This feasibility process culminates in a decision by the governing boards to make a recommendation to their respective congregations to merge or not to merge.
3. Is This Church Merger Desirable?
The answer to this question becomes apparent as the churches go through a process of stakeholder conversations and public meetings to discuss the recommendation to merge, concluding in a church-wide vote or poll. Every church merger that I have worked with who determined they were compatible enough to recommend a merger has been approved by both congregations.
There are many potential benefits of a church merger, but there are also many opportunities to step on each other’s toes in the merger dance. Most church mergers need a guide that both congregations can trust and who knows how to facilitate the delicate conversations that need to occur for a successful merger. This person can name the “elephant in the room” that both parties are reluctant to address out of courtesy or fear. The facilitator often becomes the mediator that helps both parties land on resolutions to sticky merger issues.
“An outside consultant will help the two churches focus on the critical decisions that will determine whether or not the merger will work. Because we don’t have any history or relational connections, we can raise the sensitive topics that need to be addressed, particularly around personnel decisions and ministry alignment, and guide both churches through the merger process.”
— Tony Morgan
One Final Question
After all the due diligence has been done to determine feasibility and the leadership of the two congregations conclude that the merger is doable, there is one final question, really the most important question—
Is This Church Merger a God-thing?
Is there a profound sense that God is in this decision to merge? Is there a compelling awareness that this is something the Holy Spirit has orchestrated? Has the Bible spoken to you about this merger? Are your motives God honoring? Have wise and objective advisors affirmed it? Is there a strong sense that, “If we don’t do this, we’re being disobedient to the promptings of the Holy Spirit?”
Don’t move forward with a church merger if you don’t see God’s fingerprints all over it. But if there is an overwhelming sense that God has brought this merger together, enjoy the dance!
“Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”
Matthew 19:6
Want to dance?
—Adapted from Better Together: Making Church Mergers Work-Expanded and Updated by Jim Tomberlin & Warren Bird
