Are multi-point charges a good thing?

Tonight our Staff Parish Relations Team (we have teams not committees) will be meeting with the SPRC from a neighboring community, Fredericksburg, to discuss doing a new church alignment.  Presently, Sumner is a one point charge.  The new alignment would result in a 2 or 3 point charge. 

Sumner & Fredericksburg have been whole grade sharing for the past two years.  Both communities have an elementary building.  The middle school is at F'burg and the high school is in Sumner.  It has been a very good arrangement, thus leading some to think that shared ministry could likewise be advantageous. 

What do you think?  Having served two point charges & now a single point charge, I know there are strengths and weaknesses in both situations.  What has been your experience?

Comments

[Greg Hazelrig]

I don't know how it will play out there, but from my limited experience with a two point charge (one of three appointments)and from what I hear from others, there seems to be at least a little friction between the two. These two may work perfectly together (and I'm sure many do). But when you have to share a pastor with another church there is always the possibility of jealousy. I've always heard that the churches on a charge will have two totally different personalities. It was true for mine. And it can make it more difficult to minister to.

Again, I'm not saying it can't work. We probably have more charges than single church appointments. But in a perfect world, I believe each church would have its own pastor. Just my two cents worth though.