Feb 25 & Mar 4, 2001
- Rev. Shannon Johnston |
Too Much, Too Little To Wait !
It
might surprise some of you for me to say that APATHY may be the biggest
problem and challenge we have here at All Saints'. That's right: apathy
--in the congregation "rank-and-file."
Now, let's go ahead and ask the inevitable, tongue-in-cheek question: "Who
cares about apathy?" I'll answer by telling you that your All Saints' staff
and I are concerned about it very much, and so is your Vestry. Consequent
to the problem's very definition, I worry that many of you who read this
won't take the matter much to heart, and then there's the large percentage
of our parishioners who won't bother to read this article in the first
place! But make no mistake: this is an issue which affects every one of
us (including those of you who are very active indeed but could use help
-- and should have it).
HOW IN THE WORLD can I say that apathy is a real problem here?
After all, over the past several years All Saints' has experienced phenomenal
numerical growth. Our budget has doubled. Sunday attendance has never been
higher. We have a plethora of regular activities happening day and night
--outreach and inreach -- six days a week. Special projects (like the restoration
of our Chapel, burning the mortgage note, etc., etc.) are being tackled
one after the other. So, what's the problem?
All of the above is true, but so is all of this:
*With an "active"
membership of 455, we average only 204 for Sunday morning attendance (44.8%)--nothing
to be proud of. Where are you? Why don't you come more regularly?
*We have over 100 children
and youth active here who are of Sunday School age, but we average only
31 children attending. This is being irresponsible to our young people
for their Christian formation. It is also inexcusable! We have a solid,
engaging curriculum and committed teachers. What's going on here? We sent
out a questionnaire to 55 households to find out; only 17 returned the
form. We offered a parents' meeting to discuss youth education and EYC
-- 2 parents showed up.
*There are some 330 adult-age
communicants here. Only about 30 are active in our adult classes. 300 to
go . . .!
*For "regular" activities
in our parish life, there is almost always a frustrating shortage of volunteers
who are willing to pitch in. I'm thinking of people to serve as pastoral
care family heads, help for the Garden Guild, workers for grounds clean-up
days, pot-luck suppers, hospitality, and so on. [I'm not forgetting the
wonderful spirit we have for "special" things like Diocesan Council, community
events, etc. You're really good at all of that. It's the everyday wheel-turning
we neglect.] .
You
get the picture. Yes, I know that many of you are terribly busy. But consider
that there are a lot of people with terribly busy lives who are nonetheless
very active here, and others for whom their faithful participation is inconvenient
or difficult in one way or another. At the bottom line, it is a question
of priorities. Make church one of yours.
Perhaps much of our apathy is a result of complacency. On the whole, things
are going very well, and you have a talented staff and energetic leadership
who make things happen. I'd venture to say that the vast majority of you
are happy with the way things are. OK, but stay awake and renew your commitment!
We simply have too much going on, with too little making it happen, for
any of us to wait around.
Faithfully yours,
Shannon+
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