Methodist Churches Share Pastor

MASSENA - One pastor will begin serving two local Methodist churches starting in mid-August.

Rev. Jeffrey V. Aiosa, who has served for about the past three years as pastor of the First United Methodist Church in Massena, will also lead Grace United Methodist Church in Massena starting Aug. 15, according to Rev. Beth O. Benham, superintendent for the United Methodist Northern Flow District.

Rev. Tom Davis, who has served as pastor at Grace United Methodist Church, will leave to continue to work with Hospice and Palliative Care and serve as a prison chaplain, she said.

The moves, like those being made in other denominations, stem from manpower and money issues, Rev. Benham said.

"It's partly the availability of clergy, it's partly finances," she said.

As the former pastor for eight years at First United Methodist Church, Rev. Benham said she knew firsthand how events like the closing of the General Motors Powertrain plant could impact not only the community, but also area churches.

"When I was there, there were some significant losses as personnel at the plant retired. Just from having been in Massena myself, I know the impact the economy has, and for whatever reason a lot of the mid-management salaried workers have been United Methodist," she said.

Grace United Methodist Church, which is located on state Route 37C, has been dealing with the economy and some aging in the congregation, according to Rev. Benham.

"It was mostly because of the economy that they needed to look at their budget and see where they could shift gears," she said.

And at First United Methodist Church, located on Main Street in Massena, "they felt they needed to pull back some for the same reason," she said.

One of the economic difficulties, Rev. Benham said, is providing health care for pastors.

"One of the things that has really challenged a lot of United Methodist churches is the cost of health insurance for pastors. That's become a real challenge for a lot of our churches. They feel a necessity to provide certain benefits for their clergy," she said.

While the two churches have been separate entities, they have worked together - along with other area churches - as part of the Greater Massena Ministerial Association.

"There has been some contact. I know we have worked together" on events such as Vacation Bible School, Baccalaureate services and Thanksgiving services, which tend to be ecumenical in Massena, Rev. Benham said.

In addition, she said, "they have done some mission projects and hosted mission projects together."

Despite the sharing of one pastor, though, she said they will remain separate entities, though some areas like worship schedules will likely have to change.

"(Worship times) overlap slightly. Both churches are compromising. I've left that to them to work out," Rev. Benham said.

"They are two distinct, individual congregations. Each one over the years has developed their own kind of ministries and outreach to the community. There are some things like the times of worship services where they have to work together and make it work. In terms of their own ministries, their identities in the decision-making process will remain," she said.