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

[Marion Thompson]

Triangulation   lives!

Marion, a pilgri,

On 8/11/2015 1:19 PM, James Oppenheimer-Crawford wrote:
> Well, maybe you need to get out there and talk to the person who has not
> had the stones to talk to you.
>
> I am always amazed at how people make difficult jobs the more difficult by
> obstinately refusing to just go to the person making the kerfuffle and
> saying, "Hey, I understand you have a problem with xyz, and I wish we
> didn't have this problem. Let's talk about it."
>
> 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
>>
>>