A bit Quiet

I've got a lot going on.  Although I was called as rector a year ago, I received the contract, signed by the bishop, on Wednesday.   This finalizes my call. 

So today I bought eight rosebushes, two Azaleas, two Rhodos, and two Hydrangias for the front of the rectory.  I'm staying for a while. 

My ambition - have this parish sustainable on pledges alone for a staff of four full-time employees (priest, music director, secretary and sexton) and a few part-time (assistant priest, sexton, receptionist, publicity, education coordinator and seminarian).    This means, of course, at least 150 more families, and doesn't include ringers on scholarship from the choir.

This is in addition to bringing people into the love of Jesus Christ.

Unfortunately, the last two priests did not have the skills to manage the anxieties of the church.  One was depressed, the other less willing to respect people's defenses. 

Over the week-end I went to my college reunion, where I MCd the class dinner.  We heard David Orr, who is one of the premier environmentalists in the country, and a professor at my Alma Mater.  His son, apparently, is an Episcopal priest. 

I'm open to some discussion on my reply to William Witt.  I haven't heard substantive comments, except for the critique that it is only the Catholic Church that can properly interpret scripture.  I have no quarrel with that - I just think who constitutes "catholic" is a bit more open than the Roman magisterium.  What is crucial to Christianity must be comprehensible even by those of other faiths.

Comments

[David Loving]

Congratulations John, your parish is fortunate. I have no doubt you will have the outfit in the black and staffed before long. I'm really not that qualified to critique the Witt piece. I just found your arguments very persuasive.

[Heidi]

I'm curious as to what you mean by 'substantive comments'?

[John wilkins]

From the conservative side, I mean.
:)

[Heidi]

Thanks for the clarification...was almost thinking I needed to find and pass a remedial catechism class to post here ;-)