Union Church History
This essay was printed in the worship service program for Unity Sunday, September 22, 2002.
God works in very mysterious ways. In looking back over the last two years, it is curious how the merger process unfolded; like a giant jigsaw puzzle, piece by piece.
Two years ago, Westminster Presbyterian Church was at a strategic point. A church with rich history and still an active congregation had to make some very important decisions, driven primarily by building concerns and a worsening finacial situation. St. John's United Church of Christ was also at a strategic point. A church, also rich in history, was at a point of extinction- few members but a sizeable facility. Two churches, two miles from one another, yet had no previous connection.
The idea of merging both congregations arose. The exact genesis of this idea is still not perfectly clear, but suffice it to say the idea was launched at both churches. To many it was a great idea, to others a "crazy idea". Some said, "It will never fly!".
Little by little, the pieces began to fit together. A core group of individuals from both churches gathered as the Merger Task Force from which the "Executive Committee" was formed. This group, along with others, began a trek filled with a multitude of meetings and countless numbers of volunteer hours to begin to "form the new church". Merging a Presbyterian Church with its structure and rules and a United Church of Christ, which was accustomed to autonomy, was a formidable undertaking. Much assistance and encouragement was received from the Presbytery of Cincinnati and the Southwest Ohio/Northern Kentucky Association of the United Church of Christ.
Many congregational meetings were held but none more historic than those held on October 7, 2001. At separate meetings, both congregations overwhelmingly approved the merger of Westminster Presbyterian Church and St. John's United Church of Christ, now to be known as St. John's Westminster Union Church. Officially, the church began on January 1, 2002.
At that point, an ambitious renovation of the former St. John's facility began, and a search for a new pastor commenced. The new church was off and running! In May, the congregation enthusiastically approved the calling of Rev. Kathryn Barlow Westmoreland as the first pastor of the new church. The newly remodeled church was celebrated and dedicated on Sunday, September 22, 2002.
Yes, God works in very mysterious ways. Throughout the entire process, we have seen His hand lead us every step of the way.
"I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one." John 17:20-21
St. John's Westminster Union Church
1085 Neeb Rd. Cincinnati, Ohio 45233
(513) 347-4613
A congregation of the Presbyterian Church (USA) and the United Church of Christ.
© 2007 Copyright St. John's Westminster Union Church
Web Site by Kristin Zeller