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WHEN CHURCHES JOIN

3. Pitfalls and other Unexpected Difficulties
- Matters for consideration regarding Property and Resources

The property-owning denomination may be prepared to enter a Declaration of Trust so that one party holds the property on behalf of both parties. In other instances the relationship is that of 'landlord/tenant', with one party owning the property and the other having access as a tenant. But beware of entering partnerships with a congregation which is struggling financially and sees the arrangement as a convenient source of a financial contribution for the use of the building (a landlord/tenant relationship). The greater the partnership in property the better. A landlord/tenant relationship reflects two unequal partners. Preferable is 'tenancy in common' with shares reflecting the differing contributions in the cause.

Points to bear in mind if, however, a tenancy agreement is negotiated:

- the congregation owning the property may decide on a new use of their buildings on a Sunday morning, e.g. two worship services in differing styles, leaving the 'tenant' congregation possibly without a meeting time which they feel appropriate.

- if the 'tenant' partner congregation has sold property and invested the monies received into the property of the 'landlord' partner congregation, and the co-operative partnership collapses for some reason, the 'tenant' congregation will no longer have those financial resources. They would be in no different position from other community organisations which rented the church building.

If Uniting Church properties are sold and funds contributed to a joint venture, consider how Uniting Church members will feel if, for example, it becomes the Anglican prerogative to appoint the minister. This may come about because of the question of presidency at the Eucharist, or the stipend may be funded by the Anglican Church with no provision in the agreement for the Uniting Church to provide the ministry?

Ultimately, how one congregation puts its resources into property owned by another must be determined by the Synod of the Uniting Church and the appropriate authorities of other denominations acting on legal advice.

Where a Uniting Church building is used for worship by other denominations, interpersonal interaction among the communities should be fostered.

The Christians of a country town may want to join together under a name which does not include any reference to a denomination. If there is a proposal to give them Uniting Church property and set them free from all connections with the Uniting Church or any other denomination, the committees of Presbytery and Synod would have to be consulted. The issues involved go far beyond considerations of property. They include the sense in which an independent congregation participates in the body of Christ and the one, holy, catholic and apostolic church, how oversight is to be exercised and how ministers are to be appointed.