The Rector’s Annual Report

January 27, 2008

Grace Church, Sheboygan

 

 

✠ In nomine...

            I very much enjoy looking at the mission statements from different of parishes.  The church is always a little behind in trends – and that’s generally a good thing – but as the corporate business world learned the importance of being clear about mission, the church followed along in publishing so-called mission statements.

            Now, the difficulty with many I read is that it is obvious that the statements were written by a committee and were probably voted on hundreds of times until the statement would become the least innocuous to everyone.  Or, other mission statements are so long that you’re not sure what has been said by the time you reach the end of it.  Obviously, the committee was trying to make certain that everyone and every group was represented in the statement.

            When working with a parish in the Diocese of Louisiana, the rector and I had a conversation after a meeting about their mission statement – trying to produce something that represented what the parish was doing.  We jokingly said that perhaps their statement should read, “We came.  We worshiped.  We went home.”  At least, it’s short and sweet!

            I think about these things a lot – because they’re of interest to me and because they’re important.  Peter Drucker, the great organizational and business guru, says there are really only two questions to ask: “What’s your business?” and “How’s business?”

            So, for the last year I’ve been trying to summarize in a concise sort of way “What’s our business?”.  And I believe that if you keep the Gospel before you, and you take a look at what we do well around here and also where the Gospel is leading us to grow, it’s pretty easy to say that our business at Grace Church is to love God, to love others and to serve the world.  And, I use those words “love” and “serve” in their broadest senses.

            We exist as a parish to create and offer opportunities for human beings, created by God, to come together to worship Him.  Nothing is more important than Sunday Mass!  But, do remember that we love God in so many other ways than just by coming to Mass.  We do that by saying our prayers, perhaps at home, on a daily basis.  So, for example, teaching people how to pray helps them to love God.

            Secondly, as Christians, the world will judge us by how well we do at loving others.  We not only teach others how to love and what that means, but we create opportunities for loving – everything from sharing meals together right here in this hall,  to checking on someone who hasn’t been in church in awhile, to delivering a meal to an elderly person who might not eat otherwise.

            Finally, the Church of Jesus Christ is to transform the world around us – that’s what we mean by “serving the world.”  We often do that by what we usually call “outreach.”  But the church makes a real difference in the world out there just by our presence – by standing up for what is right and just according to the Gospel, by the manner in which we treat other people, especially a stranger who might offend us in some way, by loving that portion of God’s creation which is difficult to love and care for.

            In other words, our love of the Lord on Sundays must make a difference in the various ways we intersect with the world on all of the other days of the week.

            So, there it is: to love God; to love others; and to serve the world.  Can you repeat that with me?

            I would like for us to remember this during the coming year and attempt to judge everything we do by those three goals.  If we are contemplating doing something as a parish and it doesn’t accomplish one of those three ends, we probably shouldn’t be doing it.

            Now, I know we could set up some committees to study “our business” and perhaps eventually come up with a better statement.  But I don’t think we can spare the time necessary to do such.  The point is that we simply need to agree upon what is our business and get about it.   Let’s try it and I’m certainly willing to listen to any suggestions to change these three points.  Let’s wear it for a year or so, and then make some judgement calls.  I think it’ll work.

            That sort of answers Peter Druker’s first question, “What’s your business?”  So, let’s go to his second one, “How’s business.”

            In a word, I think business is pretty good here at Grace Church.  When I arrived here at the end of July 2005, I had heard some painful stories about how there was some in-fighting and some folks not willing to speak to other folks.  I wasn’t around for that but the stories I heard were fairly consistent.  And, I think the turmoil – much of it below the surface – was for many reasons, but much of it around the so-called “political unrest” in the Episcopal Church.

            Now, some of you know that we are looking at the Myers-Briggs Temperament Indicator in the adult class on Sunday mornings as a way to study personality types and associate them with specific ways of praying and spirituality.  I am, for an example, an ESFJ on that indicator.  That doesn’t necessarily have to mean anything to you, except to know that an ESFJ does not like conflict and prefers harmony.  When I learned of the various “tensions” at Grace Church – most of which I learned after I arrived here – I knew that the Lord probably wanted me here.  Because, I would either very subtly work to create a more harmonious parish family here or I couldn’t stand it and would have to leave.

            I think, by the Lord’s grace, we are a very loving and happy parish family.  Sure, we still have political and theological differences – we always will.  But, I think we know that we can live together and enjoy one another in the context of being together as a spiritual community.  Outsiders can tell when they come into a church gathering very easily.  And, I believe that Grace Church is attractive to others because of the genuine care and concern they find here.  I hear it frequently.  So, if for no other reason at all, business here is going pretty well.  But, there’s more.

            I think another example of the spiritual health and vitality of Grace Church is the work which Pat Sather and her Ministry Expansion Committee is accomplishing.  They were created as a result of last year’s stewardship program.  Many of us were skeptical.  It sounded like a lot of work for parish this size to take on.  Some said, “we need to take care of ourselves and get our own house in order before we go out into the community, the nation and the world.”  But, again by God’s grace, the dollars, the interest and the opportunities presented themselves, and you can see the list of investments in the world that Pat’s committee has made on your behalf.

            You see, this is the way the Gospel works:  we only get our house in order and our needs taken care of as we worry about others’ houses and reach out in concern for their needs.  That’s true corporately for the church, as well as for individuals.

            Pat, I’m very grateful to you and to those serving with you.  They will expand their own ministries in this effort this next year and continue to make it possible for Grace Church to serve the world around us.  It’s just a beginning but it’s off and running in the right direction.

            One of the “vital signs” of a congregation – just like taking your temperature, blood presssure and pulse – is the average Sunday attendance.  As Mary Clabot’s just told us, we are gaining new people on our roles.  There are new faces appearing every Sunday almost.  But, yet, if you look at the parish statistics, we declined in our average Sunday attendance last year.  When asking “how’s business?”, that is an important area of concern for me.

            You may remember that I said last year that it is important for a congregation to push past the average Sunday attendance of 150.  And we even talk about the ways in which a congregation often resists growing past 150.

 

            A few months ago, I started talking with the vestry and some other lay-leaders about three initiatives we could implement here as a kind of ecclesiastical stimulus plan, rather like the President and Congress are talking about the financial stimulus plan  for our country.  I mean, should we give every person $10 on Sunday mornings when they come to the altar rail?  Perhaps giving away a door prize each Sunday morning?  I’m not sure that such an ecclesiastical stimulus plan would work any better than I’m afraid the one being debated now for our country will work.  But, let’s not get into politics.

            What I suggested was this: that we call a full-time professionally-trained youth minister.  I’ve seen it before and have done it and it works.  A robust youth ministry attracts lots of new people to a church and folks who are not necessarily directly effected by the youth ministry.  People like a church that cares about children and is seen to make a difference in the lives of kids in the community.

            Now, Val Burg and Michele Whitford have done extraordinary work and have made a big difference in the lives of many young people coming through here – and have never received a cent for their ministry.  These two especially embody the essence of what it means to care for the souls of young people.

            But, I’m talking about someone who is full-time, probably in their 20's, and is interested in entering into the world of teenagers; not just having them come to us – but going to their football and basketball games and swim meets.  Meeting them for Bible study BEFORE school on a winter morning, and eating pizza with them at 11:00 p.m. on a Friday night.  There’s a lot more to it, as well.  We need that here.

            Now, someone said to me, “Why do we need a full-time youth minister.  We don’t have enough young people at Grace Church to justify such an expense.”  And that’s just my point.  Any parish which wants to grow for the sake of the Gospel these days has to have the best youth ministry that can be developed.

            I am pleased to tell you that there has been enough excitement and interest in this new ministry that the money has been guaranteed to me for three years.  We are just beginning to search for such a person.

            There are two other areas where we need to give attention.  I think we need a lay-person to oversee the incorporation of new people into Grace Church.  In other words, someone to oversee the process in which anyone new to Grace Church learns how to love God then to love others and then to serve the world.  Think about it.  It’s a natural process.  A new person comes to Sunday Mass – loving God.  We need to make certain that those people are taken to the next level of more intimate involvement in the parish family – loving others.  Finally, a new person is never fully integrated until he or she is presented with opportunities to use their God-given gifts to make a difference in the world around them – serving the world.

            The money has not come forward for this ministry so I expect we will find and train a volunteer to help us with this task.

            The third component, and frankly the least important, is to one day retain the ministry of a second priest – to provide more teaching and pastoral care to a growing congregation.

            Finally, and let’s get this right.  We’re not about just trying to get more people at Grace Church and then get their money.  That was the old method of evangelism: Pray, pay and obey.  No, the Gospel says we are to make new disciples; to broaden the Kingdom of God on earth.  And, we count people, because people count.  People want their lives transformed by an authentic presentation of the Gospel.  The by-product is that the Church of Jesus and even an individual parish grows.  That’s what we interested in.

            It goes without saying, but I’m going to say it anyway, that my noble colleagues, the other reverend clergy are an indispensable part of the proclamation and living of the Gospel at Grace Church.  The spiritual and pastoral leadership which Deacons Mike and Michele and  Father Okkerse provide is one of God’s richest blessings to Grace Church.  I am blessed more than anyone else to know their deep love of the Lord and to see how that love for Him then extends into their care for the Lord’s people.  I’m grateful for what you do, but even more so for who you are.

            The Bishop tells me that other parishes in the diocese of jealous of our music.  I believe that.  And it is because of the tremendous talent of Dr. Ben Dobey.  Ben is not only a superb musician but understands worship and cares deeply for God’s people who come to worship. What a combination that is.  Other than Bernie, he’s also one of the funniest people I’ve known.

            Last but far from least: Lori Hummitzsch – so called, administrative assistant.  She’s very good at what she does.  However, I’ve never seen a parish secretary with the kind of pastoral ministry which Lori has.  I am deeply moved by the many of you who come, not to see me, but who come and sit to chat in front of Lori’s desk.  There’s some deeply spiritual that occurs there and for which I am very grateful.  But, I’m most grateful that she is willing to put up with everything she has to take from me on a daily basis.  Perhaps her greatest ministry is to me.  That’s not just an administrative assistant or a secretary.  That is a true friend.

            Do you know that Lori will have been at Grace Church for 20 years next year?  I kid her and tell her that she was just a little girl when Father Sloane hired her.  More about her 20 years next year.  But let us start thinking about honoring her at that important anniversary.

            But, as I look around this room today, I remember that there are some who were here a year ago, but have since moved onto to that aspect of the Lord’s Church on “yet another shore” – as the bidding prayer goes at the Advent Lessons and Carols.  Let us remember on this day especially Tom Reischl, Don Fisher, Jim Bain, Kathleen Schlichting, Dorothea Brukardt, Phyllis Seymour and Marlene Heronymus.  May God grant them continued growth in His Kingdom, even as we give thanks for their contributions to our life together in this place.

            Finally, I still remain very grateful to serve the Lord with you here at Grace Church and in Sheboygan.  I just cannot imagine a priest who is more satisfied with his flock and parish than the one who has had the great joy of being your Rector in 2007 and, with God’s grace, will continue in the coming year and for many, many more.

Thank you very much.

 

                                                                                                ~Father Rex D. Perry