Congregation to vote Jan. 23 on Partnership

The congregation will vote on Jan. 23 on the resolution to join the Christian Ministry Center partnership of Lyndale United Church of Christ and Salem English Lutheran Church.  All three congregations will move into a newly remodeled Ministry Center, formerly the Salem English Lutheran Church at Garfield and 28th street.  The following questions and answers about the Partnership were raised at a congregational forum on Jan. 9.

Will all three congregations merge as one?

No, each congregation will remain a completely separate entity, each with its own worship service, governing board and identity.

Will we have our own sanctuary?

There will be three separate worship spaces in the Ministry Center.  Plans now are for the congregations to alternate between the worship spaces;  no one congregation will “own” a worship space.

What about our organ?

No decision has been made yet.  However, there is an organ in the

Ministry Center building now, one that is larger than ours.

Will we have to ask permission of the other churches to do our activities, such as the Grande Sale?

No, we are free to do our own activities.  However, since we will be shar-

ing the building, such things as calendar dates, room and space use will have to be done in co-operation with all the partners. An event as big as the Grande Sale would involve negotiations among the partners.

Will we have any cooperative activities with the other congregations?

Plans are for the children’s Sunday School and Youth program to be merged and shared, for some administrative staff and space to be shared, and for the congregations to have joint worship services a few times a year.

When will the Ministry Center be completed?
November 2011 is the target completion date.

What about parking?

There will be several spaces (about 50) in the lot that the Ministry Center shares with the new housing development, and some parking across 28th Street in the TruStone Bank lot and at Intermedia Arts.  Other parking arrangements haven’t been decided yet.