"Please Refocus the Debate"

Please Refocus the Debate: this is not about the "music camp" vs. the "ministries camp", it's about a decline in membership levels and pledges. In the short run, some cherished programs and people must, sadly, be cutback. In the long run, only a growing, vibrant and financially committed membership will allow us to restore the things we must cut now. So the question is, how best can we devote our limited resources toward growing the membership and restoring our programs? How will others in the community learn who we are, what we offer, and why they should join us? My answer: ministers who are visible in the community on behalf of the church, and who attract new members of all stripes, especially young families who have a long term stake in the vitality of the church as a spiritual home to raise their children.

I've been on our church committees in the past, and know first hand our finances, and our ministries. In my view, one minister simply cannot do it all.

There are no easy choices here, all are bad. The best of the bad choices is the one that will best build our membership. To my mind, music is a wonderful aspect of the Sunday service, but not a primary driver behind membership growth. The ministers of any church are the primary factor behind who comes, stays, or goes. Make no mistake, music helps for sure, but we can't have everything we want right now, and something has to give. So I support an additional minister that will help us build the membership, restore funding, and help avoid ever having to face these bad choices again.

One request: our Board Members are volunteers, doing what they think best under trying circumstances they never signed up for. They are communicating with members, listening, and reading this blog because they care about the church, and are forced to make bad choices. Anyone want to trade places? Not me. If you do, please do, and thank you, it's a big commitment of time and resources. If not (like me) then voice your view, be civil, and be flexible enough to support the final decision and leadership of those who are devoting their "free--but valuable and essential--time" on our behalf, weighing the factors, and doing their best with limited resources.

Respectfully, Michael Reilly