The story of God’s presence in the human experience is a story of life and renewal.

Life springs out of Sara’s lifeless womb and Abraham rejoices. Jacob is restored in relationship with not only his brother Esau, from whom he stole the birthright and the blessing, but also with his son Joseph who was stolen from him.

The Hebrew people, enslaved in Egypt, have their life restored in freedom and they grow strong in the covenant made with them at Mt. Sinai.

Jesus rises from the dead.

I know the story of life and renewal first hand. Despite the hardship of whatever struggle or challenge I face, I have always found my life renewed in the power of God’s grace.

This year our parish faces a significant challenge. “Significant” is too light a world. We face a great challenge, a world-defining challenge. We are Moses about to plunge his staff into the Red Sea – even as he hears the thunder of chariot wheels behind him. We are pushing up against a stone that seals a tomb where we have been laid, but where in our resurrection, we do not belong.

What am I talking about?

In the year 1999 the Vestry of our parish made a commitment to build a new sanctuary. In 1999 the parish, with the support of the Diocese, embraced an almost $2 Million dollar debt. Since then the parish has been paying almost $300,000 each year to service that debt. The first $5,700 we receive each week in the Sunday offering goes to the Bank to pay debt.

If you worship at the 8:00 AM service, the Bank scoops $1,900 out of the collection plate when it is placed on the altar. Every Sunday.

You worship at 9:15? That means 190 families have to put $10 in the collection plate – each Sunday – before any ministry can happen in this place.

If every person who comes to the 10:45 service puts less than $15 in the plate each week, the Bank will step in and repossess the church property. It would not be enough to cover the cost of the mortgage.

Before I came, the Search Committee expressed concern about the church debt. Before accepting the call I could see that money that should go to pay for staff was, instead, paying interest on a loan.

I told a colleague,

“This debt is the ‘Achilles’ Heel,’ the ‘Fatal Flaw’ of St. David’s Church.”

Then why go?

“The opportunity is greater than the challenge. God is greater than any debt.”

Some things I knew -- not because I am all that smart, but because people much smarter than me have been studying leadership and organizations for a long, long time.

• I knew that as a new Rector I would have no authority.
• I knew that some in the parish would not tolerate the changes leadership necessarily brings to any organization.
• I knew the parish needed to build confidence, experience new energy, and grapple with new ideas.

I knew I needed time. I needed time to establish my competence and authority. I needed time to allow those who would not tolerate change to leave – some with more grace, some with less. I needed time for energy to build, for vision to coalesce, for confident, able leaders to emerge.

To buy this time I told the Vestry that I would not be their Rector unless they found $300,000 to invest in staff the first two years of my tenure. They agreed. I came.

It bought time. Where are we now?

• The parish has a new vision: We are a covenant community where no one stands alone.
• The parish has a truly empowered Vestry: It discerns our priorities and takes responsibility for ministry.
• The parish has truly empowered leaders: People are working together to get things done.
• The parish has a Family Liturgy: Wonderful, positive energy pulsates through the church every Sunday.
• The parish has a growing Youth Ministry: Our Youth Minister connects with the kids and is slowly bringing new adult mentors into relationship with kids.

And....

The parish has a $1.8 Million debt that consumes almost $300,000/year that puts it all at risk.

The Vestry bought the time we needed.

• The Rector has authority.
• Our parishioners are here to stay.
• Our parish leadership is filled with confidence, inspiring energy, and great ideas.

This year, the Year 2008, this parish will decide whether it wants to grow and thrive in this place, or not.

The cash is gone. The waiting is over. It is time.

At the Vestry Retreat in February I will ask the Vestry to call the parish to decision. I will ask them to initiate a discernment process that will determine the future of this parish.

By May 28, 2008 we will know. May God’s will be done.