Crossroads United Church, Kingston ON

Crossroads United Church - AMALGAMATION DECISIONS

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Our new name - rationale:

At so many points in our lives, we reach a crossroads and the decision of which road to choose can be painful and difficult. At those points especially, we need to feel the guiding, healing presence of God in our lives.

As the hands and feet of Christ in the world, the church reaches out to those who are at a crossroads and we, the church, can be the light to show the way. The church needs to be at the crossroads to help be that light for the world.

Both congregations were at a crossroads before amalgamation and had the choice of several paths. This is the one chosen. This name represents our more modern future rather than anything from the past. Coincidentally, the St. Margaret’s building is located at the crossroads of two of Kingston’s most significant east/west and north/south arteries, slicing through the entire city.

On October 4, 2009, when we voted for our new name, we also adopted the following Purpose statement (as amended):

Crossroads United Church, as a congregation of the United Church of Canada, is a welcoming and supportive community of Christians that gathers to worship, seeks spiritual growth and humbly works to advance God’s justice in the world.

CLICK HERE to view the full purpose (unamended version) and mission statements

More Background on amalgamation
After months of meetings by committees of both churches, the congregations of Queen St. United and St. Margaret's United began worshipping together in the St. Margaret's sanctuary on Nov. 23, 2008. On Sunday, May 31, 2009, the congregations of St. Margaret's United and Queen St. United, in separate votes, voted in favour of the following motion:
"Moved that St. Margaret's/Queen St. United Church, called to God's purpose, commits to undertake with Queen St./St. Margaret's United Church the next steps, including developing a vision, mission, and a new name, for an amalgamated congregation." A new joint amalgamation committee was formed to proceed with the next steps involved in making a formal amalgamation a reality.

With the formal completion of amalgamation on January 1, 2010, the ministers, music directors and other staff of both churches will continue in their roles as they serve the new Crossroads congregation. A Joint Needs Assessment Committee (JNAC) will be struck to consider the staffing needs of the new congregation, and its work should occupy the first few months of 2010.

Although the Queen St. site has been sold, the congregation will have some use of the Queen St. facility for the next year, and some activities will continue to take place there, although most will move to the main Crossroads location on Sir JA MacDonald Blvd.