Two theologically progressive churches in Oak Lawn plan to merge in January, with the coming together bringing about a new name and mission statement.

Pilgrim Faith United Church of Christ, at 9411 S. 51st Ave., will give up its building and pastor to merge with Salem United Church of Christ at 9717 S. Kostner Ave., said the Rev. Dan Sather, pastor at Pilgrim.

“My people learned awhile ago that the building is not the ministry,” Sather said Monday. “There’s more to the faith community than a building. It’s what we do. It’s how we interact.”

Pilgrim Faith approached Salem United Church of Christ about merging after Sather began working to increase collaboration between the two churches about two years ago.

“We both needed to look at a more faithful way of using our ministry,” Sather sai

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