The Medina sentinel. [volume] (Medina, Ohio) 1888-1961, 1919-11-14
CHURCH union IS
SOUGHT IN Medina
BAPTISTS AND CHRISTIANS
MAY FOLLOW EXAMPLE
Union of Congregations Would Make
A Strong Church-Baptists
Have No Pastor in Sight

Wednesdays Plain Dealer told a
story of the union Of two large M. E.
churches in Cleveland, situate on
Euclid avenue, for the purpose of bet
ter work and less burden on the
members of the two congregations.
1t is story that should find many
parallels in cities over the State, and
may we'll have one in Medina.
Some months ago there was an
offer here to unite the Baptist church
and Church Of Christ. The later
church has an old edifce, too small
and out of date for its growing needs
while the former has a new edifce-
also a big debt-and the Baptist edi-
flee is large enough to accommodate
both congregations for some little
time in the future.
One further condition is patent to
the man or woman who will stop and
look for a minute: The Church of
Christ must either build in the near
future or permit it's forward move
ment to stop. Already the Sunday
school has outgrown present quarters,
and the Sabbath congregations tax
the capacity of the auditorium. It's
either build or go to seed within a
short time.
Union of the two congregations
would eliminate these annoying prop
ositions. The Baptist church is a
handsome edifice, new and up to date,
and for a year or so it's capacity
would meet all demands. Then, when
more room was needed, it would
prove much lighter task to build a
needed addition than for the Church
of Christ to erect an entirely new
edifce.
There is considerable debt on the
Baptist edifice. This will necessitate
much self denial on the part of the
Baptist membership before it can be
paid. 1t would be small matter to
pay this debt compared to the erection
of a new church, and the Church of
Christ membership would gladly as.
sumo the smaller burden rather than
the larger. The present church prop
crty would make good site for q
parsonage, and the brick in the Ole
church could be utilized in the erec-
tion Of a new home for the pastor.
With the union Of these two
churches the united congregation
would prove one of the strongest
church organizations in Medina. The
load of expense of pastor and church
would rest much lighter on the con.
gregation and the salary it would be
possible to- pay would give the min.
lister in charge opportunity to edu
cate and rear his family as a "whitt
man should"
At this time the Baptist congrega
tion is having it's troubles in securing
man such as the people want fol
what they feel they can afford tt
pay. To be more explicit, the con
gregation wants $4,000 man TO-
$1,000. And $1,000 is considerabl,
money for the Baptist congregation
4 to raise along with the many othe
things calling for money. No con
gregation can go beyond a certail
point in it's expenses and not pay fo
its rashness. The wise thing to d
in such case is to build up the con
gregation-either by union or acces
sion-so that the load will come with
in the means of the people and no
expect the Lord to carry some par
of it.
This seems to be an opportune tim
for such a union. The Baptists hav
no pastor, have no candidate in sigh
that they can hire with any hopes 0
satisfying their people. Somethin
must be done for better accommoda
L