This week at Old South Haven Churdh

This Week at OSH            July 25, 2019

Members and Friends—

A few days ago, the following article showed up in an email from The Presbyterian Foundation: "Is the Church a Business?" It is a question that has come up in a variety of ways throughout my ministry. In particular when Sessions are grappling with budgets. As long as churches have buildings and staff there will be bills to pay and to do that there must be income. And as much as we might wish to make mission giving a priority the truth is that supporting the basic infrastructure takes nearly all the income of many churches. And that shows little sign of changing in the 'traditional' church. That means we sometimes lose sight of our calling as followers after Jesus.

The church unlike a business doesn't have a product to sell. Likewise, individual contributions to a church aren't paying for a product. Instead as the article reminds us "Christian stewardship. . .[is] sharing and investing in gratitude for all that God does in our lives. The word gratitude caught my attention as I have been reading Braiding Sweetgrass. The author is a Native American botanist. Gift, gratitude, and reciprocity are terms that run through the book. Near the end she says:

    "The practice of gratitude. . .celebrates cultures of regenerative reciprocity, where wealth is understood to be having enough to share and riches are counted in mutually beneficial relationships.

When you joined the church, if you are a member, you made a commitment of gratitude to be expressed in your gifts of time, talent and treasure. But aren't those the commitments we are called to make to any relationship that matters to us. When we commit some of our treasure, in church-talk make a financial pledge, we are saying that the relationship we have with this particular band of followers and with our God is one we celebrate and treasure. We are saying that we are blessed to have enough to share in the work of this community.

One of the church treasurers I worked with early in my ministry put it this way. "No matter what, the first check I write each month is to the church." "Why," I asked him? "Because I am so grateful for all that I have and blessed to be able to share it with others." That says it all.

In Christ,

Pastor Karen

At its regularly scheduled meeting on July 22nd the Session devoted time to discuss the broad financial picture of Old South Haven. It also received the mid-year report of the Financial Secretary and the June report of the Treasurer. Members of Session are going to individually take time to reflect on information provided prior to continuing their discussion at their next meeting. In addition, the Session received the reports of the Clerk and Pastor and voted to move the September communion to the third Sunday as Pastor Karen will be away the first two Sundays.

As we enter the summer months please remember to keep your pledge up to date.

Calendar

Sunday, July 28    10:00 am    Worship

                    Fellowship

Sunday, August 4    10:00 am     Worship

                    Fellowship

This week at Old South Haven Churdh

This Week at Old South Haven                 July 18, 2019

Members and Friends –

The June 19 cover story of The Christian Century was "The Economics of Ministry." I have subscribed to the Century for decades as I appreciate their reporting of religion and the thought-provoking articles. Anyone who is paying attention to church matters today knows that the times are uncertain. Membership has been declining across the board and in 2018, for the first time giving to houses of worship and related entities, declined by $2 billion dollars after years of growth.( https://www.christianpost.com/news/donations-to-religion-declined-2-billion-in-2018-after-years-of-growth-study.html ). So, I was curious to see what perspective the Century would bring to the issue.

Although the articles focused largely on the financial realities faced by the clergy, in particular recent graduates there were some points that relate to the impact on local churches. But first a few basic gleanings about clergy and economics. I didn't answer the call to ministry for the money. I hold three advanced degrees in religion and theology yet I have never worked for more than the presbytery minimum plus experience apportionment. But, I also entered the ministry with minimal debt and a spouse whose comparable education led to a much more substantial income. That makes me unusual. The percentage of newly minted M.Div. graduates who leave seminary with debt has risen steadily since 2002 such that now 64% of graduates are indebted. The average debt from seminary alone is $36,000. Add to that the average $20,000 debt from prior education and you begin to understand the struggles many face just to keep a moderate standard of living.

When you pair that reality with fact that "increasingly congregations are turning to part-time clergy. . .as they find themselves with limited resources. . .Both mainline and evangelical denominations have a large proportion of clergy who are part-time or bivocational (or even trivocational) or who essentially donate their services to congregations, the number is likely to increase." Add to that the fact that part-time clergy, who may be in the most need, are often not eligible for benefits such that "many congregations with part-time clergy thus save not only on what they pay in salaries but on what they don't pay in benefits." https://www.christiancentury.org/article/critical-essay/what-pastors-get-paid-and-when-it-s-not-enough

I share the above with you because in today's church economics matter perhaps more than we like to admit. I share it because these economic realities have played a role in every conversation I have had with churches through the years. But more often than not it has been in the shadows and not discussed in the full light of day. I didn't go into the ministry for the money. The churches I have served aren't in it for the money. But the hard reality is that economics are driving many of the decisions congregations make -- be it how much of the budget goes to mission or can we afford to pay a pastor "fairly and provide for his or her welfare as he or she works among us." (Book of Common Worship, 470)

In the coming weeks, as requested by the Committee on Ministry, your called leadership, the members of Session, will be engaged in a thoughtful and careful look at the economic reality here at Old South Haven. You are fortunate to have detailed records going back numerous years which will make their work easier to complete in a timely fashion. For I believe that you believe it is important to be good stewards of the long legacy of OSH and to care for the welfare of those called to serve here now and into the future.

In Christ,

Pastor Karen

Sunday is Kirsty's final Sunday with us prior to leaving for Montreal to begin Seminary Studies at MCGill University and The Presbyterian College. She is an Inquirer in the ordination process under the care of Old South Haven and the Presbytery of Long Island.

As we enter the summer months please remember to keep your pledge up to date.

Calendar

Saturday, July 20    10:00 am        Property and Finance Meeting

Sunday, July 21    10:00 am    Worship

                            Fellowship

Monday, July 22    7:00 pm        Session Meeting

Sunday, July 28    10:00 am        Worship

                            Fellowship

This week at Old South Haven Churdh

This Week at Old South Haven             July 11, 2019

Plumb Line Study---

Elder Judi Bird, Clerk Sean Moran and Pastor Karen met with the Committee on Ministry of the Presbytery of Long Island on Tuesday, July 9, to present the Plumb Line Report. The committee felt that the report was very well done and provided a good picture of both the church today and its future potential. The Plumb Line Report was approved however, the committee has asked the Session to do some further work prior to approving the beginning of a pastoral search. In particular they have asked the Session, your leadership, to examine the financial aspects of going forward. They have asked that OSH report back no later than January 2020.

.

As we enter the summer months please remember to keep your pledge up to date.

Calendar

Sunday, July 14    10:00 am    Worship

                            Fellowship

Saturday, July 20    10:00 am Property and Finance Committee

Sunday, July 21    10:00 am        Worship

                            Fellowship

Monday, July 22    7:00 pm        Session Meeting