One church moves out, another could move in

Last Sunday's service at the First United Methodist Church in South St. Paul was special for those in attendance, not just because it fell on the 10-year anniversary of the 9/11 attacks but also because it was the last service the congregation would ever have in its building at 140 6th Av. N.

First United Church is merging with another church in Mendota Heights. But if everything goes according to plan, its church building will be occupied by the South St. Paul Hispanic Seventh-Day Adventist (SDA) Church, now located across 6th Avenue N. near 2nd Street N.

To help the SDA church move, the city is looking into purchasing the church's current site, which would eventually be razed for parking for South St. Paul High School and the city's community center. With the money from the sale, the SDA church would buy the First United Church building. First United in turn would donate some of the proceeds to the community.

It would be a "win-win-win" situation, said Dave Webb, superintendent of the South St. Paul School District, who has been participating in the discussions.

The SDA church is located between Central Square Community Center and South St. Paul High, in a building that is basically in the school's parking lot. "It's a very odd place to be, frankly," said City Administrator Steve King.

There have been parking problems in that area because of the close proximity of the two churches, the high school and the community center, King said. "Hopefully this [change] will help in some small measure," he said.

With declining membership and some budget issues, the First United leadership decided that the congregation should merge with another church in Mendota Heights, said the Rev. Deb DeMeester.

The first Methodist mission in Minnesota was in South St. Paul, DeMeester said. First United Church opened in 1915.

The church hopes to use the money from the sale of its building for several philanthropic endeavors, such as a scholarship fund, a donation to the nonprofit Neighbors Inc. and financial gifts to several local churches. First United also wants to continue an endowment started by a South St. Paul teacher to help revitalize other churches.

Across 6th Avenue from the Methodist church, the membership of the SDA church, which serves primarily Spanish-speaking members, has continued to grow by leaps and bounds, Webb said. "They're bursting at the seams."

The Methodist church building is newer and larger and has conveniences including an elevator and air conditioning that will better serve the SDA church's needs.

First United first approached the school district to see if it was interested in purchasing its site, but the district didn't have an immediate need for it, Webb said.

Webb said if the SDA church is razed for more parking space, the school district would likely pay a portion of regular assessments for the next 15 years to help cover the cost, similar to the way residents pay street repair assessments.

As of now, the SDA church has made an offer for the Methodist church building, contingent on the sale of its property to the city. The city is proceeding with steps it must take to purchase the SDA church site, though the plans have not yet been approved by the City Council.

Webb said it has been great to see so many parties coming together on a plan that can benefit everyone involved.

"That's been the theme here: Nobody can do this alone," Webb said. "It's just a great story of partnerships and collaboration."