Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the MRCC?
A: The Maumee River Christian Community is a gathering of now four Presbyterian churches along the historic Maumee River to work together, get to know each other, enjoy events together and to explore the larger parish concept for the future.
Q: What have they been doing?
A: Since November 2002, we have had three officer training programs in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008, a picnic and outdoor worship at Mary Jane Thurston park in GR, a trip to the Corn Maze in Napoleon and worship in 2004, handed out free water at the GR Applebutter Festival in October 2003 and 2004, and had many preacher exchanges, We established a Larger Parish in January 2010.
Q: Who is involved?
A: The pastor and lay people from the congregations of Defiance, Grand Rapids, Napoleon and Waterville Presbyterian Churches form the MRCC Council. Other churches have expressed interest in what we are doing and the Maumee Valley Presbytery is modeling its new organizational structure on our success.
Q: Where did it start?
A: The pastors of several churches initially talked about doing things together instead of alone and that led to the first meeting. The Presbytery of Maumee Valley has been involved since the beginning and is very supportive.
Q: What is a larger parish?
A: A larger parish is a number of churches cooperating and working together for mutual support and expanded and stronger ministry and mission with the concurrence of Presbytery.
Q: What is the advantage of a larger parish?
A: Beyond the value of sharing resources and programs that are difficult to do alone effectively, an important benefit to a church is continuity in pastoral leadership, longer pastoral tenure and more satisfied clergy. It changes the mentality from “one church, one pastor” that is becoming harder and harder to find and finance. Many of our churches face extinction because of fierce independence and local church autonomy that remains suspicious of cooperation. That must change for the well being of the Body of Christ—the larger church. Young people are attracted to churches that are doing more than just trying not to die. The church focused on survival does not have a future.
Q: Is it optional for a church?
A: Absolutely. It requires the approval of each session. It places a premium on pastors working together in shared or cooperative ministry. Several other denominations are doing this already. Research shows that many clergy prefer this style of ministry because it overcomes a lone ranger ministry. Often, in order to have new challenges and opportunities, clergy go to another church. Pastors who can work along the lines of what they do well, work better, and stay longer. It should be obvious that this is a benefit to each church.
Q: What would it cost us?
A: The job description determines each church’s financial involvement. For example, four pastors for the four churches would devote a percentage of their work time to MRCC ministry along their gift and skill lines, as well as to hire other part-time people for specific ministries, e.g. a MRCC Christian Education Director. Each church would designate funds to cover that.
Q: What does our church get out of it?
A: The reality for churches with 200 or fewer members is that it takes at least 2 years between pastors. The larger parish shares pastoral duties and hence can help resource the interim situation so that there is less of a sense of no church after a pastor leaves. The churches of the MRCC are well aware of the trauma a church suffers when a pastor leaves and the tremendous effort and time it takes to get another.
Q: OK, what is the bottom line?
A: Shared leadership in leading the church of the 21st century. Pastors who work alone or churches who are pastor dependent yet "chew pastors up" are not going to revitalize the church of the future or appeal ot younger people. Churches that have a strong sense of ministry beyond themselves and are concerned about working with others in the community will have a future!