Well, the parish has come to its moment. On Monday the Vestry passed a resolution: To Provide a Hopeful Future for the parish.

This Vestry has worked hard, very hard, to bring us to this moment.

They have educated us. Our parishioners who participated in the Truth or Consequences Workshop understand the nuts and bolts of how our parish works. Administrative transparency has never been greater.

They have listened to us. On the SD Life social network parishioners have posted their very frank opinions on our challenges. At a parish convocation parishioners gathered to spend a long Saturday generating ideas and proposing solutions. Following the convocation the Vestry posted recommendations and received additional comment.

They have deliberated. The Vestry meeting on Monday went until after 11:00 pm as they wrestled with what they had heard from our parishioners. The conversation was frank, open and honest. The best measure of love is our ability to communicate -- to speak and to listen. The Vestry loved each other on Monday night. In that meeting I witnessed our Vision fulfilled:

We are a Covenant Community where no stands alone. Together we are learning to love one another as we learn to be loved by Jesus. Any time. Any place.

They made a decision. They published their decision on Tuesday to the parish. I thank the Vestry for their hard work. I am proud to serve as their Rector.

Now that the Vestry has pointed the way forward, the center of responsibility shifts from the Vestry to our parishioners. It is time to act.

I am excited by the Vestry's resolution. The test has come. We will choose between two options:

1. We will respond to the Vestry with the Commitment necessary to provide a hopeful future. It requires a commitment of money. It requires a commitment of time.

or,

2. We will not.

A call to commitment clarifies what we truly value. Over the next 60 days we will learn something about ourselves.

I am looking forward to the lesson.