The town of Dundas here in Minnesota is saddened this month to witness the closing of an Episcopal church that for 157 years has been a landmark in the community. What happened to bring about this strange and unfortunate event?
First, a series of liberal clergy poorly matched to the basically conservative, rural populace is appointed. One had a passion for Hispanic ministry, which was commendable, but not truly shared by the congregation. Another appointed to cover Sunday services is a partnered lesbian.
Second, the lesbian priest is appointed as consultant for the unsuspecting parish. She does little to encourage the exploration of the well-tested options of total ministry or dedicated supply work for the little parish, options that are being used very successfully in similar parishes throughout the diocese.
Third, the consultant encourages the vestry to vote for closure, which is arranged surpassingly quickly. The consultant, meanwhile, is having financial troubles within her own parish, less than a half-hour's drive away, but culturally-speaking, light years away. Her predecessor, a former Roman Catholic priest, had built up the congregation admirably prior to being tapped for a cardinal parish in Duluth. It did not take long for things to spiral downward. Dundas' Episcopalians, having lost their church, are being encouraged to worship at their former consultant's struggling parish.
Possible plans for using the Dundas church property for elder care run by Episcopal Homes of Minnesota appear to be incomplete at this time. Screwtape must be very proud.
8 comments:
I assume this is Holy Cross, Dundas? The ASA and plate offering stats of 1997- 2007 show the characteristic last gasp of increased giving shortly before your reported collapse. This is not unlike the predicted death of Sol. Near the end, our star will puff itself up in size as it expends the last of its fuel, incinerating the inhabitants of Earth.
I read somewhere that TEC is now 2 M. Looks like the downward spiral is with us in MN too.
Maybe a new Bishop will stem the tide. Let us pray!
Something similar happened here in western Kentucky. The bishop assigned a lesbian deacon to pastor three yoked churches. In doing so he showed no sensitivity to the communities in the churches were situated. Western Kentucky is perhaps the most socially conservative region of the state. The churches needed someone who could build relationships with their communities, an important step toward turning them around. Of the three churches, only two now remain open. One is barely viable.
It didn't take very long Pewster, but it appears the parish chart has vanished- at least at the present time, the link you supplied is not working for me. Let us pray for the people who have lost their church- whether conservative or progressive- this must be a very painful experience for most.
A Holy Cross Warden would like to set the record straight. The current Priest and her predecessor were both called by the parish, not appointed by the Bishop. It was the parish that did not chose to pursue total ministry. The neighboring parish is actually less than three miles away, and the vibrant congregation left by the former RC priest continues to be a vibrant congregation with an inherited financial problem. Thanks for your comforting words.
Thanks, Anonymous, for detailing that the consultant's parish is even closer geographically to your former parish than I described, although still miles away culturally. I must correct misleading inaccuracies in the rest of your comment. First, Anglicat assigned no blame/credit for who, ultimately, is responsible for recent clergy appointments to your former parish. Please note, however, that no clergy may serve at a parish without the Bishop's approval, and further, there is a vetting system in place for which clergy may even be considered for hiring. Second, the article does not say that the parish did not choose its own demise, but rather that the consultant did not ENCOURAGE the consideration of proven options for keeping the doors open. Third, your view of the continued parish vibrancy inherited by the consultant is not universally shared. All this being said, I do wish you comfort in the parish you have chosen. Others, as you know, will not be following you, and they deserve comfort as well. Stating the truth in an unfair situation generally helps with that.
That the warden (or someone writing on his or her behalf? It's not clear) thinks that total ministry was the ONLY option to closing the church doors PROVES that the consultant did a poor job. Retired clergy and other part-time clergy do a wonderful job of keeping small, rural parishes open. The consultant was unethical to have accepted this job, given her personal stake in the matter, her desire for a full-time salary in her own struggling parish.
Katherine+, check out the discussion section of the news article here:
http://tinyurl.com/mhmzy6
In particular, see what the commentator Jane has to say.
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