The Pastor’s Corner (Taken from the latest Parish News)
IS THIS OUR FUTURE? West Church Buildings and Property FOR SALE!!
After more than 178 years, the ministry of the West Congregational Church, Inc. has ended and the property has now been placed on the market. The property has great potential for a business or condo development.
When the Church Council and the Trustees were questioned about the demise of the church, multiple reasons were given. “West Church followed the pattern of many small churches across the denominations: a changing society, a lack of members and their involvement, poor attendance, not enough volunteers and not enough money to sustain the church and staff were all factors. We ended up not having a choice in the matter.”
The Present: Please read carefully! Everything depends on it!!!
The Trustees met last week. Roland, the Treasurer, arrived with $20 in the day care fund and $200 in the checking account and a stack of bills in his hand. Although Roland has been talking about the dire situation in the near future for more than a year now, and a warning letter was sent out in September, people have not been listening. It had to come to this, to get the total picture. The Trustees made the only decision they could at the moment.
Bob Cole and Roland Winn came to me, the Pastor, on Thursday morning to inform me of the Trustees’ decision to go to Council on Sunday, with the recommendation to terminate me. They assured me that it was not performance related, but that they hadn’t even been able to fully pay me at the end of December and it was questionable whether they could even pay my check on pay day. It depended on what the collection was on Sunday morning.
The Council met on Sunday morning, and the Trustees were first on the agenda. IMAGINE A CHURCH without a pastor! That was what the Trustees were proposing! They could afford everything else! You might as well hang a shingle out as the latest club because without a pastor is it really a church?
It was a very emotional time at the meeting–as it was for Bob and Roland to have to come tell me this news on Thursday. It was humbling to hear the stories of what my ministry has meant to you! I am grateful! But I am even more grateful for people’s understanding of what it would mean to not have a pastor. While Eric Ekholm is clearly a wonderful leader, he is not here to be a lay pastor but a lay church member, in need of being ministered to. The church is fortunate that he has been so generous with his gifts but he made it clear that he would not become the church’s pastor.
Over the next 3 hours, many doable resolutions came out. THE QUESTION IS WHETHER THE CHURCH CAN RAISE ENOUGH MONEY AND COMMITMENT OF ITS COVENANT MEMBERS TO SERVE, QUICKLY ENOUGH, to save it! Money to pay for heat, lights, snow removal, and EVERYTHING ELSE MUST BE RAISED IMMEDIATELY. WE NEED $20,000 TO KEEP THINGS UP AND RUNNING.
The last resolution is that if SIGNIFICANT money is NOT raised within 60 days, the Council will revisit the issue of a layoff. Both the Minister of Music and the Pastor are subject to “being eliminated or reduced.” While the Interim Pastor is Interim, the Minister of Music’s position would cover the defecit that the budge has right now. Can West Church get along without a Pastor or a Minister of Music? That option has been laid on the table. Even a half time pastor will cost most of what the current pastor’s package involves.
Currently: There are several resolutions in process. There is not nearly enough liquid assets. Immediately, worship will be held for Feb., March and most of April in Tenney Roper Hall. This newsletter, an additional letter to the membership, and a PUBLIC appeal for help will be in the newspaper. The Nominating Committee is seeking people to GET INVOLVED! SAY YES!!! Pay your Pledge EARLY! PAY YOUR PLEDGE PROMPTLY! PLEDGE!!! ATTEND WORSHIP–PRAYER TOGETHER IS NEEDED! SUPPORT FUNDRAISERS! Come to the Church Suppers! We will be having a Rummage Sale on March 17th! DONATE ITEMS! MANY WORKERS ARE NEEDED!
The Near and Distant Future
I guess that depends on you, doesn’t it? Help prevent the first page headlines from becoming a reality! It has to matter to YOU–each and every one of you who call West Church home!!!
God bless,
Pastor Pam
Announcement: Pastor Pam’s Office Hours have changed in order to try to accommodate those who are not able to make it to the church on week mornings. Monday hours are 3 to 5 pm. Tuesday hours are 9:30 to noon time. The Pastor will be working from home on Wednesdays. Times other than the above are available by appointment or chance. Feel free to call the church office or Pam’s cell phone 229-7080.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Our church has a very busy FOOD PANTRY, which is open Fridays from 10AM until Noon. Food donations are accepted at any time. Suggested donations for hungry people are: cereal (cold and hot), peanut butter, canned fruit and vegetables, frozen meat, frozen vegetables, crackers, spaghetti sauce, beef stew, canned meats, pancake mix, snacks, shampoo, paper towels, toilet paper. Monetary donations are accepted year round and may be mailed to the church–Att: Financial Secretary. Please mark you donation: Food Pantry.