By Nicole Falco
"We were doing better than St. Paul's, but we were struggling,too," explained the Rev. Johnathan Hopkins, Trinity's pastor. "We decided to have one stronger church instead of two smaller churches that were struggling."
The union became official June 19. The final worship service at St. Paul's, on South Grove Street, was held at 9 a.m. that day, with members of both congregations in attendance. At 11 a.m., a procession including members of both congregations walked through the doors of Trinity, at the corner of Oliver and Everett streets, to become one.
Hopkins explained that Trinity averaged about 70 congregants at Sunday services, up from the 40 or so who regularly attended when he became pastor two years ago. St. Paul's averaged 15 to 20 congregants. What's more, about eight of the latter church's longtime members died in the past year. Now that the union is complete, Hopkins expects to see 90 familiar faces at worship services, a number he hopes will grow as the church expands its community outreach.
"I've been at Trinity now for 56 years," said Jack Engh, Trinity council president. "I've seen it go from a basement with no church to a church with no pews to a church with pews. Then we added an education building. The rise and fall of the congregation. The peaks and valleys. I think this has been a very good challenge for the both of us."
Hopkins said the decision has given both congregations "new hope."
"I'm thrilled," he said of the union. "I think it's been revitalizing to Trinity and St. Paul's, of course, because it's given us a whole new energy, a new perspective of what it means to be a church."
That doesn't mean it was easy for the 93-year-old St. Paul's to close its doors. "It's a tough decision to make," said Bob Schurmann, St. Paul's council president. "It's a beautiful church, but we couldn't support it anymore."
"Losing your church is a very painful process," Hopkins said. "No one wants to see that happen. All the members of St. Paul's are good, faithful members that have been there a number of years. They've stuck it out through hard times."
In April 2004, St. Paul's pastor of nearly 20 years, the Rev. Gail Burwa, announced that she would be leaving the congregation that May, three months earlier than planned. In a letter to congregants, she wrote, "I have been asked to provide more pastoral care and paralegal work for those in the [World Trade Center] Families for Proper Burial organization. Their need is great and immediate."
Following Burwa's departure, St. Paul's was assigned an interim pastor. The Metropolitan New York Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America eventually assigned the Rev. Norman White, dean of the Western Nassau County Conference, to preside over Sunday worship services and work out the church's future. In the meantime, Hopkins assumed pastoral care responsibilities for the congregation, including anointing of the sick and funerals. Trinity and St. Paul's also began Wednesday-afternoon Bible study together.
"We got to know a lot of their people through the Bible study," said Schurmann. "They were very welcoming. We like the people over there, and we like Pastor Hopkins extremely. He's very enthusiastic, and we think he's got a good head on his shoulders."
The two congregations eventually began holding joint council meetings to discuss what it would mean to unite. Though they talked of unification, the councils didn't discuss which church building would be kept.
"From a faith point of view, that's a very important thing, because most people want to hold onto a building, but they decided the building isn't as important as serving the needs of the Valley Stream community," White said.
Once the union became a reality, Hopkins began preaching at both churches on Sundays. While Hopkins and White guided both congregations, ultimately each decision, both big and small, was their own. Which building would be kept? How should Communion rituals from both churches be combined? How would the money from the sale of St. Paul's be used? Red or white wine at Communion?
"There were a million different issues that I didn't think of when we started," Hopkins said. "[St. Paul's congregants] stepped up and said, 'You have things going on here. We understand it should be us to sell our building.' I give them a lot of credit for that."
Though it is bittersweet for one congregation, both are excited about what the union will mean for the future. "I think it's a new beginning," said Charles Gundersen, a lifelong Trinity congregant. "It's good for us and it's good for them. It's a win-win situation.
"We didn't know what to expect. We didn't even know if the merger would happen, but we both welcomed each other very much. Ours is a very warm congregation. When you come in, you're hugged all the time. I think they needed that family feeling."
Schurmann and his wife, Audrey, said the Christian spirit at Trinity was evident. "Pastor John's congregation is very welcoming," Audrey said. "They're very friendly."
Though St. Paul's, which has stood at its present location since 1924, will eventually be sold, a process being handled by the Synod, elements of the church have been brought to Trinity - sacred items including altar linens, a chalice, a cross that has hung over the altar there for many years. The new church council has been elected, made up of members of both congregations. In January, Trinity will have a new name, chosen from congregants' suggestions.
"If they're willing to give up their church, we can give up something of ours," said Martha Oest, a 25-year Trinity congregant.
Money from the sale of St. Paul's will go toward renovations at Trinity, including making the building handicapped-accessible.
"The one stipulation they had was don't tear [the church building] down on that corner and let an office building go up," White said of the congregation's desire to see the building be sold to a religious institution. "We may not make as much money, but we want ministry to continue there."
Other plans already in the works include day care, expanded programs for senior citizens and a community group. A summer camp and after-school programs are already in place at Trinity.
"We have a great vision for the church," said Gundersen, a nephew of church founders Laura and George Gundersen. "We want to be involved in the community. I think we've already done that, but we want to do more."
Comments about this story? NFalco@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 208.
