Back to Back, but Not Quite Together
By Bob Schwarz
bobschwarz@wvgazette.com
In 1998, the congregations of Humphreys Memorial United Methodist Church and First Church United Methodist considered a merger and rejected it.
Their buildings stood back to back, a result of a 1968 merger that joined the Methodists and the Evangelical United Brethren – to which First Church belonged – into the new group United Methodists.
In the 1998 vote, Humphreys, the smaller congregation, overcame many members’ reservations and voted for the merger. But the bigger congregation voted against it.
Five years later, the bishop reassigned the churches’ two ministers and brought in the Rev. Okey Harless to lead both congregations.
“That concept isn’t new at all,” Harless said. “United Methodists have been doing it for years whenever it’s a better stewardship of time and money.”
First Church averages 200 to 225 on a Sunday morning, Humphreys 30 to 35.
First Church meets at 9:45 a.m. Sunday, a carryover from the United Brethren tradition, and Humphreys meets at 11 a.m., just as they have for years. On the 1998 day when the Gazette visited, First Church ran a chapter-and-verse service that ran one hour, 40 minutes. The service has a time limit now.
“I conduct one worship service and walk across the alley and conduct the other,” Harless said. “From that perspective it’s easy.”
Sunday evenings, Harless conducts a joint service. Wednesdays, he leads a Bible study class at 1 p.m. for people who don’t like to go out at night, and leads another in the other building at 6 p.m. Each class draws people from both congregations.
Decisions about the future are in the hands of the congregations and the bishop, Harless said. “I never ignore the reality of a declining congregation. I don’t think we can do that. Our goal is to discern God’s vision and plan for the church and that’s what we’re working on.”
To contact staff writer Bob Schwarz, use e-mail or call 348- 1249.
(c) 2007 Charleston Gazette, The. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.