This is the fifth article in a series on the Team Ministry collaboration between Messiah, Chester and St. Mary’s, Sparta. See also: Parish collaboration: An introduction, Parish collaboration: A warden’s experience, Parish collaboration: A priest’s experience, and Parish collaboration: A lay pastoral leader’s experience
I’m writing to share how grateful I am for the journey St. Mary’s Sparta and Church of the Messiah in Chester have been on for the past 18 months in a Joint Ministry. After the priests from both of our churches left to pursue their own new journeys, St. Mary’s and Messiah began prayerful searches for clergy solutions. With more clergy openings than available clergy and facing the reality of the cost of hiring clergy, we both realized we could not afford our own full-time priests. Little did we know this shared ministry would be such a great solution.
Our Joint Ministry means we have a shared clergy arrangement where a full-time priest and part-time deacon split their time serving St. Mary’s and Messiah. While each congregation remains distinct, this partnership has brought more blessings than I think many of us imagined.
Mother Elizabeth Ivell and Deacon Gail Kertland have been true gifts. Their combined experience and ability to work as an effective team has delivered very positive results. They have not only served both churches with sincere pastoral care and getting to know us as individuals, they have also encouraged us to stretch, try new things and look at our ministries with fresh eyes.
Though worship styles at St. Mary’s and Messiah are similar, each has its own rhythm and personality. We’ve honored those differences, even as we’ve sometimes borrowed and blended practices. It’s been refreshing to see one church try something new and the other consider it too – or not. There’s been no pressure to become identical or merge, and that respect for individuality has made the partnership stronger.
Socially, it has been great when St. Mary’s and Messiah parishioners get together. We’ve enjoyed joint picnics, campfires, worship services, book studies, bowling and more. It has reminded me how much we have in common, not just in faith, but in the joys and challenges of sustaining active church life.
Financially, both churches face similar hurdles, and the Joint Ministry has opened the door for meaningful conversations about stewardship, budgeting and best practices. We’re continually learning from each other.
There are, of course, ongoing questions. Some members still carry understandable concerns about losing the unique identity of their church. And we all wonder what will come after 2027, when the initial three-year term of this current arrangement is set to end. These are real feelings, and it’s important that we keep listening, praying and discerning together.
Still, I feel hopeful. I’m thankful for the new opportunities, the expanded community and most especially the leadership of Mother Elizabeth, who continues to guide us, provide enthusiasm, pastoral care and a steady hand. The time of Joint Ministry has been a really good experience, and I believe that even with its uncertainties, it is bearing good fruit.
I’m thankful to all of our parishioners, and especially our lay leaders, who trusted and took a leap of faith to support this Joint Ministry experiment. I look forward to seeing what God will continue to do through us in the years ahead.
