In light of the fact that 97 percent, or more, of Twin Cities churches are “monocultural,” the union of Oliver Presbyterian Church in Minneapolis and Hope Presbyterian Church in Richfield, on Feb. 1, 2007, represents both congregations’ unique commitment to multicultural ministry.

Since 1884, Oliver Church has faithfully ministered in the Phillips neighborhood of South Minneapolis. In recent years, declining membership and shrinking resources prompted its pastors and elders to proactively explore options for its future. Oliver leadership proposed union with Hope Church as a creative way to continue its outreach in the Phillips neighborhood.

Hope Church, a first-ring suburb, wanted to be culturally relevant in its own changing community. Richfield was growing more racially diverse, yet Hope’s 1,325 members remained predominantly white. Oliver’s 100 members were white and Lao.

In the union, all Oliver members became members of Hope. As a result, Hope became cross-cultural overnight.


Unique union
Large church and small church. Urban and suburban. Lao and white.

“‘One Vine, Many Branches’ was our theme for the worship service celebrating our union,” said David Lenz, Hope’s senior pastor. “It was so beautiful to see those from both congregations stand together, united in Christ.”

The union also included Oliver’s two pastors joining Hope’s staff. Bruce Hillyer is now the associate pastor for discipleship and community engagement. He brings highly developed skills in cross-cultural ministry that support Hope’s vision to be externally focused.

“Oliver Church brings experience in working with so many different cultures,” Hillyer said. “We know coming in it can work.”

Bounpheng Chitmany, born in Laos, is a commissioned lay pastor and has served as pastor to Oliver’s Lao fellowship for eight years. He continues this work at Hope.

The Lao worship in a separate service in Lao three Sundays a month, and the entire congregation worships together on the first Sunday of each month.

Lao parents are grateful their children can learn about Jesus with American Christians in the Sunday School and youth classes Hope offers. The Lao raise funds to take to Laos to help those in need and share the Gospel with those who have never heard of Jesus.

Many ministries work out of Oliver’s building. An African-American congregation and a Spanish-speaking congregation worship there. The Phillips Neighborhood Clinic in partnership with the University of Minnesota, Banyan Foundation’s tutoring and after school programs, Children’s Gospel Mission, Time for Tots preschool, and Pray Phillips all touch the Phillips neighborhood with Jesus’ love.

The new arrangement has transferred Oliver’s property to Hope. A committee is exploring expanded outreach at that facility.


Lengthy process
The decision for Oliver and Hope to unite culminated after a year-long process of prayer, discussion and discernment.

“I was determined our exploration would be a spiritual process from start to finish,” Lenz explained. “I had to model that and encourage it among the elders. I asked good questions to stir thought and discussion. We spent much time praying together. I would ask, ‘Is there something here for us to explore?’ We could say no at any point and stop the process. A ‘yes’ would take us one step farther.

“After several months,” Lenz said, “it was time to share our spiritual discernment exploration with the congregation. We invited them into the same process the elders had been so intensely involved in.”

Hope and Oliver asked the Presbytery to appoint an Administrative Commission to help them.

“We had two primary tasks,” explained Newell Krogmann, commission chairman. “First, to assist both congregations in discerning whether union was the course of action each desired to take, and to inform them of what would be required. Second, once it was determined that they desired to become one congregation, to help them accomplish that objective.”

Nine months into this process, Hope’s elders unanimously voted to approve Oliver’s request for union. The Commission determined that each congregation would vote on the proposal and would need 90 percent approval of the members present.

A six-week information blitz began. All-church forums, small group discussions, tours of the buildings, handouts of frequently asked questions, lots of conversations and much prayer filled both congregations. On Nov. 19, 2006, Hope’s vote for union was 96 percent; Oliver’s was unanimous.

“Unity was the particular manifestation of the Holy Spirit throughout this process,” said Lenz. “First, unity among the elders, then in the congregations.”

“We were concerned about ministry in Christ’s name,” Krogmann said of the commission’s approach. “This was not about a business or social merger. It was about a union of two congregations that were concerned about ministry and how to best be faithful in their service to our Lord and Savior.”

“We feel this union is such a gift,” said Pastor Lenz. “It’s as if the Holy Spirit said, ‘Hope Church, I see you’re stuck. You don’t know how to go forward. Let me do this for you.’ We are so grateful for this gift.”


ACTION POINT:
Resources for ministry
• Agora Ministry (www.agoraministry.org) — A local ministry that helps churches explore partnerships and offers cross-cultural training

• Ethnic Harvest (www.ethnicharvest.org)

• Mosaix Global Network (www.mosaix.info)