wfn.org | Congregation's gift realizes twin dreams of multicultural

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ministry

April 5, 1998	Contact: Thomas S. McAnally*(615)742-5470*Nashville,
Tenn.           {278}
 

By Lois Ford Long*

VINITA PARK, Mo. (UMNS) - Members of Vinita Park United Methodist Church
here had long wanted to become a multicultural congregation.  Instead,
they found their future threatened by two decades of declining
membership and an increasingly high media age.  

But, at a ceremony here May 3 the church celebrated the realization of
its own dream of ministering to a diverse community ,  a dream achieved
by giving of itself - literally - to another congregation.

Vinita Park members voted in January to turn their debt-free building
and property over to The Village Church of St. Louis, a new United
Methodist congregation with a multicultural vision of its own but no
church property.  The combination of the two congregations - one
predominantly white, the other predominantly black - will help each
realize its dream to develop multicultural ministries.

The official name of the new congregation will be "The Village Church of
St. Louis - Vinita Park, A United Methodist Ministry."

The idea to make the gift of church property and to combine the
congregations came from within the Vinita Park membership.  Faced with
the possibility that their congregation may no longer be able to sustain
their budget, members began to look for creative ways to maintain a
United Methodist presence and to continue the work of the church in the
community.  As they became aware that The Village Church had no
building, the idea took shape.

"There was a realization that the two congregations shared a vision,"
said the Rev. Anselm Williams,, pastor of the Vinita Park Church.
"Vinita Park's members found a new and creative way to proclaim the
kingdom of God.  It is a bold and courageous gesture."

"I rejoice that Vinita Park is giving birth to new possibilities," said
Missouri Bishop Ann Sherer.  "They have served Christ well in this
location for 87 years.  Now they pass the baton to The Village Church,
Vinita Park, and this new congregation will serve the neighborhood and
make new disciples of Jesus Christ."

The Vinita Park facility includes a colonial style sanctuary which seats
approximately 400 people a large fellowship hall, two areas for parking,
and a grassy lot for future expansion.

The gift is nothing short of a Godsend for The Village Church which has
spent its first year without a building of its own.  Since its
inauguration in March 1997, services have been held at North Hills
United Methodist Church in nearby Florissant.  During that time, The
Village Church developed an average worship attendance of 75 that cuts
across racial, age, class and gender lines.  With the commitment to
"Gossip the Gospel and Live the Love," The Village Church offers a
vibrant, highly spirited, non-traditional worship that embraces a
diversity of styles.

"This is truly a most gracious and altruistic response to and for the
Gospel of Jesus Christ," said the Rev. Llewellyn McGhee, pastor of The
Village Church.  "The opportunity for out two churches to come together
as one congregation helps not only realize the vision of a new
multicultural church, it helps fulfill the Great Commission which
directs us to reach out to all nations.  In this new place, we can
prepare a community of people to reach out with a Gospel message that
bridges the lines of race class gender age and education.  And we can
become a model of reconciliation for churches that find themselves in
similar communities that are in transition.  The gift of this church
building is highly appreciated and we will use it to be a light to the
diverse community of St. Louis for many years to come."

Sherer preached at the May 3 celebration.  The two congregations are
holding combined services featuring both traditional and contemporary
elements of worship but beginning in June two services will be offered
each Sunday -- one traditional, one contemporary.

# # #

*Long is writer with FACTA News, St. Louis.

United Methodist News Service
(615)742-5470
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http://www.umc.org/umns/