Last night was the Honors Banquet for WonderGirl's high school, "Pretentious High School". Every senior who was honored had their future plans mentioned. Can I just say that there sure are a lot of 18-year-olds , girls mostly, here in this little burg perched on the edge of Pretentious Lake, who are interested in studying genetics.
WonderGirl was paying close attention, I could tell. I think she was anticipating that it will be tough to compete for some of the scholarships next year (and they awarded over 40 scholarships) when your goal is something other than curing cancer, Alzheimer's, Multiple Sclerosis, or AIDS. Don't get me wrong. Those are important and lofty goals, and I think it is important that the youth of today are focused on such things.
But my Girl is an artist in her soul, and of the 40+scholarships that were awarded last night, only one was for the arts. The rest were for athleticism, future teachers, medicine and science, math, and athleticism. Yes, that is listed twice. It's very, very important around here.
I'm proud of her for being true to who she is, and for sticking with a goal, and for working hard. I know it will be difficult next year when it is her turn to be the senior honors student and watch the jocks get the scholarships. But that doesn't change who she is.
St Stoic is losing a family to another kind of church. This particular family is the "holy grail" kind of find for a church like this one. If you are in a mainline church whose demographic is aging , you know what I mean by that. The family has three sons, ages 12-17. The parents are young successful professionals, and the kids are bright, athletic, and very well-rounded. They have parents who are committed to finding a place where the kids are excited to go to church, and that ain't St Stoic.
When the mother finally came clean to me this week about it, I congratulated her for doing what was best for her boys. They leave with my blessing. I know there will be fallout for that. People who need a reason to be negative or who are just plain anxious will point to me and say that I'm the reason, which of course we all know is not true. I take no credit for the growth that has happened here, and I certainly take no solo blame for the occasional family or member that leaves.
I think this situation has the potential to be a crucible in the life of this congregation. It may be a chance to take a good long deep look within and acknowledge what our congregational DNA is, and figure out how God is calling us to be true to that. I think that would certainly be a better use of our ministry and a better witness to the gospel than looking down the road at the "tall handsome athletic all-star" church and trying to become what they are in order to snag the prize members.
But I'm just one voice.
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
9 comments:
FWIW ... there's only so much a pastor can do to make a church inviting for families.
Sessions need to understand that there is only so much that can be done without volunteers with a willingness to get rid of the programs that have been in place for the last 12 to 15 years.
Thanks for this. I was sitting at my desk trying to figure out how we could become the "jocks" and I needed this reflection from you. Hard to be someone we're not, whether individually or as a congregation. Could you tattoo that on my head, please...backwards, so I can see it in the mirror?
When I was in HS (and I suspect it's the same now if not more so), most of the scholarships were awarded based on academic achievement or extracurricular activity (like church, environment, scouts). A few were for the jocks.
This was East Coast, bedroom community to NYC, pretty affluent, and high academic standards (the top 10 out of 250 all went to Ivies and only 4% didn't go to a 4-year college).
So it does happen someplace.
if the gospel calls us to anything it calls us to be authentic to who God made us to be... so hoorah to your daughter from one artist to another!
a fine reflection...much appreciated here, where I am regularly hauled over the coals for not appealing to the Inner Fourteen-Year-Old...in the people doing the complaining.
And your voice is a sane, good voice.
Thank you for this helpful, thoughtful reflection.
Terrific mother, terrific pastor.
Love the connection you made between the awards night and church life.
Here's what I think about "church growth". It's not about figuring out what to do to get more people in the door. It's about figuring out how the community wants to carry out its piece of Gospel work and just doing it. Such a hard sell in an age where bigger is ALWAYS better, no? Blessings to you as you help folks see that.
I am so SO glad that you allow WG to be true to who she is. It is very important.
And she will be so much happier.
Post a Comment