas Eve 2024 brought 174 people. Christmas Eve 2025 brought 188. That's an eight percent increase and a number none of the three churches could likely hit alone.
Membership & Voting
Official membership counts: Cobb has 40 members, Livingston has 71, and Montfort has 47. But many of those numbers include people who haven't attended in years. The merger provides an opportunity to reset.
When we form a new church, membership rolls start fresh. Only those who verbally express their desire to join the new church will transfer. Everyone else will need to go through the membership process as if joining for the first time.
Voting on the merger requires a two-thirds majority at each church's charge conference. Each congregation votes separately to close their church and form the new entity. All three must vote yes for the merger to proceed.
Building Assessments
The board solicited quotes for the most pressing facility needs at each location. Here's a snapshot:
Montfort needs HVAC updates and roof replacement. Quotes range from $48,000 to $78,000 for those two items.
Livingston has basement waterproofing concerns and outdated electrical panels. One comprehensive quote came in at $90,000, though that includes sidewalk repairs, basement work, and a new parking lot. A member noted that addressing only the water leak (a shared expense with the village) would cost closer to $15,000.
Cobb requires ADA accessibility improvements. Converting a room into an ADA bathroom is estimated at $7,000. Handicap basement access quotes came in around $35,000, though critical items like door installation and retaining walls aren't included.
All three locations need stage ramps to comply with United Methodist accessibility standards. Costs range from $3,100 to $3,600 depending on stage height.
Stained Glass
The board discussed relocating stained glass from individual churches to preserve each congregation's identity in the merged location. The cost is significant. Restoration runs $300 per square foot, and that doesn't include removal, transportation, or reinstallation. One appraisal valued Livingston's stained glass at approximately $400,000 with repairs estimated around $75,000. The recommendation is not to place significant financial weight on stained glass preservation, as it would reduce funds available for other projects.
Ministry Goals
- Form a hospitality team (currently in progress)
- Establish a youth group
- Create a children's ministry
- Implement two additional community-facing outreach events
- Offer an alternative contemporary worship service
Current Direction
After reviewing building needs, accessibility, and ministry readiness, the church is currently pursuing Montfort as the location for the long-term ministry home. The discernment process continues.
What Comes Next
Before then, all members are asked to:
- Read the packet extensively. Take notes. Circle unclear items or write down questions.
- Use the ministry goals as a lens when thinking about the future.
- Talk with one another in ways that build trust.
Church mergers are hard. Statistics show that churches typically lose twenty percent of active members during the first eighteen months. That's the reality. But the mission continues regardless. And the work we're doing now, together, positions us for a stronger future.
We've been spinning our wheels since 2011. It's time to move forward.
We are better together.
— Pastor Joel