BANGOR — It has been almost 24 years since the American Unitarian Association and the Universalist Church of America were consolidated into the Unitarian Universalist Association. Since then, many cities with two UU churches have seen them join forces.

Will it happen in Bangor? On Sunday, First Universalist Church and the Bangor Unitarian Church — both UUA members — will vote on whether to consolidate the two Bangor churches.

It was 1818 when a group of individuals withdrew from the local Congregational church and formed the Independent Congregational Society. That is still the official name of the Bangor Unitarian Church at 126 Union St.

When fire destroyed the building in 1851, several churches came forward to offer space until the facility could be replaced. The Unitarians accepted the hospitality of the Universalists on Park Street before returning to Union Street.

But despite their common membership in the UUA, and occasionally joining one another for activities, the two have remained separate congregations.

The idea of consolidation has come up on several occasions, and has been discussed in earnest recently. Working together have been the Universalists’ Consolidation Task Force and the Unitarians’ Consolidation Committee.

“I think it is so exciting,” said Rose Casement, chairwoman of the task force at First Universalist. “We’ve been meeting together the last nine months or so. Before that we had a Friendship Committee.”

For the Universalists, it seemed a good time to look at the issue because their congregation is already in a time of transition. The church currently has an interim minister, the Rev. Richard Woodman, because the Rev. Pat Carol accepted a denominational position almost a year ago.

“We put off the search for a new minister and focused on the issue of consolidation,” Casement said. “We’ve publicized and answered questions and done all the things two churches do when they find common ground.” The two groups held a combined service last Sunday, an experience she described as “wonderful.”

The proposal before the congregations would have the Park Street building be the joint church facility because of its size and number of rooms. The minister would be Susan Jamieson, now the minister at the Unitarian church.

The consolidation, if approved, will be hard work and difficult in some ways, Casement acknowledged. A committee would be formed to manage the real estate.

“That’s the hardest part. It’s like leaving your house,” she said of the impact on the Unitarians. “It’s not just real estate. It’s real estate that has a heart and soul.”

Initially, “both societies would continue as parts of the new society,” Woodman said. There would be a two-year transition period. The Universalists would benefit from “the strength the Unitarians bring,” he said. “It expands the membership, and consolidates our voice to the community.”

The two groups have much in common, he believes. “There are more differences between people in both churches than there are between the churches.”

Members seem to think the vote will pass among the Universalists, but the Unitarians have a variety of opinions. Some of the officers have indicated their support of the consolidation in statements in the monthly newsletter, but Unitarian Lois Reed isn’t convinced.

“I’m still opposed. I do not want to see the Independent Congregational Society cease to exist,” she said Tuesday. “Consolidation is not the only solution. From my point of view, it is the least desirable.”

Maintaining a building and employing a minister cost money, and that is difficult to do with a small congregation. But Reed doesn’t see joining another church as the logical result.

“One of the other options is to go into fellowship,” she said. In that situation, a church does not employ a minister full time, but relies on its members and guest speakers to help with services. Reed, who has been a member at Bangor Unitarian for more than 20 years, has seen the church go that route for months or even longer.

“Another option is to engage the services of a student minister, perhaps from Bangor Theological Seminary,” she added.

“Everyone believes the option they’ve chosen is truly best for the church,” Reed said. “I don’t question the sincerity. I question the judgment.”

As the smaller of the two congregations, Bangor Unitarian could be swallowed up and perhaps face the loss or diminishment of “particular programs near and dear to the heart of the congregation,” she said.

“At the top of my list would be the free monthly suppers,” Reed said. `We have a convenient location for those who are in most need.” The events offer the opportunity “not just to feed, but to be with them.”

Other high-priority issues with the Unitarians are the Down East Gay and Lesbian Organization, known as Deglo, and the annual Charlie Howard Memorial March, commemorating the killing of the young gay man in 1984.

“However the vote goes, it’s going to be a very difficult time,” Reed said. If the consolidation happens, she said, “an important light in the community will be extinguished forever.”