Where's the Rev. Geraldine Granger when you need her?

This is why I love the Innernets. After I posted about the rector retiring from the Little Church That Could, one peripatetic polar bear commented:

Well, the way these things go,you're most likely to hire a 'freshoutofseminaryIcansavetheworldandthechurchtoo' rector who will be shiny and new and get all sorts of new members for the church while solving mysteries in her spare time with the hotter than hot local police officer who is unhappily married. No, wait. That's a mystery series I read--but it's set in your part of the country--does that count?

Yes. Yes it does count. Although I'm sort of hoping for the Vicar of Dibley, who seemed to have a congregation of about 7, and never seemed to have to worry about fund-raising initiatives or growing her church.

Seriously though, your scenario sounds about right, because only an idealistic, energetic, foolhardy new priest would take on two congregations whose average age is Dead in a region of the state where the population is steadily declining. There literally is no membership development to be done, short of recruiting new residents to the area or convincing people within 50 miles that the church offers something they just won't find anywhere else - something they want so badly that they'll wake up early on Sunday mornings and travel for it.

And while I love zeal as much as the next person, I'm not sure that a church full of people who make a serious weekly pilgrimage is the right place for me. I like my Episcopalians a little calmer.

And yet, there is always a part of me that is all Big Ideas. I start to wonder how a growth campaign might be possible. I start to think about fundraising. I forget that I already have too much to do.

Comments

[History Channel program on lost books of the Bible.]

History Channel program on lost books of the Bible.
Mentioned there was a woman made in perfect equality with Adam, one who refused to take a subservient role and rejected his advances. The gods dispatched an angel for her and she ascended. This is yet another clue illustrating that sex hurts people.
This is true::::This IS material written which was rejected when the Bible was compilated. Consistant with the Mohammed clue I suspect we do not experience good Jesus's teachings in the Bible either.
They subsequently illustrate how Lillith was demonized by these disfavored Meditereaneans. Because Eve was made from man SHE is the source of women's evil.

"Very fast growing tumor, 3 months ago may not have been detectable."-MD
Ted may be good and this is his punishment for the evil of endorsing Osama. Similarly, JFK started the Vietnam War.
People may be confused, since both are clone hosts. There are good clone hosts which the gods could use to send a clue, the Ted Kennedy-Osama malignant cancer being a good example.
If these people were evil they wouldn’t be getting this "feedback". Of course as highly visible figures this "feedback" is for us.
When it comes to "acceptable losses" it is ALWAYS best to let the gods do it through "acts of god". This is one of the things clone hosts learn when they "come around".

Planet Reverse Positioning::::Your infertility was favor, for the gods were granting you more time in hope you could get out "before" this obligation forced you to stay.
The Italians bred like rabbits:::That they got "pregnant immediately" illustrated their undesirability.
Your children are the ones with the opportunity now. You must sacrifice to give them the best chance possible.
It's children who go to heaven, not old people.

This is the REAL battle of good and evil:::Me vs. god. Of course I'm trying to help you understand that you are corrupted, fell for temptation and are going the wrong way::::WE are the ones who are evil. (While executing the battle of good and evil the gods do some evil things, like role play their clone host tools to disceive you, forcing thoughts into your head, etc.)
The gods tested us and we have failed, scapegoatting their tools to ensure people never become god-fearing. Learn what I teach and try to uncorrupt yourselves. NOBODY IS GOING TO SAVE YOU!! You have to save yourselves by repairing your relationship with the gods.
Cashier@GSqfamilymemberreincarnated.com

This is how the gods do business:::::They use temptation and deception to compel people to chase something that has already been decided. It's children who go to "beaven". OLd people have to come back. The gods will use their power to contradict this, corrupting people and compelling them to incurr evil::::They used the Italians to ruin life in the 20th century, cost you the Final Prophet and the result will be death as you wait for the Italian Second Coming of Christ to save you.
This is the god's positioning and it IS going to be enforced. Never forget::::The gods have always offered "protection" to those genuinely religious. It is something that was always respected, even in the wicked 20th century.