Christ United Methodist Church and First Congregational United Church of Christ Merger Update- What’s Next?

November 26 Update -Work continues on finalizing the Bylaws for our New Federated/Merged church. A subcommittee of the Exploration Committee, led by Steve Gettel, has been working with the United Methodist District Superintendent to negotiate a couple of aspects of the new bylaws that have not yet been agreed on. Significant progress has been made and our Exploration Committee plans to have a finalized document to present to your Church Council at the December 15 Council meeting. We are very close!

Dear members of our congregation,

We want to share an update on our ongoing naming process for our church. The Council met on October 20 and discussed possible next steps following the congregational meeting on September 28. Choosing a new name is an important part of shaping our identity and reflecting our shared values. The Council recognizes the need for a thoughtful and inclusive approach, and we deeply appreciate the enthusiasm and creativity many of you have brought with your suggestions. Moving forward, the Council’s consensus is to use the time between now and early January to reflect on what has been done to this point, and to seek out resources that help us both to clarify our collective vision and to define the process in the future. In doing so, we hope to create space for reflection and open conversation, ensuring the selection of a new name is guided by wisdom, love, and grace.  For those of you who have proposed names in the past or have new suggestions, we ask that you hold them until we re-engage in the vetting and selection process. Over the next couple of months, we ask that you pray for our congregation and encourage you to continue sharing your perspectives and any concerns with the Council. Your input and prayerful support is invaluable as we move forward together.

Thank you for your understanding, patience, and continued commitment to our congregation. We are grateful to each of you and look forward to moving ahead together in faith to the day we celebrate our new name as a unified church.  With gratitude and hope, The Church Council