United Congregations Look to Strengthen Ties

Friday evening’s annual Temple B’nai Torah Joyce Berger Memorial Interfaith service featured an area pastor committed to honoring the Wantagh synagogue’s past roots in his church’s planned new Massapequa facility.

The CenterPoint Church of Long Island, which was housed in Bellmore before suffering damage from Hurricane Sandy last fall, is slated to acquire the Temple Judea property on 98 Jerusalem Ave. in Massapequa later this week. Temple Judea and The Suburban Temple in Wantagh merged in 2008 to form what is now Temple B’nai Torah and at the synagogue annual interfaith service on June 14, CenterPoint Pastor Brian McMillan spoke of how he plans to honor the Reform Jewish congregation’s history on that property.

“I feel a great kinship,” Pastor McMillan, 36, told the large crowd at the interfaith Shabbat service. “There will be a connection with us.”

McMillian, who grew up in Erie, Pa. before settling on Long Island, formed CenterPoint Church when he was 19-years old and has rented space in various locations in Massapequa, Seaford and Bellmore in the congregation’s young history. CenterPoint also held a service at Temple B’nai Torah last November when the non-denominational Christian church was displaced by the Oct. 29 superstorm.

“We feel like family with CenterPoint Church because they are moving into what was our home,” said Rabbi Marci Bellows, spiritual leader at Temple B’nai Torah.

McMillian said once CenterPoint is settled into the former Temple Judea property he would like to invite Temple B’nai Torah congregants to join them for a welcoming reception. The Bellmore resident, who has spearheaded volunteer recovery efforts for Hurricane Sandy vicrtims says bringing different faiths together is an important goal of his.

“There is a need for more understanding and respect from the other faiths that are apart of our community,” Pastor McMillian said. “We don’t alway have to agree but we have to respect each other.”