Congregants in the Minburn, Perry, Rippey and Fairview United Methodist Churches voted Feb. 25 to create a joint parish beginning July 1.
The merger was not accomplished without some heartache within the Minburn congregation, according to a source close to the discussions. The Minburn parish has in recent years shared a pastor with the Redfield and Dexter UMCs.
The Rev. Paul I. Burrow and the Rev. Rosa Luz Soto serve as ministers to the Perry, Rippey and Fairview churches and will begin sharing preaching and pastoral duties in Minburn this summer.
“The problem is not enough people,” the congregant said, “and not enough money to be viable alone and only looking to get less viable. It’s the same problem with churches in most rural places here.”
