The Two Shall Become One

A Womanist Model of Healing and Wholeness in the Life of Merged Congregations

The context for this project is Webb Grove African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church located in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. The problems in this context are the spirit of death, defeat, and discouragement as a result of a congregational merger, relocation, and the building of a new sanctuary. The hypothesis utilizes a qualitative approach of pre- and post-tests, surveys, and an ethnographic cultural study to determine the intervention’s effectiveness. A qualitative methodology identifies issues of unity in the church. Bible studies, sermon series, focus groups, and congregational wellness assessments focus on creating community. The sessions were successful with persons developing a heart for worship and fellowship.