In March of 1962, the Michigan District of The American Lutheran Church began a merger study to determine if St Matthew Evangelical Lutheran Church and St. Mark’s Lutheran Church of nearby Ida should be joined into one congregation. Following an intensive two year study, the two churches held votes on the merger plan. The congregation of the 103 year old St Matthew Church voted 75 to 15 in favor of merger on Sunday, May 17, 1964. The next Sunday, St. Mark’s voted 110 to 9 to merge into one congregation which was given the name of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church.