An Offer for Salem's Future

The New Creation United Methodist Church, on the southwest side of Cedar Rapids, is officially discontinuing at the end of June 2010 after eighteen years. On Easter Sunday we announced that they are offering Salem their land (8.5 acres), phase one building, and blueprint plans for expansion. Salem would need to assume their outstanding mortgage, a little over $300,000. That is about a fourth of the property value. The Flood of 2008 destroyed Salem's church building. With this offer from New Creation, there could be resurrection for both congregations.

Our next step will be the Leadership Board's decision to pursue this or not. We will do that in the next couple of weeks. If the Leadership Board chooses to pursue this offer, we will then prepare to have a Church Conference. That will be Salem's official decision. We will have at least one congregational meeting before a Church Conference as we did when we worked on the decision for the buyout of the downtown property. Again, we are looking for unanimity (clear consensus, one mind) in the congregation. And we will have an open house at New Creation to give everyone an opportunity to see the location, property, building, and surrounding neighborhoods.

Whatever decision Salem makes, this is very exciting. We have been fasting and praying during Lent, seeking what it is the Lord God is doing. We have traveled Holy Week with Jesus, encountering the triumphant entry into Jerusalem, the Last Supper, the betrayal, Jesus’ suffering, his death, and now his resurrection. And we proclaim: God not only raised Jesus from death, God raises his people to new life!