From the Senior Warden
Dear People of Saint Paul’s:
Where do we go from here? I wish that I knew the answer. Whatever our direction, we go there prayerfully, deliberately, and together. Saint Paul’s has withstood fires, floods, plagues, and wars. We persevere because we have a mission to be a “welcoming Episcopal congregation committed to living and sharing the Good News of God in Jesus Christ through liturgy, music, and outreach.” We persevere because we believe. We persevere because it’s important that this Church remains an important part of Augusta.
This week, The Rev. Becky Rowell and the Rev. Melanie Lemburg led us in a liturgy which framed the report of the most recent listening sessions. For those who were able to attend, thank you. For those who were not able to attend, we are in the process of scheduling a Zoom meeting (likely mid-June) so that we can offer the report one more time. The Zoom meeting will be open to everyone who is “known to the Church” and who is over 18. The meetings began and ended in prayer, and the homily was the summary of our comments to the Revs. Rowell and Lemburg. Everyone, including the Vestry, received the report in the same manner. It included what they were told, their perceptions based on the information, their conclusions about the conflict and its impact on this Church, and a list of specific recommendations. The bulletin with the liturgy and the report are both available on our website.
Over the course of several months, they spoke to 74 parishioners, staff, and former clergy. They asked each person the same questions: How long have you been here? What would you like for me to know about Saint Paul’s? What would you like to see happen at Saint Paul’s? Is there anything else that you think would be helpful for me to know? Throughout the four meetings, I made notes. At each meeting, I focused on a different aspect of the report. None of them is more important to me right now that the shared impression that we are a church where we love the people, the history, the traditions, the liturgy, the music, and the outreach. We are a Church where we love – a lot. That means that we are a Church of faith and Church of the future as well as of the past.
Instead of me re-reporting to you, I ask that if you have an interest in Saint Paul’s future, please read the report, read it again, and then read it again. Ask yourself the same four questions which were asked of those who interviewed. If you were to describe our church to an outsider, how would you do so? Would you focus on the positive or focus on the negative? One note from the report is that many were unaware of the conflict. This process of communication and intentional consideration can be helpful to all of us as we prepare for the call of a new rector. Please join in our journey.
We have work to do. Some of that is underway. As a result of the Polk issue, the Vestry is already developing a policy with regard to future gifts to the Church. As a result of preparations for a new rector, we are reviewing the committee structures for efficacy and sustainability. The Vestry delayed its normal May meeting to accommodate the Report. We convene again Monday to begin the plan for the way forward. As indicated in the meetings, some of these plans will have an immediate impact and others will be more long-range. I welcome your insights and I will do my best to respond to your questions. As we move forward, you will hear more about the Vestry’s plan, the incorporation of the report into our Church practices, and the issues which we face.
From the liturgy: “So then, putting away all falsehood, let all of us speak the truth to our neighbors, for we are members of one another. Be angry, but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not make room for the devil. Let no evil talks come out of your mouths, but only what is useful for building up, as there is need, so that your words may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with which you were marked with a seal for the day of redemption. Put away all of your bitterness and wrath and anger and wrangling and slander, together with all malice, and be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you.” –Ephesians 4: 25-27, 29-32.
Yours,
Ashley Wright, Senior Warden
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