Thursday, November 8, 2007

BitterSweet

At our Administrative Council meeting last night, the church voted to enter into a dialogue with another local Methodist congregation about the possibility of a merger between the two congregations. Logically and financially this is the best possible move for the two churches. Neither can truly support a pastor and actual ministry to the community, so it makes sense to pool their resources.

Emotionally I'm a little bummed out. When I came here four years ago, I really had high hopes about turning this little church around. I knew that the conference would only prop them up financially for five years. Well, time is almost up and they can't make it on their own. They could manage the salary of a part-time pastor but that is only delaying the inevitable.

The conference had been trying for years to get this merger accomplished and it never got this far before now. It could all blow up and still not actually happen but the writing is on the wall.

I wonder if you are being a good leader when it really feels like failure?

2 comments:

Brian Vinson said...

I say YES, you are being a good leader. I know you had certain hopes and dreams for this congregation, but perhaps God has something else in mind, something that requires both churches to work together to accomplish.

more cows than people said...

oh rev dulce- i'm so far behind. sorry it has taken me awhile to get to this.

i have the "does this mean i'm a bad leader?" thought so often..

i think the fact that they are making wise and healthy choices for their future is a sign of good leadership on your part, but i know how you feel.

and my dad served a little, dying, urban church that he turned around in numerous ways, and then they decided to merge- he has shared recently it was because they didn't want to share their building with koreans- i always thought it was because they were healthy enough to bring something strong to a merger and that merger was wise given how many Presby churches there were in this downtown area.

it probably was both a healthy and unhealthy decision, but i know it was hard on him.

blessings...