Not all amalgamation stories have a happy ending. But Burlington East Presbyterian, located west of Toronto, has seemingly discovered a recipe for success.
“There were a number of ingredients that came together to make it work,” said Rod Wilkinson, who came to Burlington East after the amalgamation. He is now an elder there. “I think people have to be hungry for change, and be willing to reach out. They have to be equally willing to accept new leadership and direction.”
The new congregation did just that. They embraced their interim minister, Rev. John Cruickshank, hailing him as a God-send who knew exactly how to mix the ingredients together; they began searching for mission opportunities in their own backyard and saying goodbye to old ways of doing things.
“They took a risk and a leap of faith that the new congregation could grow and become something separate from the past,” said Wilkinson.
The process began in 2005 when a small group began to dream of new beginnings. They envisioned six struggling congregations in Burlington and nearby Aldershot, Ont., abandoning their buildings and joining together in order to find new life. For various reasons, one church dropped out, two others didn’t want to participate; then Aldershot closed and amalgamated with Waterdown. Two were left — Pineland and Strathcona, located about five kilometres apart.
Strathcona was struggling financially, and Pineland had severe growth issues. “This building was plain run down,” said Strathcona (and now Burlington East) elder, Gord Fielding. “There were between 25 and 40 people left at Strathcona. There was a sense of helplessness. We went bankrupt. We had the hydro shut off. Financially, it was done. And when the mega-church idea fell through, the heart fell out of this church. It was the only light they could see. They were desperate.”
At Pineland, they voted to join the regional church idea with enthusiasm — a last attempt to keep witness alive.
And so, a year after the first amalgamation attempt fell through, the two congregations decided to make a go of it. After a building inspection, it was decided that the Pineland location would be sold, and the congregation would move into the Strathcona building. The amalgamation happened on Jan. 1, 2007. Renovating the existing facility immediately became a priority, making Pineland members feel at home as opposed to being guests in a foreign setting. It also helped Strathcona members lose any feelings of possession.
“If you’re not going to a brand new premises, you have to change the feeling of the one you’re continuing with,” said Fielding.
Lucky for Burlington East, the Pineland building was sold quickly in a cash sale, creating funds for the renovations — something members refer to as “part of God’s will.” When the scaffolding came down in the new sanctuary last November, a collective sigh was heard in the congregation.
“We thought, ‘Now we are Burlington East,'” said Fielding.
The feeling of one, seamless congregation was repeated over and over among members.
“We’re a congregation where people are working very well together,” said former Pineland member, Stephen Shields. “When we joined together, we were two factions, now we’ve just about eliminated those factions. People are coming from the other two congregations who didn’t come at first, and new people who belonged to neither. But it feels like a single, unified body.”
“There are so many new people now, and I don’t think they can tell that we used to be two congregations. We’re one church now,” said Janis Chadwick, a former Strathcona member. “We’re part of the same team.”
Just about everyone will say the success is largely attributable to Cruickshank, a minister well-versed in helping congregations through transitions, who came to the church about a month after the amalgamation.
His policy of follow-up phone calls to visitors has been key to not only a seamless amalgamation, but to growth. Fielding related two stories where members were gained simply because of a phone call — something that numerous other ministers during their church-shopping had failed to do.
Wilkinson agrees. “People were outwardly welcoming. They invited me to sit with them. They made the transition very, very enjoyable. This was very quickly followed up by a visit from John. That was it. I was hooked.
“He’s a great promoter of the life of the church, and the people in the congregation. He engages you. You can’t help but be swept up.”
The original ministers of both congregations moved on at the time of amalgamation.
“It became obvious that the charges had to be vacated,” admitted Fielding. “I don’t think it would have worked otherwise. In situations like this, ministers have to be prepared to move on; they have to get out of the way.”
Numbers have increased to an average of about 144 attending each Sunday. A Christmas Eve service attracted nearly 300. Young families have been the largest addition, with 45 families added in the last three years, including 27 kids under the age of five. In 2010 alone, they’ve added four new families.
“Not only have the remnants come alive, and become excited, but there is growth in new members,” said Cruickshank. “We’ve gone from two struggling congregations to one vibrant one.”
Members say something spiritual is going on, and that feeling is extending into outreach. Before the amalgamation, the congregations were too downtrodden to look outward — indeed, they didn’t even know poverty existed in the picturesque west-of-Toronto suburb. But two years ago, two women in the church decided to start a Christmas dinner for disadvantaged people in the community. Last year, 35 volunteers helped out, on Christmas Day no less, and 43 kids from the local school who otherwise wouldn’t have had a Christmas received special Christmas packages from church members.
The desire to reach out and be a true helping hand in the community has become a major part of the congregation’s identity, and is an endeavour they want to grow.
Cruickshank’s term was over in August and the congregation is looking for someone who places a high priority on visitations, and is willing to reach out to the community, to those in need, and to young families.
“The challenge now is to find someone who will take it to a higher level, and to the next stage,” said Fielding.
“It’s amazing what’s come out of two dying congregations. It’s not a revival, it’s a renewal. Spiritually, something is happening here.”
Recipe for Amalgamation Success
• many meetings to identify potential problems
• an open, adaptable session willing to work in new ways
• new leadership
• a sensitive, forward-thinking interim minister
• a dedicated, committed congregational community willing to accept direction
• new or totally renovated building
• a focus on mission and outreach
• faithfulness to God’s plan for the new church
