What happens when a faithful congregation realizes its current trajectory isn’t sustainable?
For a growing number of churches, the options can feel limited: continue struggling, enter a prolonged vacancy, share a pastor, or eventually close the doors. But is there another way?
In this episode of The Red Letter Disciple, Zach sits down with Scott Giger of Cornerstone Lutheran Church, Greg Griffith of King of Kings Church, and Tom Pfotenhauer of Woodbury Lutheran Church. All three are leading multisite LCMS churches that have experienced church mergers firsthand.
Together, they share real stories of congregations that were struggling to survive and are now seeing baptisms, young families, community outreach, and renewed hope. They also get practical about what actually makes a merger work: leadership, culture, governance, communication, honoring a congregation’s history, and knowing what is—and isn’t—negotiable.
The conversation also tackles some of the harder questions facing the LCMS. How should larger and smaller churches work together? Why is there sometimes distrust around multisite ministry? What role should districts play in helping struggling congregations? And how does the pastoral shortage affect the future of church revitalization?
This isn’t a conversation about whether big churches are better than small churches. It’s about how churches can work together so that gospel ministry continues in communities where it might otherwise disappear.
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A church merger that actually worked
Tom shares how a struggling congregation of roughly 40–50 people became part of Woodbury Lutheran and now sees hundreds worshiping, young families, baptisms, Sunday school, and confirmation.
King of Kings Fremont: from possible closure to new life
Greg tells the story of Good Shepherd Lutheran becoming King of Kings Fremont and growing from roughly 50–70 worshipers to around 180, including a Sunday with 10 baptisms.
Three options for struggling congregations
Scott explains Cornerstone’s approach: help a church remain independent, help stabilize and relaunch it, or explore becoming part of Cornerstone.
Why church revitalization matters in the LCMS
Zach connects the conversation to the 2026 State of the LCMS Survey, where revitalization emerged as one of the major issues leaders believe needs attention.
Is a merger actually a takeover?
The group discusses the uncomfortable reality that healthy mergers usually require a clear leading partner—and why clarity about that from the beginning matters.
When church structures consume all the energy
Tom describes faithful people who spend so much time keeping the “church machine” running that they have little energy left for mission or relationships.
How multisite churches actually work
Greg and Tom explain the relationship between central teams and campus teams and how shared resources can free local pastors and leaders for relational ministry.
Who needs to be involved in merger conversations?
Scott explains why decision-makers, trusted congregational leaders, and eventually the wider congregation all need to be part of a transparent process.
The hardest thing to give up
Greg explains why the hardest part of a merger is often not governance or even the name—it’s the history, memories, and emotional attachment people have to their church.
“Tell the Story Night”
Scott and Zach share a practical way churches can honor decades of ministry before moving into a new chapter.
Misunderstandings about multisite churches
The group addresses criticisms that larger churches only care about numbers, money, control, or watering down Lutheran theology.
Where the LCMS could help more
The conversation turns toward districts, Synod, pastoral formation, SMP, and the need for more proactive conversations around struggling congregations.
What should a struggling church do first?
The group offers practical first steps for pastors and leaders who know their congregation’s current trajectory isn’t sustainable.
Be a “hope dealer”
Tom and Scott close by challenging healthier churches to use what God has given them to encourage, serve, and strengthen congregations around them—even when a merger never happens.
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