Peachtree Road UMC – Collins Memorial UMC Merger FAQ
Why are we considering merging with Collins Memorial UMC?
In 2021, Peachtree Road UMC launched our second campus, Westside Table. Westside Table began worshipping in September of 2021 and in a little more than two years has grown from an initial group of 35 people to a congregation with around 200 people and is averaging approximately 100 people in worship each Sunday morning in rented space at Round Trip Brewing.
A large majority of Westside Table’s membership lives less than a mile from the Collins Memorial UMC campus and we believe merging with Collins Memorial would strengthen and accelerate the growth of Westside Table as a vital church in the Westside community.
A merger with Collins Memorial will allow Peachtree Road to secure a permanent site for Westside Table. A permanent site would allow us to strengthen our already deep commitment to the community, provide the space we need to continue to grow our ministry with Westside children and families, and establish a vital United Methodist church for the people who live and work in the rapidly growing neighborhoods that comprise Atlanta’s Upper Westside.
This proposed merger has been vetted by the Peachtree Road Board of Trustees and also comes with the unanimous recommendation of the Westside Table Leadership Team.
The ministry of Collins Memorial UMC
Collins Memorial UMC is one of Atlanta’s oldest churches, dating it’s roots back to 1821. The current sanctuary, which sits at 2220 Bolton Road in the Riverside community in Northwest Atlanta, was built in 1909. Collins members have faithfully lived out their calling as a neighborhood church for more than 200 years, a ministry best exhibited by the Collins Memorial Food Pantry. Members and volunteers serve almost 200 families per week and distributed 636,000 pounds of food in 2022.
The membership of Collins has declined over the years and approximately a year ago, the congregation of Collins UMC connected with Peachtree Road around a merger in the hopes of ensuring a vital United Methodist presence can remain in Atlanta’s Upper Westside.
What Happens Next
If we vote to approve a merger with Collins Memorial UMC, Peachtree Road will take possession of all of Collins UMC’s assets, including it’s property, conservatively valued in past appraisals north of $3.4 million.
We would begin plans to relocate Westside Table’s ministry from Round Trip Brewing to the Collins Memorial site and begin developing a master plan for long-term ministry on the site. We would continue the important work of the Collins Memorial Food Ministry and invite members of Collins UMC to become part of the Peachtree Road UMC/Westside Table family.
Called Church Conference
Monday, March 25, 6:30 pm, Grace Hall
Peachtree Road United Methodist Church
The members of Collins Memorial UMC voted unanimously last month to merge with Peachtree Road UMC, and now it is our turn to consider this important opportunity for ministry. We are excited because it would give our Westside campus a permanent location in the neighborhood. Please be in prayer for our church as we consider this important move for our Westside Table campus.
The Called Church Conference will be a part of our March Administrative Board Meeting. If you will be joining this meeting and would like dinner ($15 lasagna, salad, dessert starting at 6:00 pm), please RSVP to Jane Ogle at 404.240.8241 or janeo@prumc.org.