[Magdalen] Prayer request -- too long, but needed to write it

[James Oppenheimer-Crawford]

Is Michael Curry some priest in TEC?

James W. Oppenheimer-Crawford
*“A life is like a garden. Perfect moments can be had, but not preserved,
except in memory. LLAP**”  -- *Leonard Nimoy

On Tue, Aug 11, 2015 at 9:57 AM, Jo Craddock <jocraddock at gmail.com> wrote:

> My parish is an old parish with a proud history. Some might even say
> prideful. But, it is changing. And, some don't like that.
>
> So, a small minority of niche attendees (i.e., only "their" service, only
> "their" ladies groups, rarely or never seen at a potluck or Sunday School
> class) are charging back, as they believe is their duty. And, it probably
> is. Change is not always right or good, and should be examined and studied
> -- in the light of the Gospel. And, besides: their grandmothers gave that
> incandescent bulb to the church in 1910, and there's no freakin' reason we
> need LED, you liberal, pinko, commie scum.
>
> Our rector has conducted same-sex blessings, and is prepared to open the
> sacrament of marriage equally -- in line with current requirements for holy
> matrimony at our parish -- with the approval (expected) of our bishop. Our
> rector will baptize or bury anyone. He preaches the Gospel -- not Michael
> Curry-style, but consistently. One particular sermon is acknowledged by one
> who is well-known as one of the largest purses in the church, if not the
> entire metro area, of their underwriting a city-wide afterschool music
> program, now involving a couple of thousand children. That means some
> children from underserved areas are bussed to our and other churches in the
> afternoons for music lessons and homework help by talented musicians and
> musicians trained in child pedagogy -- alongside some of our Day School
> children. Those who come from other schools don't all look like our Day
> School children, and it ain't just the uniform difference.
>
> We're downtown. We have many neighbors on the street without an address.
> We hand out $2 bags of protein, carb, and water for the asking. Some of
> those people ask for a bag more than once. Imagine; they're hungry again,
> the next day. These adults don't look like the adults in their Escalades
> and BMWs dropping off their Day School children in the morning, and some
> believe exposing our children to the site of such people is inappropriate.
> Yes, that's what they said: It's in appropriate for those people to be seen.
>
> And, it seems I have become a side target on which to direct some of their
> anger.
>
> I have been largely writing (90-95% or more) and laying out our
> newsletters and service leaflets for nearly 18 years. Four years ago, you
> might recall, I joined the staff full-time, having been a contractor
> previously, and was charged with everything that is seen, read, or touched;
> if not writing, then presenting it so that it is in our voice and our
> brand, adding web site, e-newsletters, promotional pieces, marketing, etc.
> to my plate.
>
> Sometime after starting our e-newsletter, I began adding a little piece of
> art and link to the Sunday readings to each issue. About half the time I
> write it, myself; and about half the time I've found a quote to use
> (attributed, permission granted) that I find pertinent. You can see our
> issues:
> http://stjamesbr.org/resources/newsletters
>
> I've often wondered on Thursday evenings as I'm still working on the
> reading and study of the lections I started on Tuesday, whether anyone
> reads these things; am I wasting my time that should be spent finishing the
> mobile design for the newsletter I've had on the back burner for months?
>
> Well, one of our vocal minority did read and was offended by my selections
> for the July 3 issue:
> http://stjamescsf.org/eMessenger3Jul2015.html
>
> This was the week of SCOTUS rulings on ACA and marriage equality, and the
> PB's message on same. Mind you, the offended person has never contacted me,
> although we have known each other and our families for >20 years. He's
> never asked my reasoning in selecting this quote for inclusion.
>
> In fact, I felt it could be read as some comfort whichever side of the
> issues one is on; we *do* have many sins from which to repent, and (while I
> don't think so), some of our current decisions could be wrong. We can hope
> our posterity will judge us with the mercy we might give those who came
> before us. With a link to the gospel about turning the other cheek. And,
> <enter flag wave, here> an acknowledgment of our national birthday
> celebration, to boot.
>
> A "values subcommittee" to a "strategic planning committee" to conduct
> "lay oversite of all communications that come from the church" has been
> proposed. (Lay oversees all -- even the rector's letters?!?! The asst.
> rector's email reminders of bible study?!?!) There are enough layers of
> legislation there to believe this will never come to fruition. However, it
> has also added another arrow to the quiver of those who wish to sling some
> at the rector; he's responsible for hiring me, after all. He has been most
> supportive. His original charge to me was, "Standing still is not an
> option. Push the envelope." He, and other vestry members tell me they,
> "have [my] back." This sort of proposal is also, functionally, impossible.
> I'm working an average of 45-50 hours/week, now, to stay near the top of
> things. If I had to pass everything through another someone, anyone, we're
> sunk, in my opinion. It is, as I see it, my line in the sand.
>
> I ask for your prayers for the battles on the ground still to be fought as
> the GenCon legislation moves forward; I'm sure there are many other
> parishes experiencing the same sort of thing, and there will be unintended
> and unexpected victims.
>
> Peace,
> Jo
>
>