Thank you for your input.
I'm now getting a "Cannot launch application" message when I attempt to run. It occurs on the 'Then objWord.Activate'.

Private Sub Merge_Click()
Dim doc As Document
If WordTemplates.Text <> "" Then objWord.Activate
objWord.Documents.Add "C:\client\friendsprovident\" & WordTemplates.Text
Set doc = objWord.ActiveDocument

doc.Activate

Set objWord = Nothing
Set doc = Nothing

End Sub