Amalgamation Process Report 1

Progress Update from John Fraser

The Amalgamation Process Team (APT) met twice since the kickoff with Rev Fickling on May 25th.

Key messages for the two Congregations:
a) Diverse skills and experience within APT. We have not identified any significant gaps.
b) Team norms developing (collaboration, use of common language, respect, agendas,
minutes prepared, reviewed and approved, etc.)
c) Recognition within the team that timely communication of consistent messages is important.
 
Communication will be: 
a) pushed
i.  verbal (Minute for Amalgama􀆟on during church services), email (eblasts)

b) pulled
i.  “Amalgama􀆟on Corner” (Fireside Room) and through FHUC and TUC websites

c) two way
i.  we’ll develop a feedback capability on the websites so people can ask questions
ii. Listening Circles in the fall to provide a forum for discussion.
iii. One on one via pastoral care
iv. Phone calls / email into the office

d) Creation of the project 􀆟meline via a “bottoms up” process
a. Review all available sources of information for relevant tasks
b. Supplement with tasks specific to each congregation and the nesting arrangement
c. Allocate each task to a project phase (before the vote, the vote, a er vote and before amalgama on date, post malgama on.
d. For each task, determine what needs to be done, how long it will take and dependencies
e. Build a schedule

e) Some aspects of this amalgamation initiative will be easier than most because    Trinity divested its building and chattels in 2018. The only Trinity employee is Adam Cresswell, and that relationship ends December 31. All other services are provided to Trinity by contractors (Pastoral Care, Webmaster, choral scholars). Some of the “dating awkwardness” has been resolved with the nesting relationship in place since February 2024.
This doesn’t mean It will be easy.

f) WOW Region formally notified that due diligence on a possible amalgamation on is underway.

g) No hurdles identified that require intervention on by Amalgamation Steering or leadership teams within each congregation.

h) Strong commitment to transparency in communication within teams, between teams, with Steering and indeed,
with all stakeholders.

i)  Agreement that while amalgamation is likely and there are some who say ‘Just get on with it” the due diligence process needs to be respected so the congregations vote with eyes wide open.

j) There is a sense of urgency within the team but also recognition that there are several stakeholders (United Church, WOW Region, Canada Revenue, financial institutions, etc.) that may not share the urgency)

k) Rev Gary’s participation in both the Process and Vision teams is useful to facilitate knowledge transfer.

l) Holy Currencies – we keep the concepts in mind during our discussions

m) Technology
a. Set up “Amalgamation Corner” within the FHUC and TUC websites and an intake process for questions
b. Sharepoint site to store documents of record (store once, use everywhere)
c. E-blast will be able to link to documents
d. Consider the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) I to process discussions, Vision sessions, minutes, amalgama on doc to see what insight might emerge. Creating a vision statement and crafting a new name will be a challenge – AI might provide a useful starting point.
 
Questions 
a) While the nesting experience has been positive, how do we encourage more meaningful
conversations between the congregations?
b) Would it be worthwhile to post pictures of Trinity leadership in the foyer?
 
Future meetings 
a) 27 August (Process Team)
b) 3 September (joint meeting with Vision team to review scope and mandates)
c) Joint meeting of Trustees (not yet scheduled)
 
 
 
Relevant sources identified to date 
a) Notes from Rev Fickling kickoff (25 May)
b) WOW – Covenant Commission – Amalgamation – Steps for Beginning Well
c) UCC – Ensuring proper amalgamation of your Church from a compliance perspective
d) UCC – Ensuring proper close out of your Church from a compliance perspective
e) TUCC – Amalgamations and Mergers – last gasp or new ministry?
f) WOW – Proposed Agreement of Amalgamation
g) WOW – Congregational Property Transactions
h) UCC – Manual
i) Trustees Handbook

Start Thinking Amalgamation

The Steering Committee was originally formed, last year, to oversee the Nesting Process. This year, when our two congregations authorized an Amalgamation  Process, the Steering Committee was asked to support the work of the Visioning  Team and the Process Team and to hold both teams to a tight timeline. 

The members of the Steering Committee, the Amalgamation Process and the Visioning Process are listed at the end of this update. Feel free to approach any of them with your input or questions. 

Members of the two processes have each met twice since the initial "kick off" presentation to them on May 25th by Rev. Chris Fickling about his congregation's experience with amalgamation. Both processes or teams are making good progress on defining their role and the scope of their responsibilities. They are planning congregational consultations for the early Fall 2025. In addition, ongoing updates at Sunday services, a bulletin board in the Fireside Room and a website presence are being arranged to keep everyone informed at a more detailed level.

Graham Brown
Chair, Trinity Board

The Steering Committee:

• Rev. Gary Clark,

• Diane Dunseith,

• Rob Steele,

• John Fraser,

• Lynne Green,

• Barb Hill,

• Graham Brown
  

The Amalgamation Process Team:

• Rev. Gary Clark,

• John Fraser,

• Ellen Bayton-Walker,

• Scott Davis,

• Elaine Struthers
  

The Visioning Process Team:

• Rev. Gary Clark, 

• Bruce Hannah,

• Donna Dechert,

• Jen Spaulding,

• Katherine Bitzer,

• Linda Nelson,

• Lynne Green,

• Mark Breathwaite,

• Tammy Rowe