Calvary and West Side churches merging

By Linda Linonis

As one, the congregation is making better use of resources to do God’s work.

BOARDMAN — Rudy Braydich likened the process of merging two churches with how a couple meets, dates, becomes engaged and then gets married.

The chairman of the merger committee of Calvary Baptist Church, 1463 Shields Road, Boardman, and West Side Baptist Church, 304 Matta Ave., Youngstown, said the two now are at the engagement stage.

Pastor Carl Cramer, formerly part time at West Side, now is the associate at Calvary and director of youth ministry. He explained the “meeting” happened in October 2007 at a leadership conference in Columbus that he and Pastor Burl Jernigan of Calvary attended. Though they had a passing knowledge of one another, the conference promoted meaningful conversation. Both pastors had concerns about the future of their churches.

“It was a step out in faith. We had trust that God had a bigger plan,” Pastor Cramer said. “We saw we could do good things together rather than separately with our resources.”

The pastors called a meeting of the two church boards. “We poured out our hearts for three hours,” Pastor Cramer said. Board members discussed what each church could bring to a combined church — West Side had a growing youth ministry and Calvary had a track record of ministry in the Valley and room to expand. They share a Bible-based tradition. The pastors recalled that representatives from the two churches pointed out what the other had to offer.

Votes on the merger resulted in only four no votes at each. West Side had 70 members on its membership list with some 30 attending services and Calvary, 150 with 60 at services. The churches are both American Baptist.

Braydich said the merger group of eight people originally was called the vision committee. “It was about exploring this new work of God,” he said. “We developed a vision statement. We prayed about where God would direct us.”

In the summer of 2008, the two churches were “dating,” Braydich said. They alternated worship between the two. “It was meeting the in-laws,” he said of services and church picnics. They also have vacation Bible school.

On March 1, 2009, the two congregations united in one worship service at Calvary. “We were engaged,” Braydich said, continuing the metaphor. The churches also elected one council with 30 members.

Though other mergers have resulted in the sale of one of the churches, an innovative approach was taken. Calvary is the worship site and it is now West Side Community Center. “It made sense to come to Calvary,” Pastor Cramer said of the chosen worship site. It is about a 10-minute car trip between the buildings.

Debby Rudloff of West Side, a committee member, said West Side partners with Neighborhood Ministries to provide a range of activities and services with the focus on youth. Students from William Holmes McGuffey Elementary School and children of church members participate. Rudloff said West Side has a “wonderful relationship” with leadership at the school.

Neighborhood Ministries is a United Way and community foundations outreach supported by American Baptists to low-income children and adults living in and around public housing developments. Rudloff described Neighborhood Ministries as the umbrella organization. The benefits of partnership are the experience of Neighborhood Ministries with director Mark Samuels, grant writing, access to training, use of vans and summer feeding program, whose funding sources include foundation grants, Trumbull Baptist Association and private donors. The summer feeding program is for participants 18 and younger.

“We provide the sweat, they provide the equity,” Braydich observed. “Right from the start, it was back and forth,” Rudloff said of overall member involvement.

The kickoff for the Summer Feeding and Activity Program will be from 4 to 6 p.m. June 12; it will run from 10 a.m. to noon Mondays through Thursdays. Activities include crafts, games, reading program, devotions and music.

Girls of Joy, geared to third- through sixth-graders, has 32 registered participants while the boys’ group for fourth- through sixth-graders has about 11 involved.

Pastor Cramer said plans are in the works for a teen group, and a bonfire event is set May 30 at West Side.

Leisure Timers is the senior citizens’ group that meets weekly at 10 a.m. Thurdays and a women’s Bible study, for all ages, meets at 7 p.m. Sundays. Both meet at the center.

Pastor Cramer said plans at West Side include a computer center, General Education Diploma tutoring and clothing outreach. There is a food pantry.

Pastors Cramer and Jernigan acknowledged the merging of two congregations, ways of doing things and personalities presented a challenge. “God’s work has to move many things and some hearts. This way we can do more for God,” Pastor Jernigan said. “The merger gives us a second chance to fulfill the purpose.”

“We believe God is encouraging each side,” Pastor Cramer said.

The youth influx from West Side has buoyed what Pastor Jernigan described as the nearly nonexistent program at Calvary. The Sunday school program has four age groups from preschool to sixth grade with two teachers and draws an average of 32 children. The adult Sunday school attracts an average of 15 to 20.

Braydich said the churches are setting up housekeeping in anticipation of the official marriage planned Sept. 1. “A concern to the merger team was what to do about all the stuff,” he said, referring to practical and religious items.

A lighted stained glass of praying hands, a gift from the family of Jack and Mary Louise Johnson of West Side, will be placed at Calvary. West Side also is contributing Bibles bought in memory of people and hymnals from Edith Rodenhausen, wife of a longtime West Side pastor, the Rev. Albert Rodenhausen.

West Side’s baby grand piano will be moved to Calvary, which will sell the one there. “It has more sentimental attachment,” Rudloff said. She noted it was bought by the women’s mission group in the 1960s. Peg Close is the only survivor of that group, and one of two West Side charter members along with Bert Rowbotham.

The merger committee continues to meet – hashing out the legalities, bequests, the constitutions, Braydich said. “It is falling into place,” he said. “Members are interested in pleasing one another.”

Pastors Cramer and Jernigan downplayed finances, and emphasized how the merged congregation is acting as a good steward of resources. “We fought the survival mentality,” Pastor Jernigan said.