And The Truth Shall Set You Free

(Please read the post "Vision is Important"and its comments before reading this post.)

The following are questions that many people have about our parish. Please feel free to enlighten us in the comment section, if you can give insight into these matters.

1. Why has it been necessary to now bring in paid facilitators to mediate meetings and programs?
Within the past year or so we have paid two different facilitators to guide the development of the Mission Statement, chair the Architects' Meeting, and run Charting Our Future. (Yet we have more paid staff than ever before in the history of the parishes.)

2. Why have questions about the use of the The Celebrate Our Legacy fund gone unanswered?
Many people on the original committee say that 15% of 'the interest' raised by that campaign was designed to be used to pay for architect studies and a partial salary (for a couple of years) for a Youth Minister. The "Youth House" on 8th Street was purchased with money not allocated for such a purpose.

3. Are we in financial trouble?
St. Peter's seems to have always been fiscally responsible and Salem and Kirby had a surplus (over $180,000 combined) before being closed. What has cost so much in the last three years that would deplete these funds so quickly?

4. Is the Diocese pressuring Father Kent to build a new church for Wyandot County?
A Pastoral Council Member, with many Diocese ties, has been involved with the Clustering Process etc. for many years. He was told by one of the key figures in the Diocese (with a witness present) that we should ultimately have a church in each county. Father once asked "What if the people want one?" So, how do we find out if the people truly want to build and pay for a new church? Do we have a few people who will shoulder the financial burden of such a project?

5. Is "Charting Our Future" a program that we need right now?
We hired a facilitator from Toledo for $ 13,000 to lead a program that is supposed to guide us into the future. Some of my initial questions were: Why couldn't PastoralCouncil( nominated by people in the parish, then selected by Father) brainstorm about programs and then implement them? Why was it necessary for this program to be seen coming from the "people" and not specifically from the staff or Toledo? Why was the term 'marketing' used in early presentations? Why did we need someone from Toledo to tell the staff that they need to set up group meetings in people's homes to answer the "tough questions"? There seems to be a shell game included with this project. Why all the secrecy? Unless there is more to this program than simply wanting more programs for the good of our parish?

Vision is Important

People have visions. Vision is important.

I recently heard someone say that they wanted a "New Church". Not necessarily a building, with a small 'c', but a Church with a capital "C". A "C" that represents 'Community'. But yet I think that this person's vision of community necessitates that a new building be created as well.

I have recently realized that I truly do not share that person's vision that a new physical church building would help bring about that desired Community. And why does it matter? Because it has become increasingly evident to me that the plans are still in effect for a new church to be built in our area.

And I ask myself, "Should I want for those people to not build their new church?" If the people in the area want to spend their time and money to build a wonderful space for people to gather, I will not stand in their way. That is their vision. It just so happens thatI do not share it.

I now find it even more necessary then ever to follow the path that leads away from that concept of a new building. The quiet one that beckons. No catchy title and no flashy facilitator to lead the way. I want to be involved in the building of a true community. And, out of the corner of my eye, I am watching one form. People that have vision. People that are not interested in going with the crowd. People that have seen the Lord in the people around them, and wish to walk with them. They don't want to set up their tents at the scene of the Transfiguration, they are ready and willing to follow the Lord off of that mountain. To be with the people in the valley.

Vision is important.