It may not be what we want in the "holiday season"
but it's time for a
REALITY CHECK
Over the past several weeks, I've noticed a few things around the
congregation that have caused me to become concerned that we might be coming
down with a kind of "virus." What I mean by this is that some symptoms of
the overall stress and anxiety we're under during these times are showing
up. You may remember that before our construction and displacement began, I
warned us that—as exciting as everything is—it would be quite stressful and
that we would have to take special care to rise to the occasion with each
other. For the first few months, we did just fine. But recently, many of us
have become a bit "testy." With the seasonal stress now bearing down on us,
we might feel that all the more.
It is in the usual, everyday things at All Saints' that most of this
testiness is happening. This is true just about across the board—in
committees, in personal relationships, and ordinary activities. The
reactivity has sometimes been directed at our staff, who themselves feel
somewhat sensitive. Let me remind us to carry an extra bit of gentleness and
patience for each other. In our present circumstances, almost everything is
inconvenient, and almost nothing is the way we'd like it. Even something
like the boarding-up of our windows on an entire side of the church building
has effects on our corporate psychology (albeit subliminally). If we pause
to consider what our brothers and sisters on the Coast have been going
through for the past sixteen months, it isn't hard to regain some
perspective.
Another part of the reality check is that there is only one priest for this
extremely busy congregation and office right now. You know that I have high
expectations of myself, but I ask you to help me in being realistic about my
schedule—the availability of appointments, the time-lag in responding to
call-backs, our Wednesday Eucharist, hospital and home visits, etc. I am
working on getting an Associate sooner-than-later, but putting all of that
into place is an exacting process, and I want to be sure that we do this in
an attentive, well thought-through way. My first priority, however, remains
finding a new Youth Director for the EYC. Naturally, this will take an
additional $7,200-8,400 for our 2007 budget (the 2006 salary was funded by
special donations), and so in our ongoing reality check we must get our
pledge cards in!
It got back to me that someone here opined that there wouldn't be that much
of a problem with my schedule if I weren't "so busy running for Bishop of
Virginia." Of course, such a comment is absurdly untrue, but it does point
to the fact that my nomination in Virginia is indeed a cause of some anxiety
here. This is normal, and I understand it completely—especially given such a
time in our parish's life. However, I also think that my nomination can
bring about some positive and needed reflection here, and I hope to raise
something of that in the weeks to come. You should know that, in fact, this
processes not requiring much of my attention (and what there is I do on my
day off). I will have to be away from the parish January 8-14 for the
nominees to tour the diocese for Q & A sessions, but you may be sure that I
remain focused on my duties as Rector. Indeed, I am continuing to plan for
my ministry as Rector well into the summer (and even the fall) of 2007.
However, it's simply a fact that a few parishioners are upset about my being
in Virginia's process and on occasion are choosing to act out their
unhappiness, whether assertively or passive-aggressively (such as
withholding or reducing their pledge). As unhealthy as this is personally
and spiritually for those concerned, this is no less a part of our
congregational reality check because such behavior accomplishes nothing but
to do harm to All Saints'. This is another (and much more dangerous) kind of
"virus," and All Saints' has come too far from the highly-conflicted days of
the early 1990's to let that kind of thing take any sort of hold
here—especially with such big challenges before us.
I hope that we can ponder these things and take them to heart for everyone's
sake. The bottom-line remains: it's about knowing Jesus, and seeking His
will in ministries that serve the Gospel.
In
Christ,
Shannon+
