An Anglican Witness

Road to Ruin

2012-01-18T07:23:00.000-08:00

In case you're wondering
Whence my excessive concern
For a small, nondescript Episopal parish,
Lost in the middle of Cape Cod:

It is a microcosm of the condition of
The (formerly) Protestant Episcopal
Church in the U.S.A, and of its
Member Diocese of Massachusetts.

The church, both local and national
Is experiencing gradual demise.
Its leaders at all levels
Are in a classic state of denial.

Average Sunday Attendance
Cascades downward.
Parishes merge, parishes close --
All blamed on exogenous factors.

The truth is that growth
Is not sought; it is resisted
Because a flood of new worshippers
Might threaten the existing consensus.

Few people are attracted
To a radical rewriting of Scripture,
And its concomitant policy of
Acceptance of bizarre practices.

The Episcopal Church survives
On bequests, i.e., "dead peoples' money,"
As does St. David's, which can only
Hope for largess from someone else's will.

Otherwise this parish will sink
Quietly out of sight, leaving
The Diocese of Massachusetts with
A few more buildings to sell.

Separation Anxiety at St. David's -- Part II

2012-01-16T11:19:00.000-08:00

Two more slights occurred:
Our offer to donate portable air conditioners
Was accepted, then carelessly dismissed
Without a word of acknowledgment.

My offer to guide the planning process
For determining the future of St. David's
Was dismissed out of hand as a threat
To the views of the people in charge.

Or at least that is my deduction
From the confusion of emails
That greeted my assessment of
The financial crisis the parish is in.

The powers that be, see no change
Possible in the position of St. David's
Relative to that of the diocese and
The (national) Episcopal Church.

Growth, i.e., a concerted effort
To attract a large number of new members
Is not looked upon as a means to
Attain financial stability.

A few people drift in the doors;
Some remain who find attitudes
Comparable to their own, and
An outlet for their energies.

Average Sunday Attendance varies
Somewhere between 110 to 130 for
The two services, which is not nearly
Enough to finance operations.

St. David's has no wealthy members,
Like Chatham or Osterville,
Who could be counted on to shoulder
The burden for the rest of the parish.

At present, an unrestricted bequest
Plugs the hole in the annual budger.
At the continuing rate of consumption,
It will be gone by the end of 2013.

I am now simply accompanying
My beloved spouse to book discussion
On Friday and worship on Sunday,
And fellowship with nice people.

Who knows when and how it will end.
The parish may go out of business.
Leaving us to look in our vicinity,
For somewhere else where the gospel
is preached.

Separation Anxiety at St. David's - Part I

2012-01-16T06:34:00.000-08:00

(Originally posted January 8, 2011)

Our connection to St. David's frays.
More and more often, we find ourselves
Separating from activities that were
Our ministry to the congregation.

Driving the homeless back and forth
To a Sunday dinner at the church
Gradually became an unrewarding burden
When few bothered to show up.

A monthly stint anchoring the coffee service
Also became a scheduling nightmare.
Fortunately, our assignment as lectors
Is infrequent and enjoyable.

The usher corps dispensed with my services
For reasons unknown and unexplained.
The new schedule left me off the roster,
Immediately after a service as head usher.

Was it because I only wished to serve once a month?
Or was it because I have posted blog remarks about
A new usher who dressed disgracefully,
Until the day she arrived dressed to the nines?

Perhaps they are displeased about my convictions,
Although we have never discussed theological positions.
Perhaps they suspect, rightly so, that I view
The actions of the denomination as organizational suicide.

I don't impose or debate my theology.
Only God knows what is truthful and correct.
But we should be allowed to hold heartfelt ideas,
And be at least respected for earnest striving at truth.

Having led my klatch of old ladies in an exploration
Of an explosion of writings by Eugene Peterson,
I wonder what remains in their minds of his excoriation
Of contemporary worship in Christian churches.

Next, I nudged them into selecting his
LifeGuide study of twelve psalms.
Our attendance will be random, partly
To avoid my being cast as permanent leader.

Am I fated to be separated from St. David's
By adoption of practices I cannot condone?
Is the parish itself doomed to extinction
By diminution of membership and financial support?

Don't Double Down

2012-01-12T05:35:00.000-08:00

A well-worn Wall Street admonition states:
"Don't double down on a bad investment,"
Meaning, don't buy shares at a lower price
Of a stock you already own.

For this reason, I halved my support for
The local Episcopal Church
That I have been attending, to a
Simple admission level of giving.

This church is running a severe deficit,
Financed by an unrestricted bequest,
Which will run out in 2013, and has
No plans for increasing its income.

Attendance has been reduced to a point
Below a level of sustainability.
The rector and staff are being paid
Less than the statutory minimum wage.

I offered to lead a planning group
In finding ways to increase membership,
Which might mean substantial change
In the present ways of doing things.

To my surprise, I was met with
Equivocation by the rector,
And outright hostility
From the senior warden.

It is obvious that they, and others,
Have no interest in growth
As a means of expanding income
And are resigned to eventual extinction.

This is the attitude that pervades
Their parent denomination, which
Records continuing decline in membership
With silence and equanimity.

Perhaps the activist group that
Seized control of The Episcopal Church
Is afraid of growth, and the concomitant
Possibility of losing what they gained.

Christianity Lite

2012-01-05T14:18:00.001-08:00

Mainstream churchgoers like Christianity Lite.
It fits comfortably into American culture.
It emphasizes love and good feelings.
It relieves us of guilt and fear of judgment.

Our pastors preach uplifting sermons,
Telling us to feel good about ourselves,
Urging us to do good, as it were,
To our unfortunate neighbors in need.

Jesus figures in Christianity Lite
As a kindly and loving teacher
Who was misunderstood, and met a bad end
At the hands of evil authorities.

But we can brush aside the sad story
And concentrate on how he returned to love us all
No matter who we are, or what we do.
We don't really have to believe in him as a god.

Sin is a pejorative word that we never use.
Some of us may engage in inappropriate behavior
At times, but so long as it does not hurt others,
It may easily be forgiven.

We like to hear excerpts from the bible
That give us peace and comfort.
Other than that, we are not likely to
Read any of the stories by ourselves.

We have heard some quoted passages
That are harmful and just plain wrong.
Jesus and the saints could never have said such things.
They must have been added by narrow people later.

We like to read books by scholars
Who tell us what aspects of Christianity
Are false and useless, and need not be believed,
So that we may feel free to pick and choose.

The only problem with Christianity Lite
Is that there a whole lot less of us,
Whereas those bigoted megachurches
Seem to pack in hosts of new believers.

Incipient Collapse

2011-12-31T07:24:00.001-08:00

We predicted the collapse
Of St. David's Church in 2014.
That prediction has been confirmed
By the present financial crisis.

The rector of the church,
For whom we have great affection,
Has written a mournful letter in the
Monthly publication of the church.

In it, he states that the shortfall for
The coming year's budget will be
Made up again from the reserve, and
"cannot be relied on for more than another year."

He proposes inviting a "planning" committee
To outline means to build up the reserve.
That is not planning, it is fund raising, or
"Development" in the parlance of non-profits.

But a church cannot raise funds from donors;
It must rely on the contributions from members.
Therefore the solution lies solely in recruiting
Many new members to the church family.

As we have often stated, the objective of
"Stewardship" as it is colloquialy known is
Not to squeeze more money from the faithful,
But to get more faithful to squeeze money from.

The "perfect storm" discussed heretofore
Militates against attracting new members
In substantial numbers, so long as the church
Continues to follow its obsolete business model.

As we have argued previously, continuing to do
What is failing is not a recipe for future success.
Adding new outreach programs simply stretches
Church resources, while older programs suffer.

If we are to plan the future of St. David's,
We must examine the total environment of our church,
List all available options for growth, sift and discuss,
And determine what we can reasonably pursue.

Thinking Outside the Box

2011-12-16T12:01:00.000-08:00

It is an overused, hackneyed expression
But it still has merit in delineating
That solutions to difficult problems
May be found in unfamiliar territory.

If we are to consider what the
Alternatives for St. David's might be,
Then we have to look at possibilities
Outside the present box the church is in.

Otherwise, we are simply considering
How to maneuver whilst encased in
A straitjacket of not our own making
Which binds us ever tighter.

In an earlier post, we stated that
Would lead us either to
Liquidate, merge, or downsize;
None of which are appealing.

To avoid these calamities,
St. David's may have break out
Of the limitations and restraints
Imposed by denomination and diocese.

Alternatives to be considered might be:
A free church, standing alone,
Affiliation with another Anglican province,
Absorption of another Christian entity.

Within the present diocesan structure
St. David's might pursue a niche market,
Conduct services in an informal setting,
Emphasize a particular activity.

Any of which might be seen as
Unique or innovative, and thus aimed
At attracting new members through
Public relations and word of mouth.

The main objective would be to
Serve our local community in ways
Not now associated with Episcopal churches,
And in so doing, achieve a firm base.

South Carolina Secedes Again

2011-10-11T13:19:00.000-07:00

The Diocese of South Carolina was one of the founding members of the
Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America.
It can never be expelled from the voluntary assocation of dioceses
That made up what is now called The Episcopal Church.

The Diocese of South Carolina in its recent convention
Proclaimed refusal to abide by the canons and constitution
Of The Episcopal Church because it contained new provisions
That violated scriptural and traditional authority.

Under the new rules, the diocesan bishop of South Carolina
Is being charged with "abandonment of communion,"
Which is a offense used previously to describe clergy
Who wander off to other denominations.

A Greek drama now begins to unfold.
The genesis was the election of a bishop
Who unashamedly upholds orthodox theology
And thus was resisted by most of his fellow bishops.

They refused to approve him at first, on a technicality,
But were eventually forced to consecrate him
As a duly elected and qualified bishop who was
Overwhelmingly supported by his constituents.

So the attack on the bishop is really an attack
Upon the some 25,000 worshipers in his flock.
A small remnant of dissenters were induced by
The national church to bring charges against him.

At this juncture, four dioceses have left TEC to
Become part of the Anglican Church in North America.
Five dioceses remain in TEC but decline to
Install the innovations dreamed up its leaders.

South Carolina is the first to openly rebel
Against these practices by passing resolutions
In their diocesan conventions which specifically
Spell out their refusal to accept the new canons.

Inasmuch as ecclesiastical differences in a denomination
Can never be adjudged by a secular court,
The opponents were forced to resort to an
Ad hominem attack on the bishop in a church court.

Imagine the publicity this kangaroo court will engender!
The media will love to cover this dispute.
Whatever the outcome, the bishop can simply ignore it
And go on leading his flock in the direction they choose.

Higher Ground

2011-09-30T10:53:00.000-07:00

Last year, the movie: "The Kids are All Right"
Examined a crucial cultural conundrum.
This year, the movie: "Higher Ground"
Explores the role of faith in a secular society.

Vera Farmiga both stars and directs,
Thus contributing a matchless performance.
She mirrors the struggle of a reasonable person
Attempting to cope with an unreasonable church.

If you are not Christian, and see this film,
You might immediately exclaim
I knew that's what they are like:
Ignorant, misogynistic, judgmental creeps.

The portrayal would justify all those epithets.
So much so that it almost seems like a parody.
Yet such travesties do exist, and as such
May be looked upon as representative of the whole.

One critic refers to the church as evangelical,
Another calls it mainline,
When in fact it is neither, but the very worst
Kind of fundamentalism cult.

What makes it a cult is the attempt by
The pastor and members to practice mind control,
And to silence or ostracize anyone who strays
From their norms of belief and behavior.

Any thinking person would flee the scene,
If confronted by such a group.
That's what the heroine has to do
In order to obtain mental stability.

Most telling, the end birthday scene
Is attended by the parents, aunt, and
Grandparents of the little birthday boy,
All of whom have divorced their spouses.

Love Wins; Jesus Loses

2011-06-16T13:52:00.000-07:00

In Rob Bell's bestseller "Love Wins"; Jesus loses.
It is a shallow invitation to the unchurched
To receive God's forgiveness
Without paying any price in return.

To draw readers into his web,
Bell uses the familiar "straw man" device
Wherein disreputable theological concepts are
Posted as targets for annihilation.

In his universe, there is no saintly afterlife
Generally referred to as heaven, and
Hell is simply a bad patch we all experience
Here on earth, due to inappropriate behavior.

According to Bell, we will obtain a happy
Life today if we simply surrender to
"God's story" for us, although he is
A little vague as to what that might be.

We should be able to find God everywhere
In everything, if we just look around us.
Strike a rock, and God magically appears, as
When he gave water to the wandering Israelites.

Jesus does not come off as very important
To the story except as a channel to God
For all persons, regardless of whether or not
They have ever heard of Him.

Yes, Jesus died on the cross, writes Bell.
That is an example to us as we suffer
Our pain for things we have done wrong,
And can be resurrected like he was.

Forget about judgment.
We will never be judged by our misdeeds.
Instead we have ample time to repent them,
Both now, and after death.

In other words, you can't lose.
God will always love you
No matter what you do.
Eventually, we will all be reconciled with Him.

This exegesis may strike you as being
About as substantial as a box of marshmallows.
Consumption of same may be satisfyingly sweet,
But you're left with nothing but a cloying aftertaste.

"Love Wins" is another attempt to lure
Folks into Christianity by making it sound
As easy and painless as it can be.
What happens after they arrive in church?

Willow Creek, the Illinois megachurch
Found in a survey of its members, that
Those who stayed were profoundly unsatisfied
With their knowledge of the faith.

This, then, requires what we call Christian Education.
Where we explore the depth of our faith
With all its contradictions and ambiguities,
And thus come closer and closer to the real God.

The Dennis Canon

2011-06-14T10:35:00.000-07:00

The Dennis Canon of The Episcopal Church
Was an afterthought, proposed near the
Conclusion of the 1979 General Convention,
And adopted in haste, perhaps irregularly.

Simply put, the Dennis Canon asserts that
The property of each parish is held in trust for the diocese.
This means that the parish does not own
The property that it paid for over the years.

So if a parish decides to secede from TEC
To operate independently, or in another Anglican province,
It can be evicted from the church building and grounds.
The diocese may then sell or otherwise dispose of the property.

Until recently, state courts supported the Dennis Canon
On the basis that TEC is a "hierarchical church."
Lately some deals have been struck where the
Seceding congregation "buys back" the property from a diocese.

Beware, then, if your parish is dissatisfied
With a theological path that TEC is taking; and
Thereupon refuses to perform certain ceremonies
Instituted and prescribed by the diocese and TEC.

The parish may then be accused by the diocese
Of abandoning TEC, and be forced to vacate the premises.
The clergy may be deposed from holy orders
And charged with committing a hate crime.

Many Episcopal parishes are now involved in litigation
By their respective dioceses to capture their property,
Although their sin has simply been to register disagreement
With actions and doctrine of The Episcopal Church.

The validity of the Dennis Canon has not been
Examined sufficiently to justify its application.
So far, courts in various states have avoided
Getting into the wrangle that would ensue.

The Wicked Witch of The West

2011-03-28T06:32:00.000-07:00

One has a great deal of trouble
Discerning the motives of the present
Presiding Bishop of what is now known
As The Episcopal Church.

Parenthetically, it used to be titled
The Protestant Episcopal Church in the U.S.A.,
But that designation vanished after the 1979
Publication of The Book of Common Prayer.

PECUSA never was a corporation,
Rather, a voluntary association of Anglican dioceses,
Formed after the American Revolution,
To meet periodically and formulate common rules.

A presiding bishop was elected to, well,
Preside over the triennial general conventions.
Wary of an authoritarian structure, the founders
Gave that person no primatial authority.

Now the incumbent in the post seeks
Absolute control over an ecclesiastical hierarchy,
Through rules that would permit her to
Direct bishops and clergy in doctrine and liturgy.

She is now unable to remove them directly,
But she has attempted to depose dissenters from Holy Orders.
She would have all matters of faith under her authority,
Thus becoming an infallible American pope.

Her current objective is to force all clergy
To perform certain ceremonies under church auspices,
Which, if they refuse as a matter of conscience,
Would result in their removal from office.

She has also set about cultivating
Like-minded Anglican primates in other lands,
As a possible worldwide alternative,
To the collapsing Anglican Communion.

It is said that this person regards herself as a prophet,
A proclaimer of a new interpretation of the Christian faith.
As a prophet, a radical, a revolutionary,
She must sweep aside any resistance to her mission.

So far, the results have been a major schism,
Establishment of a rival Anglican Church in North America,
A wholesale departure of members, and a marginalization
Of Episcopal thought and culture in American life.

The Minister Buys a House

2011-03-24T11:48:00.000-07:00

Our new rector has bought a house
A stone's throw from St. David's
In the Long Pond section of
South Yarmouth, Massachusetts.

After a year in service on Cape Cod,
It would appear that he has resolved
To put down roots in the community,
And serve his church until retirement.

At the annual meeting in January,
He announced that this was the first time
He had ever looked forward to such a gathering
In his twenty some years as a minister.

With a year of stability accomplished,
He knows well the individual congregrants,
The situation in which he serves,
And the challenges ahead of him.

He suffers the petty complaints patiently,
Recognizing that they mask deep suffering
Among so many of those in the pews.
Then proceeds to do precisely what he plans.

Foremost is a review of the many ministries
Presently undertaken in the name of the church.
Starved for volunteers, some languish unfulfilled,
Causing their proponents brittle anxiety.

The hunger for education in the faith
Is being approached with new offerings
By the rector and lay persons
As time and schedules permit.

A strategy for growth and solvency
Remains both elusive and difficult.
However, one or another person drifts in,
Replacing those who depart to a better life.

Shrove Tuesday Pancake Procession

2011-02-25T11:50:00.001-08:00

from Scott Robert Knitter, East Lansing Liturgist

The Shrove Tuesday Pancake Procession is a unique East Lansing tradition that dates back to the late 19th century, when Michigan Agricultural College (now Michigan State University) was growing, causing the settlement of faculty, staff, and students in the new town of Collegeville, adjacent to the north end of the university grounds. The procession is now based at All Saints Episcopal Church in the historic Bailey neighborhood seven blocks north of the student union.

Following the Shrove Tuesday Solemn Evensong, the solemn procession forms at the head of the aisle, and the sacred ministers are supplied with their birettas. The celebrant also receives a large platter of steaming-hot buttermilk pancakes; the deacon and subdeacon take up large pitchers of Michigan maple syrup. Acolytes with large forks and spatulas attend the sacred ministers. Following the deacon's versicle and the people's response, the thurifer leads the procession through the nave and narthex and down the steps to the undercroft, where a station is made at the kitchen. The choirs accompany the procession with appropriate antiphons, responsories, and plainsong hymns, such as the Corpus Christi introit, Cibavit eos: "He fed them also with the finest wheat flour, and with honey from the rock." Naturally, in the early days of the procession's history, these words were taken quite literally, and the pancakes were made of whole wheat and served with pure Michigan honey. Tastes these days being what they are, adjustments have been made, but the symbolism still obtains.

After the station at the kitchen door, the procession moves back upstairs to the Grove Street entrance and turns left, encircling the Unitarian-Universalist Church of Greater Lansing, next door, as a gesture of hospitality and ecumenism. Traditionally, the UU minister joins the procession dressed in a simple cassock-alb and bearing a large bowl of flower petals gathered by UU parishioners; these are added to the pancake plates as a lovely garnish and a reminder of the oneness of creation with Creator. (A secondary but salutary effect of the procession in the early years was the reconciliation of the neighboring Episcopal and UU churches following the previous year's Trinity Sunday outdoor solemn procession, which had encircled the UU church three times to the increasing outrage of the UU minister and congregation. The Trinity procession route was subsequently changed to encircle the historic Beaumont Tower on the university campus, during which the university carillonneur traditionally performs Anglican hymns in 3/8 or 3/4 meter, ending with three sets of three tolls on the three largest bells.

The procession moves south from the UU church down Grove Street past the rectory, where a station is made and the antiphon Sacerdotes Domini chanted, and then past the first block of fraternity houses, where students have been lining the streets to depths of four and five persons since before noon. By now the pancake plates and syrup pitchers have been replenished by the vergers from supplies driven ahead of the procession by the sextons. The students wear no particular traditional garb when they are served the pancakes, except that shirts and shoes are required in addition to the usual shorts or jeans. Hats are expected to be removed while the pancake platter is in one's block of residence.

The procession then makes a one-block turn to the west and then heads south on Abbott Road, the main street into the university and the location of City Hall and further blocks of fraternities and sororities. The culmination of the procession is the arrival at the West Circle Halls of Residence, a lovely group of three-story Tudor-style halls, each with a large dining-room. On this night alone out of all the nights of the year, the dining-rooms are closed in observance of the solemn pancake procession. The waiting students are served efficiently as the procession reaches the university test kitchen at Williams Hall, where nutritionists receive samples of the pancakes for chemical analysis and testing and the eventual assignment of a rating for that year's batch. Finally, having given up the pancake-serving utensils, the sacred ministers, vergers, acolytes, and servers proceed to the Alumni Memorial Chapel not on foot, but on the Sigma Chi homecoming float flatbed, its permanently installed Liberty Bell replica ringing all the way, and all enter the chapel for the Solemn Te Deum and Benediction.

Gregory has helpfully reposted the ceremonial for a solemn pancake procession passing a pancake restaurant. Sadly, due to changes in restaurants in recent years, the ceremonial had to be simplified somewhat and is used only in front of the Evergreen Grill, which serves pancakes only on Saturday and Sunday mornings. This used to be a major station with full ceremonial when this restaurant was the Pan Tree, a 24-hour establishment specializing in pancakes, deep-friend French toast, and enormous hot-fudge sundaes. The building also happens to have been the original East Lansing post office, which may be of interest to some but is of no liturgical import.

As cantor, I look forward every year to intoning the various antiphons and hymns along the way. I feel as though I am part of something utterly unique and steeped in history, mystery, and civic goodwill. The event has contributed greatly to the growth of our parish and that of the Episcopal Ministry at MSU, and I am proud to have had a part in carrying on this tradition.

A blessed Shrove Tuesday to all, and do make it a point to process with us here in East Lansing at least once in your lives. It is well worth a visit, and you will be warmly welcomed.

In response to Mark Kessinger's question about what happens during a solemn pancake procession when it passes by an International House of Pancakes (IHOP):

I spent a little more time in researching this than I should have, but I ended up consulting my copy of Ritual Notes, Interim Edition, which is an unpublished edition that was compiled for specific London parishes' use during the Second World War. While RN/IE doesn't specifically mention the IHOP, it does treat of the subject in general terms:

PANCAKE PROCESSIONS: Encountering a Pancake Restaurant:

In certain neighborhoods, the solemn pancake procession will of necessity pass by a restaurant whose speciality is pancakes, flapjacks, or crepes. Extraordinary means are not to be taken to avoid this situation, unless a detour would add dignity and not unreasonable length to the route. Traditional ceremonies are to be observed while passing before such an establishment.

When the restaurant is sighted by the verger, he shall signal to the acolyte, who shall ring the bell thrice. The procession shall continue, but the serving of pancakes shall cease until the restaurant has been passed by. On hearing the bell, the clergy and lay ministers in procession shall turn their heads so as to face the establishment directly whilst they continue forward. Upon a single stroke of the bell, all shall stop and turn to face the restaurant. The sacred ministers shall remove their birettas, taking care not to drop the syrup pitcher as they do so. The lay ministers shall take the birettas and pitcher. The sacred ministers shall then double-genuflect, first bringing the right knee to the ground and then the left knee to join the right one on the ground. All others shall bow low. The celebrant shall chant the collect for Shrove Tuesday. This completed, all shall rise, and the celebrant shall cover the pitcher. A single stroke of the bell shall signal the resumption of the procession.

--RITUAL NOTES, Interim Edition, Morehouse-Barlow 1941:

Two futher questions does come to mind. Are there particular rites to be observed (or modifications of the existing rites) in areas of Orthodox influence, to wit, in places where the cake might be called a blini or blintz? We have many here in Erie of Eastern European extractions and want not to be offensive to their liturgical

traditions.

It's funny you should raise this point, because for the first time this year, a similar procession will take place simultaneously on the east side of East Lansing. MSU being a very large campus (5,500 acres), St Andrew's Orthodox Catholic Church (basically Russian Orthodox) decided to observe the occasion (despite the calendar differences) by processing to the East Campus halls of residence at the same time as our procession to the main campus.

To avoid confusion, the ceremonial is largely the same, and would be familiar to many Orthodox of the Antiochian rites, some of which are basically Anglican Missal. The main difference is in the title: rather than "Pancake Procession," the term used is "Procession on the Eve of the Occidental Equivalent of Great Lent." (Long titles such as this one express great dignity in Russian Orthodox tradition).

It's actually quite ecumenical, especially realizing that our cross-town Orthodox brothers and sisters have voluntarily latched onto something that is quite outside their own liturgical observance and out of whack with their calendar. We very much welcome and rejoice in their participation.

Secondly, if one runs out of consecrated pancakes, must one reconsecrate the new batter, or does a little reserved batter from that already consecrated make holy the whole batch?

Would you believe we've never had this problem? There is, however, as you might expect, a provision for this in our customary. Never is all of the batter cooked into pancakes. Routinely, one cup of batter is drawn off and preserved in a small refrigerator set aside for its preservation, and this cup is poured into any supplementary batter, which is prepared in the accompanying supply van that drives ahead of the procession itself. A similar cup is preserved from the supplementary batter. It's similar to the sourdough principle, or to that about a little leaven leavening a whole loaf.

Organization of The Episcopal Church

2011-01-17T12:19:00.000-08:00

Lesson from a retired professor of management:

The Episcopal Church is not a “national” church in any sense,
Either theological or administrative.
What is now called TEC is a confederation of dioceses
United only by a triennial convention.

At General Convention, canons (regulations) are promulgated
That are effective only by their acceptance in dioceses.
Dioceses are legal corporations within their secular jurisdictions.
TEC is incorporated solely as a missionary society in New York.

A Presiding Bishop is elected every nine years
To preside over general convention, and lead by example.
Said person is not an archbishop, and can only
Persuade diocesan bishops to follow the canons of the church.

Various dodges have been created over the years, to stop
Clergy from doing something not considered acceptable,
These ecclesiastical trials had no practical effect
On inhibiting the action of the defendants.

Nevertheless, the present Presiding Bishop has attempted
To remove clergy from the Anglican Communion, who
Have departed from TEC to serve in other Anglican churches.
These “depositions” were ignored by their recipients.

Very slowly, state courts are now revisiting the so-called
Neutral principles in adjudicating disputes in religious denominations.
A focus is on TEC in its insistence that diocesan bishops
Must seize the property of a departing congregation.

Ultimately, this may result in the Supreme Court
Having to decide whether
TEC is acting as a hierarchical church,
When it has no legal basis to do so.

Church Joiner's Lament

2010-12-04T11:03:00.001-08:00

When I set out to look for a church to belong to,
I have to find a church that believes exactly as I do;
Not fundamental, not evangelical, not judgmental,
Whose God loves me for who and what I am.

When I go through the door of a church I'm shopping,
I expect everyone to smile and greet me,
To rush up and make a big fuss over me
For deigning to consider their church as one I might join.

When I join a church, I bring life's baggage with me.
I will dump all my burdens on the pastor and the congregation.
They will have to give me the resources to cope with
My problems, and put things right in my life.

Every thing I need to know about the theology of my church
Will be carefully taught in the sermons of the clergy.
So there is no need to waste time reading stuff or
Meeting with a group of sanctimonious bible thumpers.

I tried to serve with some people in church activities,
When I noticed that they group together in insider cliques.
They are willing to have me do the scut work,
But they wall me off from their social friendships.

Then comes the appeal for money, known as "stewardship":
Money for expenses, money for buildings, money for missions.
The whole operation seems to be a money-grubbing machine.
I think they all sniff at the little bit I contribute.

So I keep going to this church half-heartedly.
It would be too much trouble to join another.
After all, they are sort of like my family:
Impossible to love, impossible to do without.

Short Term Recommendations for St. David's

2010-09-01T08:37:00.000-07:00

Brandon J. O'Brien has written a new book entitled "The Strategically Small Church."
The book is tendentious and poorly organized, but it makes cogent recommendations.
After seventy-five pages of "small is beautiful," O'Brien focuses on ways to make
a small church "intimate, nimble, authentic, effective." He does not promote ways to
grow, as a principal objective.

One could derive changes to the functioning of St. David's that, according to the author
would lead to success, as he defines it. That would be:

Schedule only one service on Sunday.

Bring children back into the Sunday service, at least part.

Discontinue church-sponsored programs that are starved for volunteers.

Encourage individual unfunded ministries to the community.

You would have to read the book yourself to understand the rationale behind each. His
emphasis is on building an intergenerational family. Making these changes would, no
doubt, be extraordinarily contentious.

Strategic Alternatives for St. David's Church

2010-06-21T12:41:00.000-07:00

Assuming no change in the present offerings and activities at St. David's', it will be defunct no later than 2014. From a business standpoint, therefore, the strategic alternatives open to the parish are threefold:

1. Liquidate

2. Merge

3. Downsize

No doubt liquidation would be painful for the remaining parishioners, but it is not a unique situation. Faced with an inability to pay clergy, staff, and services; going out of business is mandatory. According to the Dennis Canon, the property reverts to the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts, who would undoubtedly put it up for sale to any reputable buyer -- except a rival
Anglican Church. That is forbidden by The Episcopal Church.

Merger makes sense for two or more declining congregations, and is sanctioned by church authorities at both the national and diocesan levels. Recent mergers in New Bedford provide a precedent. Where the surviving parish would be housed is open to question. No doubt, struggles for supremacy would ensue, leaving bad feelings, and departure by persons devoted to the losing parish.

A remnant church could deliberately "downsize" by moving out of the quarters it can no longer afford, and seeking to rent an economical space in which to worship. Functioning without overhead expenses is the modus operandi for small Anglican churches. Part-time clergy suffice for conducting services; laymen perform all other ministries. It really works; I have participated in the early phases of a church plant in Brewster.

Instead of letting decline take its toll; there are ways in which a church can renew itself, grow, and achieve solvency. The objective is establish a unique identity, and thus to secure a competitive advantage. It does work.

I have seen the astounding growth of Brewster Baptist Church take place. I have also seen First Parish of Brewster (Universalist-Unitarian) find a commanding position -- and then lose it. In general terms, the alternatives are:

4. Advertise the internal strengths of the church.

5. Remove distracting and non-missional activities.

6. Organize an ancillary activity that attracts new church members.

7. Pursue a media-worthy community service.

8. Adopt a significant and newsworthy theological position.

and some combination of the above. But you cannot do all of them.

Churches do not advertise their internal strengths because they don't know what they are. I ran a 40 question census at Brewster Baptist, answered by over 400 parishioners, and found that its growth was due to one, and only one significant factor, to wit, the superb preaching by the senior pastor.

That was not news to anyone, but it disturbed the senior pastor no end.

If an activity sponsored by the church or conducted on its premises does not lead directly to attracting new members, then it should be discontinued. Goodwill in the community does not pay the bills. At St. David's, that means ending the community suppers, AA meetings, and the nursery school. However, organizing and conducting an ancillary activity that benefits people to the point that it draws them to join the church is what we want.

Pursuing a media-worthy community service may do that, with reservation. For example, dinners for the homeless are certainly Christian outreach, but they do not add parisioners, with rare exceptions. Try something with a more direct connection. Both Willow Creek and Saddleback do not depend on their Sunday worship services to attract and keep members. They provide a variety of helpful activities. A small church, like St. David's, has to focus and be known for doing something special that leads to Christian living. Brewster Baptist tries to do too many things, and not all of them well.

Differentiating one's church by adopting a significant theological position, and being known for it, is the province of many Episcopal churches in Manhattan. I recall St. Mary the Virgin, the original "diverse" congregation, St. Stephen's, the theater church, and of course, The Church of the Transfiguration, which everyone knows as "The Little Church Around the Corner." We liked St. Thomas Church on Fifth Avenue for its high, holy, sung services.

My personal preference is for continuing education. Willow Creek conducted a survey of its members, and found they wanted more explanation of their faith. Tim Keller of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Manhattan does just that. A combination of evening programs at the church with follow-on home groups draws people and keeps them coming back. St. David now has only two little groups of old ladies talking to one another at the church.

Addendum from the Vision Statement of the Diocese of Central New York:

† Being clear about who we are as a Diocese. No longer are we working primarily a one priest/one parish model. In addition, out of 105 churches, 69 are part-time, 60 are in some sort of decline.

Corrupt Churches

2010-02-22T06:26:00.000-08:00

Those of us in liturgical churches in the U.S.
Have much to complain about to God.
"See here, You have made a frightful mess,
And it's up to You to straighten it out!"

The Roman Catholic Church has been bankrupted
In settlements of the psychic damages caused
By the predations of pedophile priests.
The faithful are still faithful, but to what?

Churches are closed and sold off.
Seminaries no longer attract celibate candidates.
Rome refuses to ordain women priests.
And the war against abortion consumes all attention.

The Episcopal Church is now a gay church,
Announces the Bishop of New Hampshire.
Its presiding bishop rides a broom as she swoops down
To depose rebellious clergy from their priestly functions.

She and her hatchetman insist that diocesan bishops
Sue the rector and vestry individually
For daring to separate from her apostate church.
Assets are seized and doors are barred.

The Presbyterian church has split into factions.
The Lutheran church already was divided into rival synods.
The largest has now inspired another schism
In the debate over the role of homosexual clergy.

So far the Methodists are holding together
But the forces of divisiveness keep pressing issues
That will eventually corrode the denomination
In the same way as their brethren churches.

Is there no end to these bitter factional quarrels?
Where does theological truth lie?
We need another Great Awakening
To put things right in God's house.

Closing Prayer for Discussion Group

2010-01-20T12:59:00.000-08:00

Almighty God, today we studied your Word.
Today, and tomorrow, and all the days thereafter,
We must practice what it means to be Christian
In a troubled and difficult world.

We must love God with all our heart,
We must love our neighbors as ourselves,
Jesus tell us to do so in our daily lives,
By following the directions He has given us.

To be an example, to be a witness
To the revealed truth that makes us free.
To tell the good news to all who will listen,
That his grace makes us pure in heart.

So that we can bear any burden, endure any suffering,
Obtain the strength to carry on in life's tests,
And celebrate the joys we have on earth,
Until we achieve eternal joy in his kingdom.

Budget Crisis at St. David's

2010-01-06T13:37:00.000-08:00

The intent of these entries is not to derogate the good people
And their efforts at St. David's Episcopal Church.
As previously reported, the survival of the parish
Is severely handicapped by the environment in which it functions.

Now, again, a budget crisis looms,
Despite a recent every member canvass,
The pledged amount for 2010 falls critically
Short of a proposed budget.

The budget itself is patently inadequate.
The new rector agreed to a truncated contract.
Compensation of the paid staff is unconscionable;
Outreach and improvements depend on dedicated funds.

Week by week the Sunday attendance falls.
Old folks go to their heavenly reward
And are not replaced by contributing newcomers.
Fewer hands are able to work in vital functions.

Again, the old feasible solutions are liquidation
Of perhaps merger with a more affluent parish.
It won't happen, the mindset of those in charge
Is simply to ride to gradual extinction.

Opening Prayer for Discussion Groups

2009-12-03T11:45:00.000-08:00

Dear Lord, as we gather together
To better understand Your Word,
Help us to keep our minds open
During our discussions.

Remove the barriers of ingrained assumption.
Make us listen to all who contribute insight,
And thereby appreciate how Your love
Permeates diverse points of view.

We meet to expand our knowledge of You,
To find pathways by which we may exercise faith in action,
And spread your Good News to those
Outside our circle of faith in this room.

We are scholars, we are sinners, we are neighbors.
Shine your light upon us
As we seek to become fuller Christian
In thought, word, and deed. Amen

Holy Mother Church

2009-10-21T07:27:00.000-07:00

Once, at The Church of The Holy Spirit in Orleans, Massachusetts,
David preached a sermon in which he referred to us as "Holy Mother Church."
On the way out, I told David that I left HMC a long time ago;
He said Holy Mother Church never left you!

Now, in October 2009, the mountain has come to Mohammed,
That is, HMC is reaching out to co-opt and ingather traditional Anglicans
By offering to receive Anglican parishes as "discrete bodies"
Into the arms of the Holy Roman Empire, i.e., the Roman Catholic Church.

Little do the Vatican officials who hatched this plot
Realize that they have opened the door to cataclysmic change in their Church.
Heretofore, they have received only individual Anglicans, who "swim the Tiber."
Including married Anglican clerics who are retreaded as Catholic priests.

When they get a whole bunch, nothing but trouble will result.
Their own clergy will begin to demand the right to be married, too.
Their bishops will have to deal with fractious vestries,
Who are used to functioning independent of church hierarchy.

Anglican parishes call their own clergy, subject to diocesan approval,
And do not hold still for having someone assigned by outside authority.
Anglicans do not accept theological precepts they do not agree with,
Certainly not from a foreign-born bishop in a palace in Rome.

No doubt the Vatican is looking for substantial revenue from affluent Anglicans.
They will find all such funds specifically reserved for pet causes of donors.
Anglicans are a stiff-necked people, who will not behave like Catholic sheep,
Who bend the knee, bow the head, and reach into their pockets.

Revolt will spread.
Free thought will infest the Catholic faithful.
The specter of women's ordination will arise
To haunt the planners at the Vatican.

General Convention 2009

2009-07-27T01:25:00.000-07:00

From Anaheim in Lotus Land,
The Episcopal Church in the U.S.A.
Sailed off on a lavender cloud
To an unknown shore of religious practice.

Parting from the Anglican Communion,
Firmly engaged in the post modern culture
Of changing beliefs and mutable standards,
TEC leaves behind their brethren of centuries.

Will the newly enlightened church be able
To withstand the pressure for continuing innovations?
Will they find a bedrock of Truth,
Or engage in an ever changing exegesis of the Word?

What becomes of those in TEC
Who cling to the faith of their fathers?
Will they be forced to accept practices they abhor
Or be drummed out of membership?

A rival Anglican province lurks in the wings,
Ready to sweep up the outcasts.
But supposed we do not want to transfer
From a melting ice floe to a strange new island?

This once was ours, this failed experiment
In encompassing a wide range of Christian theology.
Its rationale is no longer relevant;
We must take sides in a quarrel we did not begin.

Ushering at St. David's Church

2009-06-21T14:05:00.000-07:00

Sixty people are at the ten o'clock Sunday service.
The choir is off for the summer.
The usher schedule is a hand-written document,
Available only at the rear of the church.

The head usher, who is eighty-seven,
Has phoned in sick to one of the regular ushers.
Two other regulars show up early; learn one is scheduled.
Both take up welcoming stations at the entryway.

Later, the temporary head usher for the day
Tells us he's in charge, has recruited another.
Thus four ushers march up the aisle,
Plates in hand, to collect offerings from the faithful.

Most people pass the plate on, having contributed monthly.
The plate offerings look rather meager.
Nevertheless, the plates are bagged, carried proudly to the altar.
Followed by a wobbly singing of the Doxology.

St. David's is a caring family of worshipers.
Everyone knows everyone, or about everyone.
Thirty people are on the prayer list.
Many of those in attendance are very old or disabled.

Death and Resurrection

2009-05-30T15:47:00.000-07:00

A Church dies; a Church is born!
The Episcopal Church implodes.
The Anglican Church in North America commences.
Two Anglican provinces occupy the same territory.

The curtain in the temple is rent asunder again,
As schism divides worshippers into two armies of God.
One calls itself progressive; the other traditional.
Labeling their opponents revisionist vs. reasserter.

The media ascribes the split as to whether homosexual mores
Shall be accepted in all offices and rites of the Church.
Scholars say it is a struggle for truth, for the revealed Word,
As being fixed, or open to reinterpretation in changing times.

Alas, there once was a dear old church, formally known
as The Protestant Episcopal Church in the U.S.A.
We were proud that it functioned as a big tent,
Encompassing a wide range of theological differences.

The rector of the parish was called mister,
Wearing a cassock, surplice, and stole,
Conducting Morning Prayer with its canticles and psalms.
Celebrating Holy Eucharist monthly with prayerful preparation.

We were known as God's frozen people, The Republican Party
at prayer,
The movers and shakers, the country club members.
Guilty of the great sins of pride, arrogance, indifference
and snobbery.
We enjoyed the majesty of the prayers, the beauty of the hymns,
and chatting at the coffee hour.

A Perfect Storm at St. David's

2009-05-12T14:37:00.000-07:00

A Perfect Storm

St. David's Episcopal Church in South Yarmouth, MA, faces a perfect storm
in the prospects for its future as an ongoing congregation. First, the demographics
of the population on Cape Cod are increasingly skewed toward aging citizens.
As a consequence, the potential pool of members is decreased at the younger
age range, from whence continuity as well as innovation could be expected.

Second, the Cape is considerably over-churched, with many small congregations
at a survival level of one hundred or less active members. Third, the turmoil
in the national church militates against the attractiveness of local parishes. Who
wants to join a church whose members are at war, publicly, with one another?
Last, the current economic downturn has reduced the pool of funds from which
long time members draw upon to contribute to their church.

The vestry of St. David's has now decided to seek a part-time rector, because
they cannot pay the going rate for a full-time priest. This plan has its own
special difficulties, but it is not necessarily a bad outcome. If greater
involvement by the laity in clerical functions results, the church may be better
off. That is essentially what was recommended in the previous post.

Survival Plan for St. David's

2009-02-27T05:39:00.000-08:00

1. Agree that withdrawal of funds from the Diocesan Investment trust is folly at this time.

2. Examine the trend of pledges and plate income for the past five years to ascertain prospects for improvement.

3. St. David's IS 100% outreach in that we provide a splendid venue for worship, and a caring community of believers.

4. Declare a moratorium on donations of funds to outside agencies, including the diocesan assessment. Theoretically, the Diocese could declare us "out of communion," and employ the Dennis Canon to seize the property. Practically, that would be bad for all parties concerned.

5. Upon termination of our contract with the co-interim co-rectors, function without appointed clergy. Employ supply priests or possibly a nominal "priest-in-charge" who only conducts services.

6. Explore opportunities for regional cooperation on Cape Cod among Episcopal parishes to accomplish administrative economies.

7. Raise up lay ministers to the level of part-time clergy who visit the hospitals and the housebound, conduct morning and evening prayer services, and lead religious study.

8. Organize a vigorous evangelism campaign to attract new members based on a dramatic differentiation from neighboring churches.

9. Terminate the day school, and other secular uses of our facilities to save expenses.

10. Hire a full time manager to oversee all the office and building activities, including the supervision of out-sourced functions.

Farewell to Brewster Baptist Church

2008-11-14T12:48:00.000-08:00

Presented a twelve page study of the demographics of
the areas served by BBC to the Advisory Council in
August. Conducted the census in September, with 396
responses. Tabulated all the forms and summarized
the results in a comprehensive spreadsheet.

The census revealed that the profile of BBC members
correlated with changing demographics, and the
nationwide Pew Research reports. In essence, BBC
is a large (for Cape Cod) non-denominational Protestant
church which has drawn most of its members from other
affiliations. The attraction is the superb preaching of the
Senior Pastor and the contribution of members to the
inner workings of the church and its outreach activities.

At this point, Brewster Baptist Church was becoming
for me more of a management consulting client than a
place to worship. Simultaneously, I put my house in
Brewster on the market, and moved to Yarmouthport.
I am now attending St. David's Episcopal Church in
South Yarmouth.

So I have gone back to The Episcopal Church, and
attended the convention of the Diocese of Massachusetts
in Hyannis in November. In my view, TEC is still in
serious theological error, but I hope to work from the
inside to right the ship. Other orthodox figures have
also done so. I enjoy the company of fellow Episcopalians;
they are my people.

BBC Planning Update

2008-07-21T10:53:00.000-07:00

Have done quite a lot of work for the past month or so.
The Senior Pastor, the Youth Minister, and I are the
strategic planning team. The Dean of Adult Education
provides advice and guidance to me on important issues.

We have a census form drawn up to answer the question:
"Who are our present members." It is in the nature of
a market research survey. Launch is expected in late
Summer or early Fall.

A partial answer to the question: "How well is our market
served?" comes from various demographic reports. The
most useful are the Pew Forum's reports on their U.S.
Religious Landscape Survey. We also obtained forecasts
of demographic trends from Claritas, a subsidiary of
Nielsen. A noted demographic consultant gave his
summary of Cape Cod population vs. economic factors
in a report to the Chamber of Commerce.

Taken together, the news is not good. The profile is
of an increasing population of oldsters (like me) and
a diminishing amount of residents under the age of 50.
Further, a decreasing number are attending church on
a regular basis, as far as we can tell. A partial answer
to the question: "Who are our real competitors?" is
the golf course, and fifty-four churches in our area
of S. Eastham through E. Barnstable.

BBC's net growth is stalled. It is still the largest
Protestant Church in our area, with over 600 members.
Increasing the growth rate will require some
imagination and innovation, as well as superb
marketing. No longer can we just open the doors
and welcome people who walk in.

Strategic Planning Process at Brewster Baptist Church

2008-06-07T14:09:00.000-07:00

While no specific stricture of confidentiality has been imposed
by the Senior Pastor on the conduct of the strategic planning
process, discretion is definitely in order. He plans to lead the
effort himself -- a wise move -- with the Associate Pastor and
I assisting.

It was my original idea to mount such, as seen in the blog
posting of April 14th, but I am very glad that he is in charge,
and that I can contribute. We began with the first item, "Who
are our present members?" That calls for a detailed survey, or
census of the whole congregation. I have prepared a draft,
which is now in the second edition, following our recent
meeting.

With that in hand, we can get a better fix on who are likely
candidates for membership. The Pew Research Report on
Religious Life in American is invaluable for the facts, but
disheartening in the conclusions. Still, it is a useful model,
as our congregation seems to be about the same distribution.
We will know some time this summer, when we have
tabulated the survey.

The Presence -- A science ficton tale

2008-04-23T12:16:00.000-07:00

At the far side of our galaxy lies a planet as big as Jupiter.
We can't see it, of course, although many "exo-planets"
have been identified which surround stars that we can see.
Astronomers look for occlusion of the light temporarily
from a nearby star, and attribute it to the passing of an
exo-planet. They can even calculate the period of
revolution around the "sun" of that planet.

How do we know that an exo-planet exists that we
cannot see? From The Presence, which is its life form.
The Presence occupies its whole planet in an unbreakable
blanket similar to early microbial life on Earth. There
is no individuality, only the intelligence of The Presence
as a whole. No, he, she, or it. The Presence can monitor
living organisms on other planets, by a process we do
not understand. And has been sensing us for the very
short time that intelligent life has existed on earth. We
do not know how long the The Presence has existed.

What The Presence finds on Earth is appalling. Our
organisms are in a constant war with one another,
particularly the sentient beings. So much so that The
Presence has tried to establish a lasting sense
of goodness among us. First "they," if we may call
them that, identified a small, obscure band of nomads
in the Middle East who developed an idea of The
Presence almost four thousand years ago. However,
their actions hardly suited the guidance that The
Presence tried to communicate to them.

So they morphed into a man in the normal process of
gestation on this planet, and gave him the power
to teach their understanding of how eternal goodness
could be spread on earth. During a short period, their
representative on Earth taught all who would listen,
and performed acts of healing to demonstrate his
power.

But he was so alien in his concepts to those in
authority that they contrived to put him to death.
That would be the end of him and his disruption
of the power that they exercised over others. Then,
a few days after he was duly killed, he appeared
to people who had followed him, not as a spirit,
but as a conscious being. He was already part
of The Presence, and therefore his life could not
be ended.

He was integrated back to The Presence on his
home planet, but still he watches over us on Earth.
He tried to get us to understand, and sometimes
intervenes in our lives to get us to follow a better
direction than we could on our own. It is a fierce
struggle, one that seemingly never ends. But it
will end some day, when The Presence absorbs
those of us who have followed his teaching, into
an eternal life of love and goodness.

Planning Growth Strategy at BBC

2008-04-14T09:04:00.000-07:00

Goal : Achieve 5% annual growth in membership

Objective: Get 'em and keep 'em

Who are our present members?

Who are our potential members?

How well is our market served?

Who are our real competitors?

What are our competitive strengths?

What do we do now to get 'em?

What do we do now to keep 'em?

What seems to work in each?

What do we do that is unique and innovative?

What is unnecessary and counterproductive?

What should we do?

What can we afford?

Much Ado About Something

2008-04-14T09:01:00.000-07:00

We are experiencing a major flap at Brewster Baptist Church,
having to do with the times of Sunday Services. They are now
8:30 and 11:00, thus giving time for hour long classes in between
services. Some influential seniors want the late service to begin
at 10:30. Why, I don't understand.

The purpose of the original change was to give the Dean of
Adult Education the opportunity to create new classes.
It has succeeded admirably, but unfortunately, the persons
most vocal do not attend them. Going back to the earlier
hour would effectively cancel the program.

Email is raging furiously from those who enjoy and are edified
by the Sunday classes. It has become a major issue. Some
of the people who want an earlier time are heavy hitters, if
you know what I mean. That is always a factor in churches
like ours.

Meanwhile, I am trying to crank up "Planning Growth
Strategy at BBC" which you will see outlined in the next
posting. I have already identified Sunday Adult Education
classes as a "unique and innovative competitive strength"
of Brewster Baptist Church. The trouble is that we only
advertise special events, so no one outside the church
knows about it.

Strategy for BBC

2008-03-24T08:14:00.000-07:00

Memo to the Senior Pastor:

I could tell from your (excellent) sermon on Easter
Sunday that the subject of appropriate music for the
Sunday services is a topic of discussion. I have also
heard that the timing of services is another topic.
Herewith are some random observations from
a management consultant, and soon-to-be member:

In the Protestant churches that I have belonged to,
the clerical head of the church had absolute
authority over the content, music, timing, etc.
of the worship services. That said, advice could be
proffered by laymen, usually a committee; based on
data, observation, and feedback from parishioners.

There is no question that the traditional late Sunday
service is populated primarily by old-timers.
Do away with it, and you might as well do away
with them. Attendance at the late service may be
affected by the changing demographics of Cape
Cod, especially the purchase of second-home
owners from retirees. The music for the late service
is superb, viz., the Purcell pieces with cornet
accompaniment. Some outsiders have the impression
that BBC is either pentecostal or fundamentalist.
I tell them that our church is about as main-line as
you could get, with a well-founded theology.
The late service proves it.

The contemporary service is kind of fun, especially
in the summer. The songs are out of the"Michael
Row the Boat Ashore" genre which is okay, except
that they are completely unmemorable. However, if
the early service is drawing a crowd, so be it. "If it
ain't broke, don't fix it." BBC is fortunate in having
attracted a large number of younger families from
what is a shrinking base. The strategy for BBC should
be to define and build on strengths in the face of a
changing market. I attempted to highlight these strengths,
in a blog posting on November 19, 2007."

Who is Jesus

2008-02-22T12:00:00.000-08:00

Pastor Doug wrote:

"Jesus of Nazareth is one of the most intriguing,interesting, and
compelling persons in history. No individual has created more
devotion or worship, inspired more art and music, or had a
greater influence on human history over the last 2,000 years.
Whether we worship Jesus as God in human form or if we have
never given Jesus a significant look, there is much to be gained
by learning more about "Who is Jesus?".

At Brewster Baptist Church, we are goingto be devoting seven
weeks in April and May to examining that question, "Who Is
Jesus?" by looking at what Jesus says about himself in the
Gospel of John. Jesus uses a number of powerful images to
describe himself and what he offers to people - he is Bread that
sustains us, the Light that illuminates our darkness, the Gate
that leads to a supportive community, the Good Shepherd who
guides our steps and protects us, our hope in the face of the
power and grief of death, the Way that leads to life in all its
fullness, and the Vine from whom we draw our vitality and
purpose."

The elves who are doing the grunt work wrote:

"We are going to be devoting seven weeks starting April 6,
and through May, examining the question, "Who Is Jesus?",
by looking at what Jesus says about himself in the Gospel
of John. The format for study will be a short video followed
by guided discussion in small home groups. Participants
may specify whether they wish to attend; the days best
for them on Monday through Friday; and their choices for
morning, afternoon, or evening. Hosts and small group
facilitators are especially needed. Sign up to be hosts and
facilitators on Feb. 24. Sign up March 2 to March 16 to
participate; invite friends and neighbors who might be
interested."

Let Joy Reigneth Unconfined

2008-02-08T12:07:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, my driver's license was renewed for five years.
All I had to do was read the eyesight chart and go through
some simple recognition exercises. I was well-prepared,
having had cataract surgery on one eye last summer, and
new prescriptions filled for corrective lenses. At the eye
doctor a month ago, I blitzed the eye chart, and yesterday
was ready to shoot a squirrel in the eye, like Dan'l Boone.

Peering into the eye machine at the Registry of Motor
Vehicles, I found the line selected by the examiner a little
difficult, but managed to get most of it. She seemed
pleased; later I realized that I was given the 20/10 line
to start, and she needed nothing more.

No road test is required for renewal in Massachusetts,
at any age. Just today, the Governor, Deval Patrick,
came out in favor of testing older drivers "to prove that
they can still handle a car safely." No argument with
that, in principle. The problem lies in lack of funds
for testing facilities and personnel.

Our licenses are good for five years. Last time I
was up for renewal, the state was going through a
budget crisis and simply renewed the existing licenses
by mail, without any examination. Recently, two
serious accidents caused by older drivers prompted
a state senator to propose legislation that would
require everyone 85 or older to take a vision and
road test before renewing their drivers' licenses.

The present budget crunch will no doubt kill that idea,
but at least the politicians can say that they tried to
do something. AARP proposes that all drivers be
tested periodically, which is a better solution, but
also fiscally impractical. Only technological
innovation will make it feasible.

At Brewster Baptist, we, the elves, are working
hard to implement a series in the Spring that
will accomplish the Senior Pastor's idea to study
the great "I am" series in John's gospel, with
homemade video and discussion in small groups.

Winter Quarter

2008-01-15T10:57:00.000-08:00

The Adult Education program for Winter 2008 at Brewster
Baptist Church is off to a smashing start! 44 people
attended the Panel Discussion last Saturday, in which the
Senior Pastor, Youth Minister, and Senior Warden answered
questions from the participants on every imaginable area of
Christianity.

After the 11:00 service, my Spiritual Advisor, who attended
with me, asked the Senior Pastor if any record of the session
was made. He said that they were considering release of a
video, or at least an audio. Stay tuned for news of its
availability.

As expected, the sessions on Tuesday evening, led by the
Senior Pastor, were popular, attracting 74 persons last
week. The subject is "Getting More Out of Your Bible."
It was really a rapid fire tutorial on how to study the bible.
One could never read a passage any more without
remembering some of his key points

Your blogger was pleased to have contributed some
worthwhile efforts to promote the Adult Education
program. I told the Dean in an email that I was now
willing to become a member of BBC, having fulfilled
item 3 of the covenant of membership, i.e., to "use my
spiritual gifts, time, and talents to participate in some form
of ministry or service."

Earlier, she asked me to write an "interview" about the
orientation session that the Senior Pastor held in September,
2007. As it happens, that was one of my blog postings.
With a little editing, it will run in The Beacon, which is
the monthly newsletter of BBC.

Evangelism and Church Shopping

2008-01-01T13:56:00.000-08:00

I would almost wish to be called an "evangelist" rather than an
"evangelical" because of the pejorative ascription of the latter.
As such, the choice of Christian demonination has lesser
importance than the acts taken to fulfil the Great Commission.
Recent articles in Christianity Today express that:

From Stan Guthrie:

"Evangelism -- calling sinful people to repent and follow
Jesus -- is always a tougher sell than giving a cup of cold
water in Jesus' name.... Does our heightened social
consciousness ... actually drain our evangelistic zeal?
It shouldn't, because we are called to do both.

...Maybe our preference for social activism reveals a more
basic problem: that we don't really believe our neighbor's
deepest need is to be forgiven by and reconciled to God.
We seem to think that if only he or she is fed, or lives in
a society brimming with Christian principles, or sees our
battles against the world's many injustices, then we will
have discharged our responsibility to Christ."

From Richard J. Muow

"Recently I read yet another lament of evangelicalism's
'consumerist approach' to spiritual matters. Such
critiques usually say that evangelicals encourage people
to shop around to find the kind of church that meets
their spiritual 'need.' This need-centered understanding
of the Christian life has fostered a widespread breakdown
of denominational and congregational loyalty, critics say.
Faithfulness to a specific theological or ecclesiastical
tradition has been replaced by 'church shopping.' "

But what if your denomination has betrayed your loyalty
to it. Should you not then seek another?

From "Top Ten (Religious) Stories of 2007

"Anglican Communion fractures over Scripture,
homosexuality: Global South leaders issued an ultimatum
for the U.S. Episcopal Church to return to orthodox
interpretation of Scripture, four U.S. dioceses took steps
to exit the church, and the basis for a conservative new
Anglican province in the U.S. was laid. Besides that,
all was quiet in the Anglican Communion."

Adult Education Volunteer

2007-12-17T10:52:00.000-08:00

About a month ago, I emailed the Dean of Adult Education at
Brewster Baptist Church, volunteering to be of service. I
have done all kinds of church chores in the past, including
busing tables at church dinners. She replied enthusiastically,
inviting me to meet her again, wherein she would tell me what
needs to be done "and you can pick what you like."

When we did meet the following week, she had forgotten the
latter part of the invitation and was ready to assign me to
perform a major role in marketing a panel discussion to be
held January 12th. Actually, it is the outcome of a previous
meeting with the Dean, when I suggested a continuing
need for a basic course in Christianity for new members.

And that's exactly what will happen, beginning with a two
hour panel of present and retired clergy who will answer
questions to "Everything you always wanted to know
about Christianity but were afraid to ask!" Then after
that, a follow up series on Sunday for five weeks, with
a short DVD at the outset. This will be conducted by the
Chaplain, so it will likely be all lecture.

My assignment was first, to sort out all the various tasks to be
performed. They came to me in bits and pieces of numerous
emails. I realized right away that a simple project plan was
required, so I spent a day compiling a spreadsheet. The
headings are Task, Day of Week, Date Scheduled, Date
Accomplished, and Responsible Person. The Dean and I
exchange the Excel file, making additions and corrections.
We are up to twenty-six separate tasks, now.

Next comes the Public Service Announcement, to be faxed
or emailed to the media. I wrote a simple press release,
based on the syllabus. Two lists of media addresses were
furnished by BBC members. There seemed to be some
lack of convergence in them, and obsolescence. So I spent
another day researching fax addresses and directions
from local media. On Wednesday, we will send the press
release.

Eve

2007-11-24T14:02:00.000-08:00

Genesis 3 (NKJV)

23 therefore the Lord God sent him out of the garden of Eden to
till the ground from which he was taken.
24 So He drove out the man; and He placed cherubim at the east
of the garden of Eden, and a flaming sword which turned every
way to the tree of life.

From the National Review, November 19, 2007:

EVE

They walk to the very edge of paradise,
having already betrayed their loving Lord,
ashamed, yet willing to pay whatever the price.

They pass the Cherubim, the flaming sword,
then see the lovely world beneath their feet.
It's beautiful. But Eve knows in her heart
the sun's burning too bright in a world replete
with thorns and sweat, thistles, and dust-thou-art.

This is the battlefield, the fallen place
where Satan and his legions lie within,
in wait, with death, with every other disgrace,
within a world now indundate with sin,
she whispers, softly, "What have we done?"

by William Baer

"I see that I was mistaken about Eve in the
beginning; it is better to live outside the
Garden with her than inside it without her."
(Paraphrase) Where Eve was, there was
paradise.

From Adam's Diary, by Mark Twain

Atheist Bestsellers

2007-11-21T11:14:00.000-08:00

Books Bashing Faith

William Pike - June 3rd, 2007

The title of a recent Associated Press story by Rachel Zoll exclaimed “Angry atheist books selling.” The article detailed a rise in sales for books by “militant atheist writers,” a trend which the article suggests is “a sign of widespread resentment over the influence of religion in the world among nonbelievers.”

There is, of course, nothing new about atheism, or atheist books. But the fact that such works are selling well in one of the world’s most religiously affiliated nations may come as a surprise. What does such a trend suggest?

One problem with religion as a concept is the simple fact that it encompasses so very much. A Greek Orthodox, a Hasidic Jew, a Japanese Shintoist, and a Sunni Muslim have precious little in common. But they are all religious. Given this fact, if you have a bone to pick with somebody or something, you most likely have a bone to pick with a certain aspect of religion as well. Those afraid of Al-Qaeda are often distrusting of Islam. Those who dislike George W. Bush are often scornful of his brand of evangelical Christianity. If you believe in evolution, you might think the Judeo-Christian view of creation is just a silly myth, and so on and so forth.

In terms of marketing, an atheist writer has a chance of catching at least somebody’s ear when attacking religion as a whole. An atheist can point to the militant pasts of both Christianity and Islam and both sides, at least at some points, will add a self-righteous “Ah-hah!” Working against such a backdrop, it’s easy to attack religion and make at least someone happy with your argument.

Nevertheless, how did a book like Christopher Hitchens’ god is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything - or Sam Harris’s The End of Faith or Richard Dawkins’ The God Delusion or Daniel Dennett’s Breaking the Spell - become so popular? Perhaps one must first ask, how did The Da Vinci Code reach the best-seller list? If not for the commercial success of Da Vinci and the spate of Gnostic, quasi-Gnostic, and wannabe-Gnostic books which followed it, works slamming religion on a wholesale level might very well still be relegated to eccentric bookstores in college towns.

Da Vinci and its successors tapped into a mainstream interest in mystery. There was a time when religion itself presented people with the fascinating allure of mystery, and the religious experience was by its own merit mysterious and evocative. For those who live at the outskirts of religion, however, the history and organization of religion are a source of mystery, not the faith itself. Thus, the emphasis on “hidden truths” presented readers with a certain thrill. Why be bothered to read books about JFK conspiracies when the biggest conspiracy theory of all time has just been sitting there for centuries, waiting for Dan Brown to tell you all about it?

But after a few years go by, what’s left? What could be more entertaining than reading about the Jesus conspiracy? Of course, the religion conspiracy! What greater mystery than the question of why we paid attention to Jesus, Abraham, Mohammad, Confucius or Buddha to start with. Saying it was all myth is, in a way, the ultimate conspiracy theory. And that certainly sells a lot of books.

But whatever the reason for this rash of anti-religion books, the faithful in this world need to take a long, hard look at why books bashing religion sell well, or even sell at all. If the world’s great faith traditions lived up to their creeds and their Creator’s desires, perhaps there would be no reason for “militant” atheism in this world. To some Christians, the church has always seemed its own worst enemy, from schisms to Crusades to Inquisitions; from hierarchical church politics to abusive clergy to petty infighting. From this perspective, it’s no wonder why the door to criticism is wide open, no wonder why those on the fence between belief and unbelief look at religion as hopeless melodrama, and drink in Dan Brown’s intrigue or Christopher Hitchens’ invective.

Whatever forces may have converged to make this the boom decade for marketing anti-faith books, the reality is that challenges to religion are nothing new, and will certainly not disappear anytime soon. We are not living in a particularly anti-religious era, no matter what the New York Times bestseller list might indicate. Yet such voices should serve as a reminder to the faithful - the faithful of all religions - to live up to the highest expectations of their faith. For the world is watching … and reading.

Success at Brewster Baptist Church

2007-11-19T11:17:00.000-08:00

Success at Brewster Baptist Church rests on these pillars:

A great preacher

Superb marketing

Everyone does something

Continuous adult education

Constant communication

The reputation of the Senior Pastor for preaching is
well-known in the community, based on my conversations
with friends who belong to other churches. Many, as
I did, have attended BBC occasionally to hear him
preach. While he has a definite gift; he also works
hard at planning his presentations.

BBC markets itself in its presence in the community,
opening the doors to many cultural and civic
organizations. Brewster votes at Brewster Baptist
Church. Yesterday, I attended a performance of
the Cape Cod Community Orchestra at BBC.

The marketing is also internal through constant
communication to church members in announcements
before the service, in the service bulletin, on the web
site, and in weekly email. The activities described
are meetings of all sorts of church organizations,
and most important, of sessions of adult education.

The latter is omnipresent. Opportunities for learning
occur between Sunday services, and on weekday
evenings, at the church and in homes in small groups.
My proposed small group is slow in getting off the
ground, so to fulfil the requirement that "everyone
does something," I am meeting with the Dean of
Adult Education to find other areas where I may be
useful.

Church Layout

2007-11-08T12:31:00.000-08:00

sacristy: storage of
communion vessels
and vestments

altar: consecration
of Holy Eucharist

apse: room or niche
for chapel

communion rail

choir stalls

reredos: screen

chancel: for clergy, acolytes, and lay ministers

nave: pews for congregation, pulpit for sermons and lessons

transepts: wings to nave for seating of congregation

narthex: gathering room for processional

The names of various rooms in a church were discussed at
our last new member meeting. BBC has a narthex, which is
really a central gathering room, a sanctuary, a chapel
(the old church), and a fellowship hall; plus offices,
meeting rooms, and classrooms. Medieval cathedrals had
names which have survived in sacerdotal churches much
like the sketch above. Informally, these labels are
used at BBC for the applicable areas. Most important is
the baptismal tank. A wood screen on the back wall
opens to reveal the baptism of the convert in the tank.
Total immersion is the rule. In the Spring, you may be
baptized in Cape Cod Bay, if you wish. The water in the
bay is cold until midsummer.

Ministers All at Brewster Baptist Church

2007-10-30T11:02:00.000-07:00

We are all ministers, said the Chaplain at the last session of the
new member class. As such, we are expected to contribute to
the life of the church in an active capacity. She also pointed
out many practices of the American Baptist churches which
made me sit up and pay close attention. They are sharp
differences with liturgical churches.

While clergy in most of the ABC are seminary graduates,
pastors in some may not be. They may have a gift for
preaching or other attributes that enable them to form and
hold a congregation. Think Robert Duvall in "The Apostle."
The communion service may be led by anyone. It is not
a sacrament, simply a commemoration of the Last Supper.
The creeds are not read at BBC, because they do not
come directly from the Bible. Only extemporaneous
prayers are said, although it appears that the pastors have
written out some of what they wish to say.

Derived directly from all of the above is a self-analysis
that all new members are required to complete, and clergy
and laymen repeat every five years. The conclusion is
that one is able to identify the ministry area that he or she
is best suited for. I worked the thing backwards, as I
already knew what that was, to wit, adult education.

My proposed small group is cleared for takeoff. The
Dean has approved everything I have proposed, including
choice of subject and use of my group guidelines. After
the announcement appears in the church bulletin, I will
see what the response is, convene an organization
meeting, and decide upon day, time, and venue. I'm
thinking about Hebrews as a start, using the Life Study
Guide.

My Small Group at Brewster Baptist Church

2007-10-26T13:48:00.000-07:00

To the Dean of Adult Education:

The Chaplain gave a clear and compelling lecture to the
new member class on Small Groups at BBC. She said there
was a waiting list to join existing small groups, and a need
for persons willing to lead new groups.

Herewith a modest proposal. I would be willing to lead
a new group for persons who have come to BBC from
Roman Catholic or Anglican churches. The objective
would be to use the study group as a vehicle for helping
us with the integration of our liturgical backgrounds into
the life and worship of Brewster Baptist Church.

From the Dean:

Sorry that I haven't answered this sooner. I'll put a
blurb in the Sunday bulletin. I haven't done it for this
week. I drove down and back to Williamsburg, VA this
past long weekend and I've been hurriedly catching up
on several things. More later.

To the Dean:

Wonderful, and much appreciated! I hope there is a
draw. I have met three couples at BBC who are former
Episcopalians, and they all talked my ear off. I still have
affection for Catholics, too, having been raised as one.
In the bulletin, you may list my telephone no. and email
address. Then I will need guidance from you and
whomever as to how to proceed in accordance with BBC
protocol. I believe you said the church has a manual on
small groups. I'm an engineer, I always read the manual.

Canonical Hours

2007-10-22T17:43:00.000-07:00

I am very fond of the Canonical Hours. Wikipedia has a lengthy
description of their development and pursuit in the various
Christian denominations. Encyclopedia.jrank.org has a more
succinct description. I edited the entry in Wikipedia under
Anglican usage as follows:

In England, the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand,
and other Anglican provinces, the prayer book contains:

Morning Prayer, corresponding to Matins and Lauds
Noonday, roughly corresponding to Terce, Sext and None
Evening Prayer, corresponding to Vespers
Compline

The prayer offices have an important place in Anglican history.
In the Protestant Episcopal Church in the U.S.A., now replaced
by The Episcopal Church, Matins and Evensong were the
principal Sunday services. They are in all editions of the Book
of Common Prayer as Morning and Evening Prayer. The services
often included singing the antiphons, psalms, canticles, and
responses. The clergy wore cassock, surplice, and stole, or
sometimes a tippet or academic hood over the surplice. Holy
Eucharist was celebrated once per month, and that day was
often known as Sacrament Sunday.

After Vatican II, the Anglican Communion began a dialogue with
the Vatican on common views, with an eye toward achieving
some sort of rapprochement with Rome. This prompted a move
toward using HE as the principal service, eventally resulting in
the celebrant wearing full Catholic vestments. The clergy then
began to refer to themselves as priests, rather than ministers,
and to call themselves Father rather than Mister. The Holy
Eucharist liturgy is virtually indistinguishable from the Catholic
mass. Morning Prayer on Sunday in The Episcopal Church is a
rarity, although sometimes it may precede HE. Evensong is
often heard with lay leadership.

Baptism at Brewster Baptist Church

2007-10-17T11:40:00.000-07:00

"Baptism of Believers" is the most important doctrine of
Baptists. The Chaplain explained this clearly and cogently
in one of the sessions of the new member class. Put very
simply, the Baptist denominations require everyone who
wishes to join to be firmly grounded in the Christian faith,
and then baptized by total immersion. In this, they are
following the precedent of the early church which is
reflected in The Book of Acts of the Apostles, and in
long-standing tradition.
Some time ago, The Church (meaning The Church in
Rome) became concerned about the fate of the souls
of infants who were not baptized before untimely death.
To get around this, they adopted the doctrine of "limbo"
wherein unbaptized infants languished forever out of
God's kingdom. To avoid this, the church instituted
infant baptism, followed by "confirmation" when the
child reached the age of reason. In that rite, the child
makes his/her own promises to follow Jesus, and is duly
anointed by a bishop in the apostolic succession.
Many of the Protestant denominations follow that
practice. Not so, the Baptists.
I asked the Dean if prospective new members of
Brewster Baptist Church received formal instruction
in the Christian faith before being baptized. She said
that some of the offerings in adult education had been
aimed to provide Christianity 101. Persons who
come from other denominations, and were baptized
and confirmed therein may be enrolled as members
of BBC by making the promises stated in the member
covenant. I guess they are presumed to have received
some sort of full-blown Christian instruction, as a child
or in an adult setting. No one checks up on this. You
do not have to volunteer any information about it.
To me, this strengthens my argument that the new
member "class" (course) be devoted to orientation.
Simple logic dictates that a prospective new member
of BBC either has been duly instructed in our religion,
or defers consideration of membership until he/she
has completed same. My experience of said instruction
is that it takes many more hours that are now scheduled
for the new member class.

Critique of New Member Class at Brewster Baptist Church

2007-10-15T11:08:00.000-07:00

The Dean took over the class for last Sunday, and was
excellent in every respect. She did not use the book. She
drew us into an understanding of "Discipleship" and
"Grace" by asking questions, giving illustrations, and
leading us to draw conclusions. Well done!

It is possible now, after six weeks, to see the flaws in
what is being attempted in this course, and to propose
some solutions. Much of the written material is thought
provoking and could be used elsewhere. The principal
defect of the "New Member Class" is that there is no
clear course objective. We could infer from the outline
that it is supposed to be both orientation and indoctrination.

Sessions devoted to each are mixed in sequence. Some
require considerable study and response to difficult
questions. There is far from sufficient time to discuss
them in hour long meetings for each topic. So they
were omitted thus far in the course. A worse fault
is that three documents were demanded from the
participants after the third meeting, which properly
should be at the conclusion of the course. They are
the personal profile, the membership questionnaire,
and the covenant of membership.

At the end, for two sessions, a long psychological
profile is to be formulated on a do-it-yourself basis.
I would object strenuously to using it. Such
instruments are dangerous unless administered by a
trained psychologist. Too much introspection may
lead to clinical depression. The sessions on
stewardship and small groups are clearly orientation,
as were three of the first four meetings.

My recommendation would be that the course should
be entirely orientation, about eight weeks in length,
and feature a variety of speakers. The Senior Pastor's
talk with us "newbies" was an excellent introduction.
The new member course can easily segue from that.

Joy at Brewster Baptist Church

2007-10-11T10:31:00.000-07:00

God is not my co-pilot. God is the pilot. He is flying the plane. Yes,
I am allowed to make take-offs, but not landings, and maintain a
designated heading and altitude. I was reminded of that in the way
the membership question at BBC was resolved. I emailed my
Spiritual Advisor and asked for help. As it happened, she was on
the Cape, at the Chocolate Sparrow. So she trucked on over for
tea and sympathy.

Her recommendation was that I continue attending and
participating at BBC without becoming a member, drawing on
her experience at College Church in Northampton. She said she
had been going there and working there for twenty years without
joining. I rejected that at first, because I thought it was an up or
down final decision at BBC. Not so, as you have read. I can
continue and contribute to activities, with an idea that I might
join some time. And I don't have to repeat the new member class.

So, with a happy heart, I proceeded to the Wednesday evening bible
study, to be led by the Senior Pastor. The Dean gave me a small hello,
for which I do not blame her; I have caused her enough grief. I brought
a simple salad for the potluck supper. A fairly sizeable crowd, maybe
forty to fifty attended.

It was a joy. The headliner showed up after the supper. He said he
makes it a practice to have supper with his family. It was obvious that
they all love him. They teased him about missing the scheduled
session last week, to attend the first game of the American League
Divisional Series at Fenway Park. He is a baseball nut, and this is
Red Sox Nation, so we all understood. Someone offered him a last
minute ticket. He took a nanosecond to accept!
His topic was how Matthew's gospel paints a picture of the
Households of Justice. I can't begin to summarize it. He used a four
page handout that he composed, for an outline -- extending, and
illustrating various points. Twice he paused to get each table to
read certain bible texts, then answer questions pertinent to each.
The final message was open-ended, in that we were asked to
attempt to relate what we were doing as a church to the world
around us. Difficult question. This young man is a real pro. He
is one of the finest preachers, and teachers of the gospel, that I
have heard. He is the reason the little Baptist church in Brewster
grew rapidly to a pint-sized megachurch.

Conducting a Group Bible Study Session

2007-10-04T12:47:00.000-07:00

A companion piece to "Home Bible Study Group Guidelines"
entitled "Conducting a Group Bible Study Session" is also
available by emailing "cctrails@comcast.net".

It is a distillation of years of experience, written this week in the
course of committing my first serious blunder at Brewster Baptist
Church. The new member class is a mess, violating just about
every precept in the guide above. Right at the outset, the Chaplain
told us that she was overcommitted this Fall and would not be
able to lead all sessions. We in the class are inclined to accept
almost anything because our motivation is to become members
of the church.

We can see that the new member book is chock full of meaty stuff, but
we have no schedule or assignments. The leader's exposition of the
chapters seem to go back and forth. Discussion is not solicited. There
is insufficient time to engage in sharing answers to the discussion ques-
tions, anyway. A low point was reached at one session when we were
asked to read the two page history of BBC, out loud, in rotation. Later,
she dictated answers to fill-in questions, to save time, presumably.

I complained to the Dean that we were being subjected to third grade
teaching methods. She passed on my comments to the Senior Warden.
He told me in conversation that third grade methods were appropriate
for too many of our members. And in an email, the Dean invited me
to return to my seat at the back of the classroom. My blunder was
that I thought I had been recruited as a volunteer professional educa-
tor. We could have worked together to salvage the new member class.

First Foray into Adult Education at BBC

2007-09-27T11:15:00.000-07:00

I have been attending two remarkably different series at Brewster
Baptist Church, under the heading of Adult Education. An evening
meeting of four weeks was given by a retired Baptist pastor,
entitled "Pillars of Faith." One must realize that the old pastor,
much beloved by all, will be 90 in November. I know him from
the luncheons of the Brewster Mens Club.

His outline and lesson plan were good, with lots of applicable
bible selections. The theme was related to the four organ grilles
in the new sanctuary: fish, anchor, ship, and scallop shell. He
said that he served on the committee that selected the motifs.

But, alas, the dear old pastor sometimes digressed too long with
reminiscences, then had difficulty getting back on track. There
was no interaction; it was all strictly lecture. Or perhaps more
like preaching, because the best parts were obvious fragments
of past sermons. He bore witness to the word of God.

On Sundays, between the services, I am in the seminar for
prospective new members called, "Why Be Church? How to
Live as a Member of God's Church." We were given a
workbook, with questions to answer. Everything seems
to be carefully organized by the Pastor who wrote the
book and leads the class. She is also an Air National Guard
chaplain.

I have yet to talk with the Pastor who looks after the youth
group, among other tasks. He seems to be a personable,
outgoing young man. BBC is definitely a corporate church,
wherein staff members and some of the volunteers have
clearly defined responsibilities. This is a step up from the
small church with one head who tries to keep on top of
everything.

Faith, Works, and Brewster Baptist Church

2007-09-22T11:06:00.000-07:00

Last night I attended the Third Annual Harvest Dinner
and Habitat Celebration at BBC. Many in attendance.
Guess who was the only person in jacket and tie. Well,
it's not my fault if the rest of them were not properly
dressed!

I filled in a table of eight, including a gent who is 98 and
a young lady who is 20, with various ages in between.
We were to hear an update of the church's Habitat
project and hear songs from Larry Marsland, Cape
Cod's resident Sinatra-like troubadour, and BBC member.

BBC is raising 100K in USD to finance the land and
materials for one home in a four house development
off Slough Road in Brewster. 60K has been raised so far.
The owners have already been designated, a young couple
whose grandparents are or were members of BBC.

The coordinator of the church's efforts also announced
that over 100 members of the church have volunteered
for the project, so many that their time will be rationed.
The BBC team does not wish to overwhelm other
organizations also involved.

NKJV James 2:26 "For as the body without spirit is
dead, so faith without works is dead, also." Corinthians
12:28 "God has appointed these in the church: first,
apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that
miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations,
varieties of tongues."

I don't think I can volunteer to pound nails in the Habitat
house. I wouldn't be any good at it either. But I can
teach, being mindful of James 3:1 "My brethren, let not
many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall
receive a stricter judgment."

My Northampton friend is a noteworthy examplar of
works, as someone who has dedicated time, talent, and
treasure to the plight of the homeless, at all levels of this
ministry. Few of us could do that.

Reunion in Small Groups at BBC

2007-09-19T11:10:00.000-07:00

Last Sunday (September 16), I had dinner at The Bookstore in Wellfleet
with a long time church friend from Northampton. We share some
church experiences on Cape Cod. She is also very well acquainted with
doctrinal differences among Christian denominations. So I bent her ear
for a while on my migration to Brewster Baptist Church, and what I
found there.

Most surprising to me -- and not previously mentioned in this blog --
are the number of people who have joined BBC from churches in other
denominations. At one of the breakfasts this past summer, refugees
from The Church of The Holy Spirit in Orleans made up a whole table!
We all deplore the coming schism in what is now known as The
Episcopal Church.

I have also met a few who have left the Roman Catholic church to
come to BBC. And at the last meeting for our Prospective New
Members group at BBC, I was astonished at the number and variety
of churches that these people have attended.

This brings to mind the initial meeting of "newbies" with the Senior
Pastor in which he warned us, in a nice way, not to talk too much
about our "old church." Instead, if we are serious, we should
concentrate on what happens and what should be done by and for
our "new church."

Still, our history in other means and places of worship will always
remain with us. It cannot just be erased from memory. In my case,
I cherish the use of the English Language in prayer, liturgy, and
hymns in the tradition of the Church of England.

My Northampton friend suggested that perhaps a home group,
called "small group" at BBC, could be formed by persons from a
particular denomination. I am intrigued by the idea, but I would
have to explore it with the pastors. The Senior Pastor did tell us
that BBC is a "big tent," encompassing a wide span of theology and
politics.

I have rewritten my "Guidelines for Home Bible Study Groups"
to remove all references pertinent to my former church. If you
are interested in receiving a copy, email "cctrails@comcast.net."

Membership Covenant at Brewster Baptist Church

2007-09-11T07:55:00.000-07:00

In order to become a member of Brewster Baptist Church, you
must attend the new member seminar, and in so doing, sign a
covenant in which you agree to:

Worship regularly

Grow spiritually

Participate in ministry

Be civil, patient, and understanding

Give generously

Then answer questions in both the covenant and the member
profile, such as:

What does church membership mean to you?

What is your prior church membership experience?

What needs should church membership meet?

What church positions or ministries have you been involved with?

What did you enjoy most about them?

Describe who Jesus is to you?

I won't tell you what my answers were, but you can see that
you have to think seriously about each question. I doubt that
anyone who has signed the covenant and made a good faith
effort to answer each question would be turned away. But
you certainly know that much, much more is expected of
you than occasional attendance and "fellowship."

A Case Study -- Brewster Baptist Church

2007-09-09T09:57:00.000-07:00

Why do I include "Brewster Baptist Church" in almost
every title? Simple, as almost any other computer geek
can tell you. It is a tag that brings up each entry about
the church in a blog search using Google or other search
engines.

Why am I writing so much about this church? Also
simple. It is a case study of a successful enterprise.
One usually reads stories of failure. This is just the
opposite. What do they do to make it a success? How
do they do it? We need to learn, and you are learning
from a Professor of Management for whom case studies
were a vehicle of teaching.

In later years at Pace University, I got away from
dissecting written cases and went to team investigation
of live companies. Students liked that approach.
It gave them more of a feel for the "real world." Here
I am describing a live church in the real world.

You will read more of my experiences with BBC while
the first impressions are still fresh. Today, a group of
about twelve prospective members gathered to
participate in the first of a weekly course on the
church, as preparation for becoming members. We
toured the buildings, old and new, all attached in
one unit. Along the way, we saw the myriad activities
occurring under one roof on a typical Sunday and
heard about others which go on during the week..

Newbies at Brewster Baptist Church

2007-09-06T06:48:00.000-07:00

Last night, the Senior Pastor held an information
meeting for persons interested in joining the church.
He led with a summary of the history of the church in
the town of Brewster, then a history of the denomination
known as the American Baptist Church U.S.A. It was
formerly known as the Northern Baptist Convention,
which separated from its Southern brethren before
the Civil War. The dividing issue was the appointment
of missionaries who were slave owners.

Then he discussed at some length the Vision:
"Our vision is to be a community of loving disciples,
growing in spiritual maturity, following Jesus by
actively sharing in God's mission to transform the
world." The emphases on growth and outreach
are deliberate.

The Mission follows:
"We seek to be an instrument of the Holy Spirit by
sharing God's love and grace, guiding people to God,
and developing fully devoted followers of Jesus."
That is a call for active evangelism, something I have
always been interested in since serving on a so-called
Evangelism Committee at a former church.

Then the Senior Pastor went rapidly over the articles
of belief of the church, all direct biblical quotations. No
ambiguity or equivocation in these. In response to
questions, which he solicited, several hot-button items
were discussed in the same spirit.

Finally, we heard from leaders of the Assimilation
Committe about the process for becoming a member.
While not threatening or burdensome, it is designed
to assure the prospective member, and the church,
that he or she is fully informed and receptive to the
call for active participation. "Baptism of believers"
is the defining act of the denomination, but it is
waived for those who received infant baptism and
were later confirmed in another church.

Critical Mass at Brewster Baptist Church

2007-08-31T10:08:00.000-07:00

No, not a Catholic mass. BBC has critical mass like nuclear
fission, in the interdependent workings of its elements.
The only advertising are the radio spots featuring the
Senior Pastor, which apparently are created by a
master at this form of advertising. BBC does no print
advertising.

The congregation is now large enough to support such
an endeavor as the breakfast during the summer, held
between the two services. That's a lot of work for the
team that puts on the breakfast, not to mention the
expense. There is no charge, although donations are
placed in baskets on the table to support the work of
the church members who are building a Habitat for
Humanity house.

The breakfast personalizes attendance at the summer
services, reaching out to both full-time and summer
residents. Many of the latter will eventually become
full-time, and will remember the warm welcome
they received at such a large church. Contrast that
with most mainline churches where everyone simply
goes home immediately after the service, or stops by
a standup "coffee hour" to talk only to those they
already know.

Recently I attended a very old and historic church for
a while in the company of a long time member.
This church, which shall remain nameless, is dying.
The median age appears to about eighty. Only a few
new members join each year. They can no longer
sustain the activities which held them together. Their
sole strength is a genuine concern for each other, as
one by one they pass off the scene.

Praise Allah from whom all blessings flow

2007-08-29T10:15:00.000-07:00

Kathleen Parker, a columnist whom I greatly admire, is
distinguished by a common sense appraisal of current
doings. Her latest zinger is posted at
http://www.townhall.com/columnists/KathleenParker/
The gist of the story is that an R.C. bishop in the Netherlands
proposes referring to God as Allah, to please Muslims.

She has a wonderful sense of the ridiculous. "We could
pretend to be sane and suggest that everybody go to
his or her own house of worship, pray to his or her own
version of the Creator, and otherwise get a grip."

I had a similar problem in a church that I visited which
ended the Doxology with "Praise Creator, Christ, and
Holy Ghost." Not bad, certainly, but then you have to
rewrite all the liturgy to be gender neutral. While
you're at it, you might as well edit or delete bothersome
passages. I could never cotton to "The Message."

Kathleen Parker is the author of a saying that I
cherish, to wit, " You have childen for two reasons,
to solve the pesky disposable income problem, and
to have someone to visit you in the nursing home."
As a father of the Baby Boom generation, I identify
with that. Now they are in their fifties, and they
do call on my birthday.

Barzillai was a very old man

2007-08-24T10:53:00.000-07:00

From the Revised Common Lectionary for August 24, 2007

2 Samuel 19:31-37

"Barzillai the Gileadite also came down from Rogelin to cross
the Jordan with the king and to send him on his way from
there. Now Barzillai was a very old man, eighty years of
age. He had provided for the king (David) during his stay
at Mahanaim, for he was a very wealthy man. The king said
to Barzillai, "Cross over with me and stay with me in
Jerusalem, and I will provide for you."

But Barzillai answered the king, "How many years will I
live, that I should go up to Jerusalem with the king? I am
now eighty years old. Can I tell the difference between
what is good and what is not? Can your servant taste
what he eats and drinks? Can I still hear the voices of
men and women singers? Why should your servant be
an added burden to my lord the king? Your servant
will cross over the Jordan with the king for a short
distance, but why should the king reward me in this
way? Let your servant return, that I may die in my
own town near the tomb of my father and mother."

2 Samuel 19:39b

"The king kissed Barzillai and gave him his blessing,
and Barzillai returned to his home."

Now this blogger is also a very old man, but he can
hear and enjoy the music, and he would have
welcomed a stay in Florida again. He plans to
continue bicycling with Nauset Newcomers past
eighty next March, and will set the record for the
oldest active rider in the group.

The Mainstream Evangelical

2007-08-22T08:05:00.000-07:00

This Anglican Evangelical has become a Baptist, but I prefer
the label "Mainstream Evangelical." The media uses the
word "mainstream" for the declining Protestant denominations
such as Evangelical Lutheran, Methodist, Presbyterian, and
Episcopal. Whereas the true mainstream today are the giant
and growing megachurches.

Brewster Baptist Church functions like an evangelical
megachurch, having a large congregation compared to
its neighbors. With thanks to Christianity Today, here is
my definition of a true evangelical, a person who:

Has experienced a rebirth in Christ from The Holy Spirit,

Believes that the Bible contains all that is necessary
for salvation and eternal life,

Begs forgiveness for the sins he/she has committed
against God and man, and promises to lead a new life,

Worships God in His church with heavenly song and
glorious words,

Commemorates Jesus' offering of his body and blood
in atonement for our sins,

Brings others to Christ through witnessing and
preaching the gospel,

Helps others to continue in God's grace through
teaching and example.

The evangelical is neither a "fundamentalist" nor
a "pentecostal," although those labels are often
given to all evangelical churches. We have some
attributes in common with these churches,
but not all. Instead, my new friends are exactly
the kind of people you used to meet at your
former church. Many of them are also refugees
from what they see as untenable theology.

Blog Administration

2007-08-20T10:38:00.000-07:00

I am a blog junkie, so here are pertinent notes on
administration of this blog. Anyone may access
the blog. Anyone may comment to any of the
postings. You will have to register with Google
and pass through a word filter. It only takes a
moment. The purpose is to prevent "comment
spam" which, alas, is all too prevalent.

You are asked to refrain from irrelevant comments,
ad hominem attacks, bad language, and political
opining. That last, I have to admit, is a bit of a
handicap, because politics and religion are
entwined in our culture. But I have to reserve
the right to delete a comment, or block the
author, if something said is clearly out of line.

You should also note that much of what I post
concerns a local church. The folks there do not
know what I am up to, nor do I intend to tell
them, being personally responsible for my own
take on their situation. You can see that I
consider that the church in its entirety is a
splendid example of the practice of religion
in our time and culture, and I have nothing but
admiration for their activities.

The previous blog by this author under the
name "profpk" is defunct, although cached
postings are still floating in cyberspace. It
was almost entirely concerned with the
religious war between the Anglicans and
the Episcopalians, from which this old
soldier (USMA 1949) has retired.

Worship Services at Brewster Baptist

2007-08-19T07:55:00.000-07:00

Brewster Baptist has two worship services on Sunday.
They call the earlier service, contemporary, and the
later, traditional. Times change in the summer.
A so-called contemporary service is a common
feature of many churches nowadays. BBC has a
small combo and a standup choir of eight or nine.

The words to the songs at the contemporary service
are projected by PowerPoint to an overhead screen.
The tempo is restrained rock, mostly, and the lyrics are
meaningful, rather than banal. The congregation is
younger, and sings along enthusiastically. Few hands
in the air, and only occasional clapping.

A robed choir sings the great old hymns at the
traditional service. At both, bible passages followed
by prayers and sermon are the core of the service.
There is no confession, no collects, no recital of the
creed. One of the tenets of the American Baptist is
that no manmade prayers shall be used.

This means that the clergy and laity are skilled in
the composition of extemporaneous prayers, and
the use of scriptural texts for services. The monthly
communion service, for example, is taken directly
from the gospel. It works, but it still seems odd to
this former R.C. and Episcopalian.

I read the daily office from the Revised Common
Lectionary in the morning, which consists entirely
of biblical passages, but in the evening I'm inclined
to go to the Book of Common Prayer and read
Compline, or perhaps a portion of Evening Prayer.
Old habits die hard!

Adult Education at Brewster Baptist

2007-08-18T13:12:00.000-07:00

These people are organized! I spent an hour on Wednesday
with the Dean of Adult Education who seems to manage a lot
of other activities. This was in response to a call for volunteers
in the Sunday bulletin, wherein I pencilled in an interest in
adult education. I mentioned my service as leader of the
famed Alpha Course, and subsequent leader of many sessions
of an Alpha Home Group.

It took an hour for the Dean to tell me all about the continuing
and planned adult education classes in the Fall. Three
simultaneous meetings are scheduled for the hour between
the two Sunday services. One is for new or prospective
members, another for young families, and an advanced
seminar for persons already deep in study of the bible.

Then on Wednesday night, exegesis of biblical passages
from a retired pastor and the present pastor. In October
and November, that includes a supper. Continuing are
two mens groups that meet at the church, womens groups,
prayer groups, etc.

I told the Dean that I would be happy to lead a small
discussion group, or otherwise plug in wherever I
could be useful.

Why Brewster Baptist Church?

2007-08-18T06:46:00.000-07:00

Because it's there, as Mallory said about Mt. Everest.
Because it is an evangelical church that has fulfilled
the Great Commission by reaching out to the community
and bringing in new members. In the process, it has
expanded the congregation from about one hundred
forty on an average Sunday to five hundred fifty.

Then the church was able to hire two assistant clergy
and staff members, and enlist volunteers, to mount a
vigorous followup of Christian education for all ages.
Thus, BBC fulfils the imperative of religion, which is
to teach people how to live a better life. Secondarily,
it has enlarged the plant to house all these efforts.

This blogger was attracted by the disarming radio
spots broadcast by the church, featuring the Senior
Pastor, then listening to his sermons, which are
legendary in the local area. Mom (Suzanne) said
on several occasions that she would join BBC just
to hear him preach, if she were not committed to
the Episcopal Church.

Finally, a recent personal tragedy prompted me to
seek solace in deeper faith. Nearing eighty, I am
certainly familiar with disappointment, heartache,
and tragedy. But as Paul tells us in Romans 8,
suffering may lead to greater faith, which gives
strength, and prompts resolve to act upon faith.

A New Beginning

2007-08-17T11:04:00.000-07:00

This photo is of the blogger
in 1963, in full kit as officiant
of Morning Prayer for the
Church School of Christ
Church, Winnetka, Illinois.

The Protestant Episcopal
Church in the U.S.A. was
about to begin its
metamorphosis from a
distinctly Protestant
denomination to
Anglo-Catholicism.
The clergy were
called "Mister;"
wore cassock, surplice, and stole; and celebrated
Morning Prayer as the principal service.

Prof. Kimball is similarly attired, but wearing a "tippet"
instead of a stole. This blog will be concerned chiefly
with his migration to the Brewster Baptist Church of the
American Baptist Churches U.S.A.