On April 26, delegates to the 45th annual meeting of the NWOA-UCC voted to go support the Church Development Team (the same team that helped “birth” Nu-Vizion” a few years ago) in going forward with a new church start in Toledo. The name of the church will be “The Village Church of Northwest Ohio” and it will be shepherded by Pastor Cheri Holdridge, a United Methodist pastor seeking dual standing in the UMC and the UCC (United Methodist Church and United Church of Christ). This “regional” congregation will have its epicenter in South Toledo, with primary outreach ministry in Old South Toledo. It will have a long-term vision to expend its energy to become a multi-site movement that will spread across the region. The Village Church of Northwest Ohio will reach persons who live and work in the city, who long for authentic relationships and community, who seek balance in their lives of prayer and action, and who will offer compassion and seek justice for persons living in poverty. Pastor Cheri says The Village Church of Northwest Ohio will not build its own church facilities, but will partner with other churches and organizations to share worship space.