[Magdalen] Church closures...

[Marion Thompson]

As you note, meetings with the Bishop's office through the Futures 
Committee and your corporation have gone on behind the scenes for some 
time, meetings that brought the parish to the point of having those two 
vestry meetings.  Certainly none of it is your fault.

I'm aafraid yours will not be the last to close, either.  My former 
parish, St. Simon-the-Apostle, in Toronto has just absorbed a 
now-closing St. Peter's Carlton St.  Being a church organist is not a 
growth market.  Churches are fading and their revenues are dropping and 
they are not sustainable.  A hard and sad truth.  I wish that there 
could be someone somewhere who could meet with you and try to ease your 
pain.

Marion, a pilgrim


On 10/8/2016 3:11 PM, sheila ketler via Magdalen wrote:
> I personally have had experience in working through 3 church closures. Yes everyone I am knownthroughout the diocese as the closer.... My reputation precedes - hire that woman and you willclose your doors! That is not true but I am beginning to feel as if I am a jinx.Well they were working as a committee of parishes throughout the last two years the FuturesCommittee has finally reached their decisions and will give everyone the news at a bigmeeting. This is exciting? Can anyone tell me why churches closing and people being misplacedand organists secretaries cleaning staff being out of work? I see this as devastation and disaster.There are only a few organ jobs and far too many organists some of us will be unemployed and Iinclude me in this...We were carried by the diocese and owe them a lot of money and we were told that the diocesewould not continue to support us and carry us along so they decided to  close the sooner thebetter. I have not been advised officially but Christmas Eve will be the last time I play there.Then I will hand in my keys and leave never to return.Deconsecration will follow. My understanding is that the church belongs to the diocese and I guesseverything in the church is theirs? Surely notice  has to be given that they are closing?We have to have two meetings to vote and we did the first one already. Second one in a month butwe are definitely closing..
> Sheila
>