[Magdalen] Please pray for Ascension, Chicago

[James Oppenheimer-Crawford]

When these things come up, and come up they do here all the time, usually
the change isn't such a bad thing, but the manner in which it is done
provokes people's worst side.

Firing someone effective immediately is a pretty drastic action if what you
say is what's the motivation.  Usually firings effective immediately assume
bad feelings.

James W. Oppenheimer-Crawford
*“If you have a chance to accomplish something that will make things better
for people coming behind you, and you don’t do it, you're wasting your time
on this Earth.”  -- *Roberto Clemente

On Fri, Jan 16, 2015 at 2:17 PM, Scott Knitter <scottknitter at gmail.com>
wrote:

> Our rector has done some housecleaning, firing the parish
> administrator (immediately) and the longtime organist and choirmaster
> as of Feb. 15. Heard from a couple of parishioners who plan to leave.
> Lots of hurt and anger. The reason is to refocus funds toward a
> full-time curate and full-time organist/choirmaster (one person) and
> aim at goals like greater ministry to the immediate neighborhood and
> to younger folks.
>
> I was shocked and angry at first but do agree with the goals. I just
> wish we could do these things in a way that doesn't match the style of
> corporate America. Seems cold and abrupt. But apparently it's the
> standard thing.
>
> Please pray for Charley Taylor, David Schrader, and Thomas Wikman. So
> many years of faithful service (which it seems to inappropriate to
> reward with an abrupt termination). My fear is for the fallout among
> parishioners. This may end up being a good change to make, but right
> now it hurts.
>
> We do not plan to leave.
>
> --
> Scott R. Knitter
> Edgewater, Chicago, Illinois USA
>