On Nov. 27 the congregations of both United Methodist Church in Wells and Grace United Methodist Church in Kiester voted unanimously to merge to become one church between two campuses, according to a press release. 

Effective Jan. 1, the church will be known as Open Doors United Methodist Church. Worship services will be 9 a.m. Sundays at the Wells campus, and 10:30 a.m. Sundays at the Kiester campus.

The office of Open Doors United Methodist Church will be at 595 1st Ave. SW, Wells, MN 56097; and the office phone will be 507-553-5453.

All current ministries that have been functioning at each location prior to the merger will continue into the foreseeable future. Both prior church memberships automatically transition into the new Open Doors United Methodist Church. The United Methodist Women’s organizations of each prior church will continue at each location under the new church name, but will be physically active at each campus as it had been.

United Methodist Church in Wells was founded in 1865. This church has had a strong history of presence in the area as prior United Brethren, Evangelical United Brethren and Methodist Episcopal Churches, becoming the United Methodist Church (of Wells) in 1973.

Grace United Methodist Church in Kiester was founded in 1897. It began as a United Brethren church, then Evangelical United Brethren in 1946.  It became United Methodist Church in 1968 when Evangelical United Brethren and Methodist Episcopal denominations merged to become United Methodist.

The new Open Doors United Methodist Church will continue to use the buildings at each location, and will be referred to as the Wells campus (595 1st Ave. SW in Wells) and the Kiester campus (116 N. Third St. in Kiester).

For further information, contact the church office at 507-553-5453.