I wonder if anybody at St. Paul's Church in Duluth sees a connection here. The Rector, Bill Van Oss, writes in the February issue of the parish's newsletter that the paid staff at the church has dwindled in recent years from sixteen to four. And what activities are claiming the time and efforts of these remaining four staffers these days? They are promoting a grand "Opening Our Doors, Opening Our Hearts Conference" at which Bishop Spong will keynote on Friday evening and then wrap things up on Sunday by preaching and speaking at the parish's forum. In between, gay activists will mount the podium
But wait--there's more! Worship at an ordination ceremony at St. Paul's yesterday began with prayers to the four directions, included sage grass smoke during the Eucharist, and concluded with a traditional Eagle dance performed by a feather-costumed dancer circling the sanctuary and altar.
Now, let the truth be known: I have respectfully participated as an observer in four directions ceremonies while working in Mexico, and understand the beauty and meaning of the ceremony among indigenous peoples not yet converted to Christianity. I happen to like the smell of sage grass and think it substitutes quite nicely for any of the usual Anglo-Catholic incense blends. I even find drumming to be a moving musical accompaniment during special liturgies. But I draw the line at worshiping the four directions inside the walls of a mainstream Christian church and inviting a dancer to dramatize the mighty eagle carrying the prayers of the faithful to the Great Spirit. To quote a book still in use in some Episcopal parishes, "we have one Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and he is the perfect offering for our sins, and not for ours only, but for the sins of the whole world."
Would that St. Paul's Duluth take a stand against the multi-faceted sin of the world, rather than promoting it. Turning to Spong only deepens the wrong.
2 comments:
From David Virtue's site:
St. Paul's in Duluth, Minnesota, faces serious retrenchment. Recently, the parish had 16 paid staff positions, not including nursery attendants. Today it has four full time equivalents. The Vestry approved staff changes that included eliminating the Assistant Priest as a paid position with The Rev. Margaret Thomas agreeing to serve as a regular supply priest, for emergencies and funerals when the rector is away. The Sunday Sexton position was also eliminated. The Secretary position was reduced to 20 hours per week. "We need to think and do things differently. I have no doubt God is calling us to a new thing. I do not know what it is," said The Rev. Bill Van Oss. This parish recently had John Shelby Spong speak to it.
The parish stat page is here, http://tinyurl.com/cfk526 . Attendance is down from 300 in 2003 to 200 in 2007. Plate and pledge funds dipped and more than recovered in 2007. But that means less are giving more. Is that being sustained in 2009? It appears not.
Stay warm, Anglicat!
Pray for the people of that church.
As far as the clergy goes,
Forgive them Lord for they know not what they do.
As far as Robroy's comment goes,
I defer to Matt Kennedy's "Why Pledges Increase as Membership and Attendance figures Decrease" from October 1, 2007. I call it squeezing the turnip.
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