SpringfieldNewsSun.com

Springfield, Ohio — At St. Mark United Methodist Church, children still walk to services from homes in the neighborhood, nurturing a long-standing community approach to worship.

Nearly three miles away, U.S. Rep. Dave Hobson, state Rep. Chris Widener and Clark County Sheriff Gene Kelly are counted among nearly 400 members at High Street United Methodist Church, which offers valet parking.

The needs of these churches — and five others that fall under the United Methodist denomination in the city — are outweighing their individual resources.

"We know in our hearts that if changes are not effected immediately, our churches will continue to die a slow death in this city, despite the wondrous legacies of all our congregations," United Methodist leaders said in a joint statement. "No one wants this to happen. This is our time to do or die. A time for bold action."

Regardless of the differences and others among the United Methodist churches in Springfield — or perhaps because of them — that bold action may be a merger of these congregations.

"The people who are hurting and need to be reached is a diverse group and it's changing," said Rev. Sherri Blackwell of Central and Covenant United Methodist churches. "The more diverse we are, the more diverse a group we can reach."

If the United Methodist Church is merged under one roof, it will have a $500,000 to $750,000 budget to fund social programs that are already in place, as well as a family life center, gymnasium and pre-school, said C. Joseph Sprague, bishop-in-residence at Covenant.

Five of the seven churches in Springfield are currently considering a merger.

'There is no black and white in heaven'

The clergy and lay people that make up a 28-member task force are considering all details of a potential merger, including individual church histories and cultures.

"I think one of the things in the African-American congregation is that folks have shared the sting of racism and testimonials about it," said Rev. Donetta Peaks, pastor of Central and Covenant United Methodist churches. "I think there is concern about coming together with the majority culture and losing that sense of history."

That's why it is important to move forward, but honor the past, said High Street Pastor Cary Simonton.

"There's history in all our individual churches, glorious histories," Simonton said.

If the merger is approved by all of the congregations, the result will be an interracial congregation with an emphasis on youth and the community, Sprague said.

Bruce Gischel, pastor of Story-Hypes United Methodist Church, sees race "more of a benefit of this process than it is a challenge or a problem.

"I think it's something that all of the churches are open to at this time," he said.

Covenant Methodist's Douglas Gardner Jr. has an assessment all the task force members agree: "It's important to understand that there is no black or white in heaven," he said. "If we trust God, it's important that we move, regardless of race."

'We go where the Bishop appoints us to go'

Over the next year and a half, a number of issues will be considered by the task force, from location of the prospective church to the new leadership of a 500-700-member congregation.

The presiding bishop of the West-Ohio Conference has the authority to assign a new pastor to the combined church, Sprague said. None of the current clergy of the seven churches are up for the post.

"We go where the Bishop appoints us to go," Story-Hypes' Gishel said.

Though some members may be fond of their individual pastors, the leaders agreed that God's will for the church is most important.

"We have to lay aside our own personal interests and gains to do what's in the best interest of the our members we are assigned to serve," said Peaks of Covenant and Central churches. "

Contact this reporter at (937) 328-0374 or boutten@coxohio.com.