Background to our Uniting in a New Creation

Meanwhile, both churches enjoyed each other’s company and shared many values in common. Leaders from Lakewood had been planning major campus renovation for several years. Leaders from Grace had been searching for a new campus for several years. Those two energies came together and resulted in the exploration of our two churches becoming one new church to do something far greater than either of us could do alone.

That led us to a "Season of Discernment" in mid-2002 during which we explored what it is like to be together (back-to-back at 9:00 and 10:30 on Sunday mornings). We sought to discerning whether this is God’s leading, whether we can be together in one new church, yet maintain the richness of the differences and diversity that we all bring to this place. 

On September 8, 2002 at separate congregational meetings Lakewood First and Grace Churches concluded our Season of Discernment by carefully discussing the motion from both Sessions to proceed toward merging our two congregations. The votes were both strongly in favor:

This positive response meant that we proceeded into a "Season of Discovery" to bring programs and teams together to work out the organizational, relational, and worship aspects of our potential merger. This Season of Discovery was for discovering the practical aspects of how we could come together.

We merged our Youth Programs and began to coordinate our mission and deacons work. Staff worked very collegially and shared responsibilities. We continued to work at being creative in worship, trying to utilize each church’s strengths. The sessions met together several times to create a draft of a charter for a new united church.

On November 17, 2002 both congregations met together to discuss the details and timing of uniting. It was a very uplifting process to see the faithful and hospitable ways our two congregations dealt with these issues and each other. We continue to work out this marriage of our two different histories and cultures. Both congregations feel blessed to have each other.

On November 24, both congregations met in separate meetings to vote on the charter for uniting the two churches. The positive vote was overwhelming. 

THE FINAL VOTE ON THE MERGER: 

On December 22, the new church selected a new name, GRACE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, which would be effective January 1, 2003. Choosing a new name was one of the more complicated, sensitive, and (in retrospect) comical aspects of the whole merger.

THE FINAL VOTE ON THE NAME: 

Confident of God's leading, we completed our full merger effective January 1, 2003. 

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