Reflection on New Name, Mission and Vision, and Next Steps

 

As we continue our journey toward merger, I (Pastor Paul) want to offer a brief update on where we are in our discernment around our mission, vision, and new name.

First, there is some wonderful news to celebrate: our proposed mission statement was unanimously accepted by the community. We also received thoughtful suggestions for refining our vision statement, and we’ll continue working on those together. It is exciting to see our shared sense of purpose beginning to take shape.

Second, our recent new-name discernment also gave us some helpful information. We received 42 ballots. Open Hearts received the most votes with 11, while All Belong UMC as a write-in and Green Lake Gathering UMC tied with 8 votes each.

Reflecting on this outcome, it is apparent that no single name has yet emerged with a strong consensus. It may be that the name we are looking for is not yet on our list. It would be exciting to see a name emerge with majority support, giving us a clearer sense that it is resonating broadly across our community, and perhaps an invitation from God.

So, we are going to keep listening rather than rush the process. We have the flexibility to continue this discernment. Our merger proposal can move forward with the name still pending.

This Sunday, you are invited to begin this next phase of the conversation together in Alden Hall after worship, around tables with food. We’ll think not only about church names, but about what we want a new name to communicate about the community we are becoming.

My hope is that we can move beyond simply combining pieces of our old identities and instead imagine a name that helps us look toward the future God is opening before us.

This is about discovering who we are becoming together in God. And I am thankful that you are part of what is being made new!

Peace,

Pastor Paul