Bridgehampton, Southampton Methodist Churches to Merge

The nearly two-century-old Bridgehampton United Methodist Church, which has had a dwindling congregation in recent years, will merge at the end of the month with the Southampton UMC, creating a new entity aimed at increased ministry in both areas.

The Rev. Leslie Duroseau, who is currently the pastor in Southampton, will lead the new Hamptons United Methodist Church, while the Rev. Joanne Utley will leave Bridgehampton to begin her next appointment July 1 in the Catskills.

Though the merger has already been approved, it will be officially voted on by each congregation during separate Sunday services on June 23.

“Each of the churches will have what’s called a 'special church conference' and each church will accept it,” Duroseau said.

Then on June 30 at 9:30 a.m. the congregants will have their first combined service in Southampton. UMC's superintendent for the Long Island East district, the Rev. Adrienne Brewington, will preach, and Duroseau and Utley will co-lead the service.

Two items familiar to Bridgehampton worshipers will be brought to Southampton for the service: a brass cross, and a banner that hangs in the church that quotes a Bible verse about God making a new creation.

Duroseau said the prospect of merging the churches has been discussed for a couple years, as Bridgehampton's aging congregation was getting smaller and efforts to bring in new members were not successful.

While the Bridgehampton church has 46 members on its rolls, only eight or 10 members attended service on Sundays, according to Utley.

“They felt the best thing to do was to merge with another church so they can continue their legacy and begin some new ministry and new outreach projects,” Duroseau said.

Utley said the decision was made after a lot of discussion and prayer.  "We were looking for a place where they could move with a sense of hope and a sense of doing ministry," she said. They found that in Southampton, where the Bridgehampton congregants have many friends and family members.

Having connections in Southampton makes the merger easier on the members who have spent their entire lives attending the Bridgehampton church, Utley said. She noted that many of them were baptized in Bridgehampton and they got married and raised their children there as well.

But, she stressed that the Bridgehampton church will not be closing. She likened the merger to a marriage — two combine their assets and decide how to build a future together.

The church building itself will continue to be used by Faro A Las Naciones, a Latino congregation that has worshiped there for more than 15 years, with about 200 members attending each Sunday.

The parsonage will be empty after Utley leaves, but Duroseau said the new combined congregation will look to connect with a nonprofit organization to provide temporary housing to the homeless or to victims of domestic violence. It may also be used in the future as housing for a youth minister, Duroseau said.

Duroseau has been the pastor at Southampton since July 2010. She holds a Master of Divinity and a Doctor of Ministry from New York Theological Seminary. She is originally from Queens, and Southampton is her first pastoral appointment.

Bridgehampton was Utley's first appointment. After working as a graphic designer for Newsday for 17 years, she began her second career as a pastor in 2009.

At her next appointment, Utley will lead two congregations, the United Church of Roscoe and East Branch/Harvard United Methodist Church. She said it is bittersweet time for her.

"It's tough to leave the first place you were ever appointed pastor, just  because of the sentiments,"and this has been a very dear place to me," she said. "The beauty of this place is wonderful. I love the beach, and it will be tough to say goodbye."

Utley said she is confidant the new Hamptons United Methodist Church will be in good hands. She said she and Duroseau have become close and were both ordained as full elders this past Saturday at Hofstra University.

Hamptons UMC will span from Southampton and Tuckahoe to Bridgehampton and Wainscott, including Water Mill.