Church Domain Merging — How to Redirect Domains After a Church or Non-Profit Merger

TL;DR: After a church or non-profit merger, redirect old organization domains to the new combined website using Domain-Forward.com (free plan). Congregation members find the new site no matter which old URL they type. Takes 5 minutes.

Two churches are merging. Or a non-profit is being absorbed into a larger organization. The new combined entity has a new website at a new domain.

But members of the old congregation still have the old URL:

• Bookmarked on their phone
• Printed in last year’s church directory
• Saved in their email contacts
• Listed on community websites and Google Maps

If the old domain goes dead, these members — often not tech-savvy — will think the church website is broken. A redirect seamlessly sends them to the new site.

Setup

Step 1: Identify the domains

• Old domain(s): oldchurch.org, otherchurch.org (being retired)
• New domain: newchurch.org (the combined organization)

Step 2: Sign up at Domain-Forward.com

Free, no credit card. The free plan handles up to 5 domains — enough for most merger scenarios.

Step 3: Add redirects

For each old domain:

• Source: oldchurch.org (add both root and www)
• Destination: https://newchurch.org
• Type: 301 permanent

Step 4: Update DNS on each old domain

For registrar-specific guides: GoDaddy, Namecheap, Hostinger.

Step 5: Wait and test

DNS propagation: 1-4 hours. SSL provisioned automatically. Test with our redirect tester tool.

Communication Plan for Congregations

After setting up the redirect, let members know:

“Our website has moved to newchurch.org. If you visit oldchurch.org, you’ll be automatically redirected. Please update your bookmarks when convenient.”

The redirect handles the transition period. Members who missed the announcement still land on the right page.

Keep the Old Domain Registered

Don’t let old church domains expire. They’re linked from:

• Community directories (some never update)
• Google Maps and Yelp listings
• Printed church directories in members’ homes
• Historical records and archived newsletters

Domain-Forward.com’s free plan means the only cost is the annual domain renewal ($10-15/year). A small price to keep congregation members connected.

See also: Non-profits & churches use case, Domain forwarding for rebrands.

No One Gets Lost

A merger is already disorienting for members. Don’t add “I can’t find our website” to the confusion. A simple redirect ensures everyone arrives at the new home, no matter what they type.

Create your free account, add both old domains, update DNS. Email keeps working — tell the office manager that MX records are untouched so church email on the old domain continues normally.