The Merger

Coming Together - Old Roots, New Blossoms

Contributed by W.W. Small

In 1978, stimulated by the vision and enthusiasm of its Minister, the Rev. W. (Bill) Phipps, Trinity United Church began to look seriously at its future. A T.R.I.M (Trinity Renews Its Mission) Committee was appointed. After many months of thorough examination and consultation with other members of the Church congregation and adjacent community, regarding the varied issues, the Committee believed there was an important continuing role for Trinity United Church in mid-Toronto. The difficulty of achieving success with declining membership accompanied by mounting operating expenses was recognized. Fulfillment emphasized the need for maintaining or expanding membership and securing compatible partners to share expenses.

News of similar problems and concerns being expressed by St. Paul's Avenue Road United Church fell on alert ears. Encouraged by the affirmation of their neighbours, "The Southern Six" (Bathurst, Bloor, Korean, St. Andrew's, St. Paul's and Trinity) the two Churches appointed a Negotiating Committee. It deliberated at great length, endeavouring to define institutional goals, noting areas of commonality, compatible programmes, complementary resources as well as some divergent concerns.

"The Committee examined various possible organizational relationships and structures, reviewed the financial resources of each congregation and assessed the suitability of a renovated Trinity building to accommodate the essential functions of a future joint venture."

The Negotiating Committee sought to resolve concerns and establish conditions which would ensure co-operative endeavour, creative, long-term growth ad organizational viability. It concluded there was a firm basis for combining within one building the then prevailing functions of the two congregations. The Committee then recommended the amalgamation of the Trinity and St. Paul's Avenue Road congregations into a single pastoral charge with two continuing congregations as soon as the sale of the St. Paul's Avenue Road building had been approved by Presbytery. The carefully prepared conditions recommended as the basis for amalgamation included the continuation of an established community service under the new name of "St. Paul's Centre at Trinity" as an integral part of the ongoing pastoral charge's programme. The process whereby consensus was reached and the key organizational relationships were incorporated in a document entitled "Trinity and St. Paul's Avenue Road United Churches". The recommendations were approved by the St. Paul's congregation on January 27, 1980 and the Trinity Congregation on February 24, 1980. Subject to assurance that financial arrangements were on a sound basis and to approval of Toronto Area Presbytery, they were forwarded to members of the Southern Six Congregations within the Mid-City Zone (5) Remissioning Project and received unequivocal support.

The Trinity-St. Paul's Financial Feasibility Committee was appointed to examine the financial statements for 1979 and budgets for 1980 of the two congregations; prepare a consolidated budget and prepare reliable, current estimates of the amount required for necessary alterations of the Trinity Church building. The Feasibility Committee concluded its Report:

"The only sure characteristic of the future that can be predicted safely at the present time is uncertainty. Unforeseeable exigencies will test the ingenuity and fortitude of us all. We believe, however, the joint use of a single building will not only result in significant financial savings (estimated in the first year to be $32,516.00), but also strengthen the determination fo all associated with the co-operative venture and lead to greater programme vitality than is possible when such a high proportion of time is spent maintaining the physical fabric of two large old buildings. We believe the formation of Trinity-St. Paul's pastoral charge, accommodated within a renovated building, will have a sound financial base and will lead to the fulfilment of opportunities for constructive work within the two congregations, more vigorous outreach in the local community and enable stronger support to be given for the wider work of the United Church of Canada."

The Feasibility Committee's Report was received by both Congregations and accepted as the basis for fulfilling the condition of satisfactory financial arrangements. In due course the amalgamation of the two congregations and the sale of the Avenue Road property were approved by Toronto Area Presbytery.

The tortuous road to the founding of the new Trinity-St. Paul's pastoral charge had demonstrated the Christian conviction, the determination, and the flexibility of the members of the two congregations of long standing. The renovation of the Trinity Church building was completed slowly but satisfactorily, so that the new facilities generated, to a large degree, a support environment for the Church and its associated activities. The confidence of the members of each congregation for the other, nurtured in adversity, matured as co-operative work, followed the St. Paul's move to the Bloor Street property. By 1981 the united pastoral charge agreed to establish a single congregation. This action was celebrated in a formal service of dedication in February, 1981.

Five years later we know that the decision to seek co-operative solutions was sound. It still continues to demand of each member the highest degree of emotional, spiritual, intellectual insight and physical energy. But we work on, encouraged as we recall the spirit of the United Church of Canada's "A Contemporary Expression of Faith" "We are not alone... He calls us to be his Church... thanks be to God."

Coming Together — The St. Paul's Account

Contributed by Harald Bohne

FEBRUARY 3, 1980:
BASIC OUTLINE OF TRINITY/ST. PAUL'S PROPOSAL

For many years Trinity and St. Paul's Avenue Road congregations have been working independently to assess and determine their witness in a world vastly different from the time of their founding at the turn of the century. Since 1972 Trinity has engaged in future planning. TRIM is only the most recent effort. Over a period of two years TRIM examined a multitude of alternatives for Trinity's future ministry, narrowing to four; and now to one. This process has been within the context of the Mid-City Zone ReMissioning Project, encouraging greater co‑operation among our sister congrega­tions. On September 13,1979 the Southern Six Planning and Coordinating Committee of the Zone passed the following resolution:

Based on an appreciation of the ministry of St. Paul's through its partnership with the Centre groups, we affirm a commitment to maintain the St. Paul's Centre concept by relocation. Further, we request St. Paul's and Trinity to establish a committee to enter into negotiations with respect to relocation of the Centre at Trinity as soon as possible.

St. Paul's and Trinity established a negotiating committee which has met extensively. As a result the following arrangement is being proposed:

Trinity United Church and St. Paul's Avenue Road United become a two-point Pastoral Charge of the United Church of Canada, called "Trinity - St. Paul's Pastoral Charge"; and that St. Paul's Centre be relocated within the Trinity building. Such an arrangement would have the following features: - a single pastoral charge with two congregations (the norm for our rural churches) - one Official Board with up to 20 Trinity representatives and up to 10 St. Paul's representatives, to establish a policy for the total operation, -one Trustee Committee with up to 10 Trinity representatives and up to 5 St. Paul's representatives (fifteen is the maximum allowed in the Manual), to hold and administer the assets of both congregations.-each congregation will have a Congregational Council (such as Trinity's present Official Board) to govern congregational programs and policies.-"St. Paul's Centre at Trinity" will be administered by a management committee, operating within policies set by the Official Board. Each congregation will have two representatives and each centre group one representative. The St. Paul's Centre currently consists of 10 groups.-the proceeds from the sale or lease of the St. Paul's building will be used for the renovations necessary to meet the space requirements of both St. Paul's Centre and Trinity.

At both a regular and a specially called meeting, the Official Board examined the details of this proposal presented by the Negotiating Team. After full discussion, the following motion was passed by the Official Board on January 27, 1980:

WHEREAS Trinity United Church has reviewed for some 8 years its future in mission; AND WHEREAS this review, having considered various courses leading into the future, and options for harmonizing Trinity's theology of mission with a suitable use of its building has narrowed to the view that Trinity United Church and St. Paul's Avenue Road United Church form a single pastoral charge, with two congregations, using the present Trinity building, and the transfer of the St. Paul's Centre into the Trinity building;

BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED —

a) that this Official Board be on record as favouring in principle the union of the congregations of Trinity United Church and St. Paul's Avenue Road United Church into one pastoral charge;
b) that the positive attitude of this Board towards the formation of a single pastoral charge with two congregations be conveyed to the Annual Meeting of the Trinity Congregation on February 3, 1980;
c) that this Board go on record, and so inform the Annual Meeting, as being prepared to actualize a new relationship with St. Paul's Avenue Road in a single pastoral charge with two congregations, when the following conditions have been satisfied:

1. when it has been shown that both Trinity and St. Paul's have agreed to the principles of joining together in a single pastoral charge and have agreed on the structures to be put in place.
2. when both congregations have satisfied themselves that financial arrangements are on a sound basis into the foreseeable future.
3. when Toronto Area Presbytery has approved the plan of the amalgamation into one pastoral charge of Trinity and St. Paul's with two identifiable congregations.

NOTICE OF MOTION FOR A CONGREGATION MEETING:
February 10, 1980.

"WHEREAS Trinity's review of its alternatives for future ministry has narrowed to the view that Trinity United Church and St. Paul's Avenue Road United form a single pastoral charge with two congregations using the present Trinity building, and the transfer of the St. Paul's Centre into the Trinity building;
AND WHEREAS the Official Board of Trinity United Church is on record as favouring in principle the union of the congregations of Trinity United Church and St. Paul's Avenue Road United Church into one pastoral charge;
AND WHEREAS St. Paul's Avenue Road has approved the said proposal;
AND WHEREAS the Secretary of the General Council has confirmed that such an arrangement is within the requirements of the Manual of the United Church;
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED that the congregation of Trinity United Church go on record as being prepared in principle to actualize a new relationship with St. Paul's Avenue Road into a single pastoral charge with two congregations when the following conditions have been satisfied:

4. when both congregations have satisfied themselves that financial arrangements are on a sound basis into the foreseeable future,

5. when Toronto Area Presbytery has approved the plan of the amalgamation into one pastoral charge with two identifiable congregations."

Fig. 3. Sanctuary of Trinity United in 1933 just following the renovations to the pulpit and prior to the installation of the new organ. The pipe facing was changed slightly by Casavant when the Lye organ was removed. The Lye Co. is responsible for the cabinetry.