Expert: Cooper P. Abrams III - 12/27/2005

Question
Hey!
I have a situation that I am looking for some objective outside input.  
First - I am the Pastor of a great church.  Before I came to this church, I was working with my father, who Pastors a church about 10 miles down the road.  I was asked to come about 3 years ago when the previous pastor had left.  I went and began working.  There were a lot of bad feelings in the church, and lots of people had been hurt.  We worked with building a foundation for the first year or year-and-a-half.  When we went, there were about 20 people there.  After the foundational healing work, we began to press for growth.  We have seen great revival, and even some growth in numbers.  We are currently running about 50 people.  We have tried to major on Unity and have seen our church family grow in strength.  

Now the Situation - God is dealing with me about returning to my fathers church, and working with Him.  Also, my father has been interested in having me take over the pastorate at his church.  His church is about the same size as ours, so I'm not being driven by numbers...In fact, our church is better off financially, so I'm not driven by money either.  I'm just to the point that I can't look the other way any longer.
The problem I have is the process of Transition.  
I'm worried that if I leave our current church, many of the members will want to go with us (remember it's only a few miles down the road).
The people of the church are very loyal to me and my family.  They look up to us.  Especially the newer members whom I have brought out of the streets into the altar, and their lives have been changed primarily because I have spent the time with them.  They recognize that, and would probably leave if I leave, since I wouldn't be going a long way away.
I don't know how to handle this.  To be honest with you, I think it would be great if the two churches could merge into one, but I'm not sure "tradition" will allow that.  I could attempt to find somebody to replace us, and blend them in over a long period of time, therefore trying to build loyalty to him so that when we leave, the church family will stay together.
But, this could take a long, long time to find the right person.  Hey, my family has built this work for the past 3 years, and the last thing I want to see is the wrong person come in and destroy it all.  

The questions I have are these...
1.  Have you ever known of 2 churches merging successfully?
2.  With the facts you know about my situation, and if a merger is not an option, what would be your advice as to how to leave and cause the least disruption?

Thanks and May God Bless You!
Pastor Brian  

Answer
Hi Brian,
   It is rare that I do not respond with advice, but in your case I am uncomfortable making any specific statement.
Over these many years when I have been in a similar situation I prayed and continued to seek God's will, being faithful were I was at the moment.   I waited to see how the situation would develope looking for God to open or close doors.
    In 2000 I found myself in such a situation.  As a church planter here in Utah I had finished my work in Price and turned the work over to a pastor.   I went back East to report to churches and then in July headed back West....not knowing where the Lord wanted me.  I had a clear calling to being a church planter..but did not know where to go.    I did survey work in several western states.    In Nebraska a group of three families wanted me to come and plant a church in their town, but I had no peace about going there.  There were several other places I could have gone, but I really was not a peace about them.  I had worked in Utah for 14 years then, but did not have any direction as to where to begin a work there.   To make a long story short....I kept moving, kept seeking God's will and praying as Paul did on his second missionary journey.   Like Paul in Acts 15:36 - 16:10 God kept me going, until I arrived here in Tremonton, Utah and immediately received peace that this was where God wanted. I tried to leave Utah...it is a hard hard place to live and work...but God wanted me here, having years ago called me to this place.   I understand now Paul's delimma and how he must have felt.   But I see now it was a test...
God has really blessed here...though it could be better...but I know God wanted me here.    I pastored for a short time in Virginia after getting out of school...but one verse kept coming to mind....Paul's statement in Romans 15:20.    That is why I became a church planter and I am glad the Lord called me to this work.
   I had prayer for you this morning and wish you God's clear direction and ministry of serving the Lord's sheep which is the only way to serve Him.    Permit me one comment further.   You show a real concern for the sheep in your present congregation.   That is clear evidence of God giving you a shepherd's heart.  God sent you to them and has used you to birth them and begin to raise them.   As you mentioned in your question...that should weight heavily on your decision.   This statement may be to direct...but the hireling abandons the sheep.(John 10:12-13)   It may be God has a solution that works all that out.   I hope so.
   If you have further questions or comments please write.
   I have known of one church that merged successfully.  The merger should be as close to unanimous as possible.  I have no knowledge of others.

Romans 12:1-2
Cooper Abrams