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Latest Merger News
The Merger is approved: What’s next? Print E-mail
Latest Merger News
Written by news feeds   
Monday, 08 March 2010 13:24

   Now that the merger of Calvary Temple Church and The Living Word Church has been approved by each Board of Directors, what happens next?  Before the merger becomes official there are three legal things that need to happen:  

   1.  “Bylaws” will need to be amended and restated.   A committee composed of four individuals chosen by the pastors of each church (two from each church) will review the current bylaws and recommend changes to the combined Board of Directors.  The board members will then vote up or down on each change. 

   2.  Details of the merger will be reviewed by an attorney. 

   3.  A majority vote of Calvary Temple’s active voting membership present at the Annual Business Meeting is also required in order to adopt The Agreement and Plan of Merger as required by the laws of the State of Pennsylvania and be done according to the Calvary Temple Church Bylaws. 

   After the three legal things happen the Articles of Merger will be sent to the Pennsylvania Secretary of State.  The Merger will become effective upon the filing of the Articles of Merger with the Pennsylvania Secretary of the State.  The congregations will begin meeting permanently at the Calvary Temple Church location on April 2 for the Good Friday Service at 6:30 PM.

   Pastor Trevor and Pastor Rudy will continue meeting with department and ministry leaders to insure a smooth transition.  As the departments and ministries come together they will be encouraged to work in unity: one mind, one body, one spirit and one cause.   With this goal in mind, the women of both churches have already been working on this.  On Saturday, March 20, at 8:00 AM, the women of Calvary Temple Church and The Living Word Church have invited the men of both churches to attend what they call, “Breakfast in Bed.”  This will be an opportunity for the men of both churches to fellowship and get to know each other.  Then on Saturday March 27 at 11:30 AM the women of both churches are invited to a Luncheon and a time of fellowship.  The youth will also be working together to raise funds to attend Acquire the Fire on May 7-8 in Pittsburgh, PA.

    Membership will be open to anyone who desires to become a member of the combined church for 3 months.   The temporary (non-legal) name will be “The Living Word at Calvary Temple Church”.  In three to six months after the effective date of merger anyone may submit names for consideration to Pastor Trevor and Pastor Rudy.  They will pick 4 names to be voted on by the church membership. 

   As additional details of the merger are known, they will be posted to the web.  A newsletter will also be published soon. 

 

 

 

 

 
 
Calvary Temple Church and Living Word Church to Merge! Print E-mail
Latest Merger News
Written by Administrator   
Monday, 08 March 2010 03:54

   This past Saturday, on March 27, Pastor Trevor Hanna and Charlie Earp of the Living Word Church met with Pastor Rudy Rimer and Curtis Rimer of Calvary Temple Church to finalize the Agreement and Plan of Merger.  Each board member of both churches was given a copy of the Agreement and Plan of Merger so they could review it prior to the combined Special Board Meeting which was held tonight prior to the Evening Service.

   In the combined board meeting consisting of 20 board members, (Tom Bills, Ron Davis, Charlie Earp, Bob Ebbert, Keith Fox, Chrissy Haag, Nathan Haag, Cindy Hanna, Marcy Hanna, Tom Hanna, Trevor Hanna, Craig Horn, Rick McClellan, Ken Meddock, Dale Ralph, Ken Sherene, Rolland Smith, Rae Sparks, Vern Sparks, & Helen Welch) each member was given another opportunity to express any concerns they had about the merger of the churches.  Pastor Trevor and Pastor Rudy addressed questions submitted by the members.

   Each board then met separately and passed the following resolutions:

   RESOLVED, that the Board of Directors approve of the merger of Calvary Temple Church, Inc. and The Living Word Church, Inc.

   RESOLVED, that the Board of Directors adopts the attached Agreement and Plan of Merger.

   RESOLVED, that Pastor Trevor Hanna and Pastor Rudy Rimer are directed to sign and present the Articles of Merger/Certificate and Agreement and Plan of merger to the Pennsylvania Secretary of State as required by the laws of the State of Pennsylvania.

   Each Pastor and all members of both boards signed the resolutions agreeing to move forward with the merger.  Now the work begins to legally, physically, and spiritually merge the churches; to move forward with a new vision of unity.  Yes we can do more for Jesus Christ together than we ever could apart. 

   In the evening service with both congregations in attendance, Pastor Rimer announced that the merger had been approved by each Board of Directors.  He announced Pastor Trevor Hanna will be the future co-pastor of the combined churches.  Both announcements were applauded by the congregations.  Pastor Trevor delivered the evening message, ending the service with everyone in attendance holding hands in prayer and unity.  The congregations will begin meeting permanently at the Calvary Temple Church location on April 2 for the Good Friday Service at 6:30 PM.
 
Boards of Calvary Temple Church and The Living Word Hold First Meeting Print E-mail
Latest Merger News
Written by Administrator   
Friday, 05 March 2010 11:27

   The board of director's for Calvary Temple Church and The Living Word Church held their first meeting to discuss the proposed merger last night.  The informal meeting was opened with statements from Pastor Rudy and Pastor Trevor.  Both pastors shared how they felt that the mergers were in God's will.  Board members from each church were given time to share how they felt about the mergers and ask questions.  All board members expressed that they felt the merger was the right step for the churches.  At one point in the meeting the question was asked if any of the board members were against the merger, there was no response to that question.  

   No action was taken during the meeting.  A draft Articles of Merger-Agreement and Plan for Merger was given to members of both boards for review.  Charlie Earp was appointed by Trevor Hanna and Curtis Rimer was appointed by Rudy Rimer to meet Saturday morning to finalize the Articles of Merger-Agreement and Plan for Merger.  The final draft of the Articles of Merger-Merger Agreement will be given to each board member for review Sunday morning.  At 5 PM Sunday night each board will hold its own Special Meeting at Calvary Temple Church for the purpose of passing a resolution approving and adopting the Articles of Merger-Merger Agreement.

   Once the resolutions are passed authorizing the merger, the Articles of Merger-Merger Agreement will be sent to the Pennsylvania Secretary of State.  The effective date of merger will be the date the Secretary of State receives the Articles of Merger-Merger Agreement.  The goal is still to have our first service together on Easter Sunday.

 
 
Calvary Temple Church and The Living Word Church Pastors Propose Merger Print E-mail
Latest Merger News
Written by Administrator   
Monday, 01 March 2010 12:19

   On February 21, 2010, Pastor Trevor Hanna of The Living Word Church and Pastor Rudy Rimer of Calvary Temple Church announced that they have agreed to consider a merger. Last night members from both churches met at Calvary Temple Church to discuss the vision for the future of both congregations. Most in attendance agreed... that by coming together we can do more for Jesus Christ than we could separately. Those in attendance were asked to unite and commit to a larger vision. The pastors and other church leaders will work together to develop a “master plan” for property, program, and staff. The goal is to have our first service together on Easter Sunday.
 
Principles for a Successful Church Merger Print E-mail
Latest Merger News
Written by Administrator   
Sunday, 28 February 2010 20:17

The leaders of Calvary Temple Church and The Living Word Church share a vision for taking people deeper in Christ and furthering our mission.  By coming together we can do more for Jesus Christ than we could separately.  If we follow these ten principles rigorously, together we can achieve a successful mission-driven merger and commit to a larger vision:

1.  God’s mission wins. There is no win/win negotiation and no trade-offs or exclusions. The participating congregations are not negotiating for their institutional glory or survival, but are creating a single, new community that will take the experience of Christ deeper and further.

2.  Everyone is absolutely united by the same DNA. Shared core values measure behavior, bedrock beliefs are life-and-death, vision/mission captures the imagination of core leaders and church members. The unity of the new church does not depend on memories, past friendships, or old victories, but on the foundation of trust that empowers all future innovation.

3.  Mission drives worship. Worship options are measured and strategically developed for transformation, education, inspiration, care giving, or mission-connection. Mission is not about the traditions, tastes, or comfort zones of pre-merger members, but the ability of the church to connect strangers to grace to God’s purposes.

4.  Team leadership. Staff leaders are deployed to support a disciple-making process that grows Christians and equips leaders, rather than managing programs. Leadership is not by office or credential, but by teams of gifted, called, and equipped leaders. Leaders are deployed missionally.

5.   Measure property and program by productivity. Measure success by personal change and social impact. The longevity or honor of any sacred property or program must be second to relevance. All that matters is the Gospel, and everything else (no matter how “sacred”) is just tactics.

6.   Form follows function. Interior and exterior space must be renovated to facilitate the physical and spiritual movement of people in the process of changing lives, growing Christians, calling disciples, equipping ministers, and sending servants. 

7.   Build around “signature ministries”. Don’t squeeze the signature ministries between other programs. Focus the major outreach ministries to both bless the public, and draw seekers into the experience of Christian discipleship.

8.   Maximize technologies. Shuttle people safely, swiftly, and conveniently. Use technology for long-distance learning and participation; communicate to every micro-culture in the preferred methodologies of that public even if that requires significant training for members.

9.   Practice regular, rigorous evaluation. Measure mission attitude, high integrity, skills development, and teamwork for staff and volunteer leaders. Acquire, train, evaluate, and dismiss based on high scores in all categories.

10. Always vote for a vision … never vote for a merger. The very term “merger” perpetuates looking back in time. Merger is just one step toward a larger, bolder, plan to grow God’s mission in the community.

The bottom line is that Pastor Rudy and Pastor Trevor are not asking Calvary Temple Church and the Living Word Church to agree on a merger. They are asking us to unite and commit to a larger vision.  The pastors and other church leaders will work together to develop a “master plan” for property, program, and staff development; so that together we can achieve a successful mission-driven merger and commit to a larger vision.