The six western Associations in the Keystone Conference (which comprised the former Penn West Conference) have been in a conversation for some time about merging. There was an “all-or-nothing” vote taken by the Associations in 2025 which failed in one Association by a few votes, so no merger has yet occurred. But, as per the proposal, we moved to the contingency timeline on it. That timeline called for two Town Halls early in 2026 along with an All-Association Spring Meeting. These have all now been held.
The new proposal calls for several things that were different than what was proposed in 2025; here are some changes to highlight:
- We are framing it in a way that it is “opt-in” instead of “all-or-nothing.” In other words, those Associations that choose to merge may merge and those who don’t do not prevent those who choose to merge from doing so.
- While we are merging into the Pittsburgh Association because it is incorporated…
- We are planning to simultaneously change the Articles of Incorporation and name of the organization from Pittsburgh Association of the United Church of Christ, Inc., to Allegheny Association of the Keystone Conference of the United Church of Christ, Inc.
- We want to be clear that Pittsburgh Association is not “taking over” the others. We are merging into Pittsburgh because it is already incorporated, but the Articles of Incorporation and Constitution & Bylaws will simultaneously be changed as it becomes the Allegheny Association.
- The Constitution & Bylaws reflect several changes, including some that were directly named at the fall meetings, including (but not limited to)
- The inclusion of the autonomy clause word for word as it is currently in the Somerset Association Constitution.
- A change to the quorum section to require a minimum of 25% of the number of Local Churches in the Association.
- We will be considering a budget that has as an apportionment assessment of only $2.00 per member, as per the membership numbers reported in the most current version of the UCC Yearbook.
The Association Presidents have received feedback from the extensive conversations that have been held and have agreed to present the documents in the links below, in combination with the following motion:
“To merge into the Pittsburgh Association of the United Church of Christ, with the understanding that it will amend its Articles of Incorporation to become the Allegheny Association of the Keystone Conference of the United Church of Christ, Inc. (Allegheny Association) and that the Allegheny Association will at the outset use the proposed Constitution & Bylaws (or if one or more Associations opt out, a version amending out the Associations that have so opted) until such a time as the Allegheny Association can meet to officially approve them.”
Allegheny Association Case Statement
Allegheny Association Constitution & Bylaws
Allegheny Association Revised Timeline
Allegheny Association Proposed Budget
For those Associations that opt in to the Allegheny Association, there will be an initial organizational meeting on Thursday, December 3, at 6:30 PM, by Zoom. The main purposes of the meeting will be to:
- Affirm the decision of the Pittsburgh Association to change its Articles of Incorporation to become the Allegheny Association of the Keystone Conference of the United Church of Christ.
- Affirm the Constitution & Bylaws of the Allegheny Association.
- Approve the 2027 Budget.
- Elect officers.
This is an official announcement of that meeting, so please put it on your calendars and plan to attend if your Association opts in. Zoom details will be announced closer to the time. Please also note that if your Association votes to become part of the Allegheny Association that it will not exist after the merger; it will fall under the umbrella of the Allegheny Association.
