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Opinions -
Editorials
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Contributed by Phil Spadaro
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Tuesday, 17 January 2006 |
 With advisers, success According to our RestorationUnity poll, many of our readers
would like to see their congregations merge or experience greater interaction
with other local churches of Christ, Independent
Christian Churches
/ Churches of Christ (instrumental) and / or ICOC congregations. Who has
suggestions on practically accomplishing this? I would like to solicit input. Has
anyone been involved in a successful merger of congregations? Was the divide over doctrine, opinion and / or culture (race)? Please comment,
contact us or submit an article (registration required) if you have experience or advice.
I look forward to your insight.
Sincerely,
Phil Spadaro
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merging congregations
Written by alan on 2006-01-17 10:44:28
In most cases I think merging congregations might be overreaching. Each congregation is a family, with its own culture, traditions, etc. Instead of trying to blend two different congregations, it would be better to have occasional joint events, joint service projects, exchange speakers occasionally, etc. That way the two groups get to know and accept one another without the disruption and loss of the cultural identity of each.
I have heard of a couple of situations where actual mergers have been discussed. I don't know a lot of details but in both cases there seemed to be some difficulties in the non-ICOC church that led them to explore the possibility.
Alan | Re: Alan
Written by Phil Spadaro on 2006-01-18 03:59:03
"Each congregation is a family, with its own culture, traditions, etc." I agree with this. I also believe it is very difficult for congregations to merge. I also cannot help but wonder what Paul (after writing Romans and 1 & 2 Corinthians) would say about this type of division? Granted, he did not have to contend with churches on every corner, denominationalism, etc...
Alan, thanks for the comment. Let's continue to talk.
Sincerely,
Phil | Baytown, TX
Written by Guest on 2006-01-19 14:04:39
CoC and Independant CC merged a few years ago. | Merging congregations
Written by Alan on 2006-01-22 14:25:39
> I also cannot help but wonder what Paul
> (after writing Romans
and 1 & 2 Corinthians)
> would say about this type of division?
Some of the first century churches were quite large. Acts 21:20 speaks of the myriads (greek, literally tens of thousands)in Jerusalem who had believed. Historians think other churches reached a similar size (Ephesus for example). It is highly unlikely that they met together very often. So there were undoubtedly many smaller congregations meeting in house churches or in other smaller settings. The difference between their situation and ours is that the various congregations often do not recognize each other as brothers and sisters.
Alan | Merging Congregations
Written by Clarke on 2006-01-26 13:49:45
Milt Jones up in Seattle is the minister at the Northwest Church of Christ. Jones was an early leader in the Boston Movement before "reorginization" and then came back to the mainline churches. The Northwest congregation merged with an Independent Christian Church a couple of years ago and from what I have heard is doing okay. They hold two services, one with instruments, one without. Seems like a neat experiment to me. The next time I travel to Seattle I want to visit the congregation.
Jones wrote "The Otherside of the Keyboard," which I definatly recommend reading, no matter which side of the issue you are on.
-Clarke |
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 19 January 2006 )
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