“State of the Parish Address”
January 19, 1992
This summer, Lyle Shaller, one of the most respected writers and consultants on church life, asked if I would write a chapter for a book he was editing on the city church, aa told me much has been written on the demise of the urban church. He wanted to bring a book out on successful city parishes, which were painting the way toward a new reformation of the church in America . I was thrilled that Saint Philip’s was chosen, and if we’ve been working, with a lot of help from Bobbie Justice, for the last six months on the chapter. It’s not my intent to recount what’s in the chapter – buy the book – but / do want to start this State of the Parish address with the last line, it comes from one of thirty interviews. This was from Don Baker :
“Over the years, what changes have taken place at Saint Philip’s, yet there never has been a t IIne when we settled back and felt that we have “arrived” We have a strong sense of our imperfections and a vision that the best days lie ahead. ”
Thank you, Don . We haven’t arrived, but we did accomplish some great things for the Kingdom, and I want to share some of them with you. Probably the greatest miracle is that anything happened. In a year where he only had 50% clergy staff – two clergy – this has meant a tremendous extra burden on Paul ; and the only reason we haven’t both been carted off to the hospital has been the support of Hiriam and the rest of the staff, as well as the help from the ” non-sti pes” and clergy in residence, Thank you Peter, Brook, Bob and Jeanette, Henry, Russell, Manny , Keith , and Jack
Somehow, God seems to provide, even when things are most difficult. I have been trying, over the past year, to find the right people for the clergy team. We’ve looked at about thirty-five people and brought six to Tucson. The search committee and staff found four unacceptable, and two turned them down. Right now I’ve got three candidates in the pipeline. Financial constraints are pushing us into choosing one person for two positions. It makes it more difficult, bear with me, we’ve done all right in the past.
Which brings us to Finances. We’ve kept the wolf from the door, thanks to Miriam. We’ve fully paid the Diocese and come out in the black thanks to two factors: <1> our not replacing two clergy and <2> the Development Committee, under Jeff Willis and Henry Sherrill’s consultative work. You’ll hear more when Tom presents the financial report but I do want to thank Paul and the Stewardship Committee. In a year where 20% of the parishes are in deep financial trouble, every member canvas group raised more money than before. We are no where we want to be but by golly we’re not where we were
Other things that stand out in 91 are the development of a healing component at this Eucharist, the introduction of a new music group at 10:15, the merger of pastoral care and counseling center under Jeanette Reanoffs directorship with Bob as the clergy representative, and the clergy in residence program which has introduced a number of clergy with many gifts into our community life
One of the constant goals is to increase the effectiveness and levels of communication. I congratulate Bobby Justice and the loaves and fishes group for doing just that. It’s interesting that our national general convention, at the meeting of diocesan and parish editors, the loaves and fishes were cited as an example of excellence.
Another example of excellence was our recent ordination and confirmation. Gales ordination was the first for Saint sPhilips. The music and liturgy were magnificent. Thank you Judy and Ben.
One final accomplishment was the growth that took place last lent. We learned that we could disagree and do it agreeably. In a sense, some bonding took place as we openly face conflicts and disagreements.
I cannot close the list of accomplishments without mentioning the vestry. Their support and encouragement have been invaluable. Special thanks to the six who are retiring Charlotte Ackerman Carl Anderson Jack Moore Norman E Reed and Marilyn Smith. I am continuing with the leadership team of Tom and Tata as rector of warden and parish warden and I am inviting Catherine Lancaster to join the executive committee as warden elect to learn more about the job.
Have left out two aspects of our parish life which are still in the heroic stage of development and the one new dream which I will present period all of that is the future part of this report.
Let’s begin this section with finances. This country is in the midst of a serious recession. That’s not news, but what we may be of interest is that churches generally don’t do well in hard times. You take the opposite. I know of a person who did a PhD thesis on this. He showed that attendance, giving commitment could be measured by the stock market. As the Dow went up so did the life of the church as it went down so did the giving and church attendance. With his hypothesis is right we’re in for a big troubles. Unfortunately, Saint Phillips has a reputation for swimming against the tide.
But I would go further and dig deeper into the financial crunch that many churches will be facing and see how we might avoid this bullet that seems headed for most parishes. I have a hunch the crisis that churches face is not a money crisis it is a crisis of imagination. Most churches cannot imagine that God has a larger and more complete vision for them than what they have. Therefore most parishes succumb to what is. If we’re in depression they become depressed and if they hit hard times they expect to curtail their vision. Saint Phillips over the years, thank God, has learned to dream and I learn to keep pushing the boundaries of its vision
I think it was Francis Xavier the great Catholic missionary to Asia, who wrote to Rome and said there were two a wash of limitations God would have them give up their small ambitions. Saint philip’s ambitions have never been small and they continue to be growing. The meta church cell group is no small ambition
a woman who had a serious accident has been nurtured and ministered by herself group as they went to the hospital. I found that members of the cell group had already been there it was nice that I was there but ministry had already taken place the woman knows she is a part of the church another person, undergoing a difficult divorce is able to share her pain with six other people where she feels awkward with any of the clergy. That person knows what grace is all about
a third couple who just had a had a child comes for baptism, and when they look up there’s the cell group as godparents. Suddenly the baptism is not a private family affair now it is family of God sacrament and we begin to know what I mean to be Christ body that’s what cell groups are about and that’s why it’s my dream that more and more people will find their way into these groups
one of the underlying principles of the meta church concept is radical decentralization. Ministry doesn’t come from the top down it comes as lay people are empowered to assume their own priesthood this principle has been dramatically underscored in the area of outreach. The work with the Richie school, the mission to outside san Salvador, Casa Maria and ministry to the homeless deep freeze are all doing well but the work of Pima County interfaith council is the one that embodies meta church decentralization empowerment grassroots ministry diversity this is what Saint Phillips is all about
many of you attended the Ritchie school gathering with the Superintendent of the Tucson Unified School District on March 22nd PCI C will have a great assembly. Over 3000 people will assemble at our mother of sorrows church. Our goal for Saint philip’s representation is to have 100 people won’t you be 1?
One final ambition, dream, vision is a 1992 that Saint Phillips has been the cathedral of Tucson, and cathedrals have always been a place where ministries who’s taught and taught where dreams are made realities. They never used to be seminaries, people came to cathedrals to learn about ministry for these were places of ministry and spiritual growth
anyway if St. Philips has to be a cathedral there is one important dimension that we have downplayed increasingly I’ve come to realize that the whole area of spirituality has been taking a back seat especially our sense of corporate spirituality. Outer growth has replaced inner growth I am convinced that without a deep and abiding dimension of spirituality much of what happens in the parish becomes busy work at work and a flurry of activities that never seem to touch people’s hearts at best
for this reason, I had commissioned 2 remarkable people to come up with a proposal to raise the level of spirituality in our community after several months and many meetings they’re proposing to start at Saint Phillips a Center for spirituality reconciliation and the sacred arts. This center will enable us to more fully enter into our inner journeys as well as to reach out to the entire Tucson community the center will give a new dimension to education pastoral care outreach and cell groups hopefully it will become a magnet which will attract teachers and students of man’s traditions to share in their journeys. One of the most important aspects of the center would be to offer spiritual guidance to those who desire it as you might guess I am most excited and hopeful about this new venture. I can imagine far reaching consequences and I can envision this center laying a great impact our corporate spirituality
a lot of things are happening in this parish of ours new exciting innovative stuff and that’s why Lyle schaller asked me to write a chapter for his book look forward to 92 is a year in which several things that have been started will come together and new things will be launched a new reformation is on the horizon. The only constraint is the smallness of our imagination
it’s good that we should have this parish meeting on the weekend of the anniversary of Martin Luther King’s birth for it was Martin who reminded us that we should take our directions from our dreams not from what he is. He taught the country to say I have a dream and not settle for limitations not to have small ambitions and to thank God all of us hi I think this great parish of ours can and do also green
Amen