A synagogue for sale and a congregation in flux

After a year of discussions, the decision has been made to put a "for sale" sign in front of B'Nai Emet Synagogue in St. Louis Park, but the congregation that meets at the corner of Ottawa Avenue S. and Hwy. 7 still hasn't decided whether it will continue.

"What we do know for sure is that we can't stay in that building," said Rabbi Charni Flame Selch. "We've formed two committees. One is looking into the possibility of moving to the Plymouth-Maple Grove area, and the other is looking into merging with another congregation in St. Louis Park or Minneapolis."

The situation the congregation faces is not unusual for faith communities in the central city or first-ring suburbs. As younger families settle in the more distant suburbs, the membership base gets smaller and grows older. The building needs repairs -- including a new roof -- that the congregation can't afford.

The Plymouth-Maple Grove area was chosen for possible relocation because one-third of the members already live there.

"We've been told that there's a need in that area for a Jewish preschool," Selch said. (If you're interested, she'd like you to contact the synagogue at 952-927-7309 or info@bnaiemet.org.)

As for the possibility of a merger, it wouldn't be the first. B'Nai Emet was formed by a merger between two Minneapolis synagogues, B'nai Abraham and Congregation Mikro-Tifereth.

Most houses of worship have multipurpose rooms, but the St. Louis Park building, which opened in 1959, took the concept to a new level. The sanctuary originally was set up so it could be converted to a basketball gym. For years, youngsters could be bar-mitzvahed one day and practice free throws in the same spot the next day.

"Regardless of what's decided, it will be at least six months before anything happens [in terms of moving out of the building], and probably more like next June," Selch said.

Convention retention Minneapolis is becoming the place to be for church conventions. Last summer, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America held its national meeting in the Minneapolis Convention Center. This summer, two more denominations are coming for the same thing.

The Unitarian Universalist Association is holding its annual general assembly June 23-27. About 4,000 people are expected. Six days later (July 3-10), the Presbyterian Church USA arrives for its general assembly. About 3,000 people are expected for that conference, which is held every other year.

Both denominations said that one of the main reasons they picked Minnesota is that the local churches are active and supportive. Indeed, several Twin Cities churches have stepped forward to host religious and entertainment events for the visitors.

A two-fer party Open Arms, a nonprofit organization that provides meals for people with chronic or life-threatening illnesses, has two reasons to celebrate this weekend. The organization recently delivered meal No. 2 million, and it has moved into new digs.

If you're wondering why the group needs a new building, the timing of the delivery of the 2 millionth meal shows how the organization -- and demand for its services -- is growing. Launched in 1986, it took the organization 19 years to reach the 1 million-meal mark but only five years to reach 2 million.