What’s this Co-op?

Nestled between the West Virginia hills and the Ohio River is a part of Appalachia known as the Upper Ohio Valley. It is an area rich in the history of our nation’s formation, westward expansion, and the civil war. In the midst of this area, there are four congregations in three communities, spanning three counties which currently make up the cooperative ministry. The location of this cooperative is unique. The communities where the four churches are located consists of two inner-city congregations, each with long histories in Wheeling that have now come together to share a building, and two small town communities.

 

The co-op was originally born out of a partnership between Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in New Martinsville, and Messiah Lutheran Church in Moundsville. Over time, this expanded to include St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church (which has since closed), Trinity Lutheran in South Wheeling, and most recently First English Lutheran Church, formerly located in downtown Wheeling and now sharing a building as well as worshipping together with Trinity.

 

The co-op itself is the way in which these congregations have entered into relationship with each other. For many years, the co-op was served by one pastor. For nine years, the co-op served as a learning site for pastoral interns, who learned and worked alongside the full time pastor. This chapter in the life of the co-op closed, and after a time of exploration a second pastor was called to help serve full time.

 

Behind the methodology of this organization is the idea that “a rising tide raises all ships.” The churches that are a part of the co-op share in ministry and resources when they can, and pay into the co-op what they are able to contribute. Alone, many of the congregations would be struggling to engage in ministries that become possible together.

This co-op is a dynamic organization, one that is always adapting depending upon the needs and resources that arise. Most recently, the co-op hired a staff person to manage its online presence, from this very website to social media.

 

One of the ongoing goals of this co-op structure is to allow the congregations and people within them to continue to be faithful witnesses to the Gospel of Jesus in the world in ways that would be much more challenging without working together. The co-op is a curious creation in the church, one that we ourselves are still exploring and getting to know.

 

There are many gifts to being a part of this co-op, including joining together when there is a 5th Sunday in a month for a joint worship service, sharing the gifts of musicians between the churches, coming together for other social and worship events throughout the year, and being able to support the different communities within which each of the congregations is blessed to be located.