News from the Red Doors - June 18, 2021
This Week at St. Paul's
Mother Michelle Walker
Dear St. Paul's Family,
This Tuesday evening our St. Paul's vestry will meet in the parish hall to participate in a Mutual Ministry Review (MMR) process. Every congregation in our diocese is expected and encouraged to conduct an annual ministry review. The purpose of this review is to:
Provide clergy and vestry with the opportunity to assess how well they are fulfilling their responsibilities to each other and to the ministries that they share;
Evaluate the relationship shared between the clergy and vestry; clergy and congregation, and vestry and congregation; in particular, the relationship with the mission of the congregation;
Evaluate goals set at the previous mutual ministry review;
Establish goals for the work of the congregation for the coming year;
Isolate areas of conflict or disappointment that have not been resolved and may be adversely affecting mutual ministry; address/mediate/reconcile areas of conflict; and
Clarify expectations of all so that goals can be attained through mutual work and that any future conflicts may be diminished or avoided.
Mutual Ministry Review (MMR) is a way for every parish to ask, “How are we doing?” It is a time to celebrate what has been done well and to understand what might be done better. As Christians we must continually ask: “What is God calling us to do and to accomplish here in this place?” And then, “How can we best practice this ministry?”
This is a first time experience for our vestry and for me. We are blessed to have Susan Czolgosz, who has 20+ years of consulting experience including work with the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago, as our facilitator. I trust her to do a wonderful job. And she knows very little about us, which means she'll ask the questions we might not think to ask of ourselves. I am looking forward to the evening.
The vestry has been asked to be prepared to discuss the following questions:
How would you describe your role on the Vestry? Would you like your role to change in the coming year? If so, in what ways?
In what ways have you been able use your gifts, strengths, and experience in your work on the Vestry? Are there ways you would like to use them differently in the future? What might help you to do this?
Reflect on your experience of serving on the Vestry of this church. Please describe a specific time when you felt most alive, most involved, spiritually touched, or most excited about your work on the Vestry and with the congregation.
What do you see as the gifts and strengths of this Vestry - in the ways you work together and with your clergy-leader to serve the congregation?
What do you see as the challenges facing this Vestry in working together and serving the congregation?
If you could change one thing about how this Vestry and clergy work together in service to this congregation, what would it be?
At the end of your term on the Vestry, what do you hope you will be able to say about your service to the congregation?
What would make your and other Vestry members’ work on the Vestry more fulfilling and valuable?
When you think about the various ministries of the congregation, what do you see as the strongest areas of ministry? What is valuable or appreciated about these ministries?
What areas of ministry do you think need to be developed or strengthened? Reduced or eliminated?
Please name several key goals you believe are most important for the coming year for this Vestry and for your congregation?
If you have any suggestions, please feel free to share them with any vestry member or myself. As we look at ways of remaining and increasing our faithfulness in the town of LaPorte, we welcome your input AND your prayers. As I've said before, I believe God still has plans for us here in LaPorte. It's our job to listen diligently for those plans and then ACT!
On another note, let us celebrate the new tenants in the rectory. Dan and Lynn, along with their children Mary and Henry, moved in on the the 15th. Their lease is for 9 months while their home is being rebuilt after a fire. (Yes, of course we'd like a longer lease. We are making the best of the opportunities available!) We are so blessed to have them and appreciate their wonderful care of our property while they live here. So far they are thrilled!
Have a wonderful day and be sure enjoy this summery weather, with or without the rainshowers!
Blessings,
Mother Michelle
priest@stpaulslaporte.org | 219-575-0226 (c)
LIVE from St. Paul's - June 13, 2021
LIVE from St. Paul's - June 6, 2021
News from the Red Doors - June 4, 2021
Marriage Policy Communication from St. Paul's Vestry, Wardens, & Mother Michelle
Dear St. Paul's Family,
At our May vestry meeting we dedicated an hour to discussing our Inclusive Marriage Policy Educational Sessions, our draft marriage policy, and our desire to share the important details with each of you as fully as possible. To that end, we agreed to draft a letter from the vestry to ensure we are all on the same page. Here are a few key things to know.
In 2018, the General Convention of The Episcopal Church passed Resolution 2018-B012. In essence, the wording surrounding the same-sex liturgies for marriage indicates “that all couples have convenient and reasonable local congregation access to these rites”. This means any same gender couple in a parish that desires to be married in their parish will receive full privilege to do so. The parish can’t prohibit the service. If the clergy of the parish is unable or unwilling to perform the service, another clergy will be located to do it.
We realize that most of our St. Paul’s family was likely unaware of this Resolution and how it impacts our congregation directly. For this reason, we held the 4/20 and 4/27 Educational Sessions with Bishop Doug and have taken our time to discuss this in relation to our Marriage Policy.
At our May vestry meeting, each vestry member present discussed their understanding, their perspective, their hopes, and their fears related to an Inclusive Marriage Policy. Above all, each of us is faithfully praying for these conversations to bring us all closer as a community and to demonstrate God’s unconditional love in all circumstances.
A draft marriage policy was generated based on examples of other polices and submitted to the vestry for review. The only reference to gender is in the phrase “any couple” as in “This marriage policy shall apply to any couple wishing to be married at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church.”.
The remainder of the policy details the state, denominational, and diocesan laws/canons that apply. It also lists a desire that any couple wishing to be married at St. Paul’s have existing or planned membership at our parish. This is particularly important to Mother Michelle, as clergy. Weddings and wedding preparation take time that is well invested in the life and loving relationships of our members.
Mother Michelle has indicated her intention repeatedly that (she and) St. Paul’s is thrilled to perform wedding ceremonies for our parishioners. Mother Michelle has also indicated she has no intention of promoting St. Paul’s as a wedding chapel and there are currently no wedding ceremony requests at this time.
Lastly, Mother Michelle indicated that should one of our parishioners ask her to officiate a same gender marriage ceremony she is willing to do so, assuming the requirements of the Marriage Policy have been met.
We recognize these conversations have not been easy. Many circumstances, including being without dedicated clergy for nearly 2 years, have put us behind in having these important conversations. THANK YOU to those of you that have stepped into the conversation faithfully. It is important to us that each St. Paul’s family member feels he or she has had an opportunity to learn, process, share, and pray about this.
In June we will vote on the Draft Marriage Policy. The vestry would love to hear your thoughts on the policy prior to the vote. The policy is open for debate and wording. Whether or not St. Paul’s will someday host a same gender wedding was decided in July of 2018 in Austin Texas; and we are simply catching up to that General Convention decision. That has been an eye-opening revelation to many of us.
Please feel free to reach out to any vestry member, or Mother Michelle directly, if you’d like further information or to engage in conversation. It is important to us as leadership that each person desiring to share his or her perspective has an opportunity to do so.
In faithful service,
The Vestry, Wardens, & Priest of St. Paul’s Episcopal ChurchJean Burns (Sr. Warden), Tom Konieczny (Jr. Warden), Gloria Armstong, Linda Baker, Bruce Burmeister, Vickie Floyd, Sally Glynn, Susie Richter, David Sirugo, Wayne Woodrick, Mother Michelle Walker
Our first event is this Saturday 6/5 at 6pm in front of the PNC bank at the corner of Michigan and Lincolnway for Cruise Night. Beginning June 9th, we will gather at the Fox Park pavilion on Wednesdays to enjoy city band concerts. More details are available at our Facebook events. All are welcome ... even those who do not yet call St. Paul's their home!
LIVE from St. Paul's - May 30, 2021 (Trinity Sunday)
News from the Red Doors - May 28, 2021
This Week at St. Paul's
Mother Michelle Walker
Dear St. Paul's Family,
Thanks to the revised CDC mask guidelines and the Diocesan Guiding Principles publication in response, the vestry voted on Tuesday evening to relax, but not eliminate, our masking guidelines for in-person worship. While we are all eager to be mask less, we also want to continue to exercise care and caution for everyone’s safety. Here are our approved guidelines:
Masks are:
- Welcomed and encouraged.
- Required, if not fully vaccinated.
- Requested during entry and exit movement.
- Able to be removed once seated, IF you desire to do so and are vaccinated.
We realize that not everyone is vaccinated and this is especially true of visitors and minors. We ask you to be especially hospitable in encountering these individuals and consider keeping your mask on. We also respect your decision to continue wearing your mask as much as you’d like, for whatever reason you determine, as long as you follow the suggestions above.
Additionally, the individuals serving on the altar have all been vaccinated. As such, they will also be able to remove their masks if they desire to do so. What joy the prospect of being mask less brings me! And yet, to maintain our safety precautions, I want to assure you that the blessed sacrament will not be exposed at this time without MY wearing of a mask. During the consecration I will remain without a mask and the elements will be covered as they have throughout the pandemic. Once the Eucharistic prayers are complete, I will put on a mask prior to exposing the elements (removing the lid) and will wear a mask for the distribution of communion. This seems to be a reasonable extra layer of safety that I’m happy to provide.
This day has been a while in the making and it is joyous for many of us. Even if we choose to continue wearing the mask, having the freedom to make that choice again is nice. Please know we will continue to monitor the status of the pandemic and will make adjustments as needed. Thank you.
Have a safe and wonderful Memorial Weekend. I hope to see you Sunday.
Blessings,
Mother Michelle
priest@stpaulslaporte.org | 219-575-0226 (c)
Join us for Chair and Church with St. Paul's, a simple gathering of St. Paul's parishioners for city events throughout the summer. This is an opportunity to spend time with the people we love, in places we love around the city. LaPorte has a variety of events to offer this summer. And the only requirement is that you bring a chair and a fun loving attitude. (Rides are available for those that prefer not to drive at that time of day.)
The first event is Cruise Night on Saturday 6/5. Bring your chair, and your St. Paul's tee shirt if you have one, and join us in front of the PNC bank at the corner of Michigan and Lincolnway. Beginning June 9th, we will gather at the Fox Park pavilion on Wednesdays to enjoy city band concerts via Arts in the Park. More details are available at our Facebook events. All are welcome ... even those who do not yet call St. Paul's their home!
LIVE from St. Paul's - May 23, 2021 (Pentecost)
News from the Red Doors - May 21, 2021
This Week at St. Paul's
Mother Michelle Walker
Dear St. Paul's Family,
What joy I have in sharing with you this morning that my Wabash Pastoral Leadership Cohort was able to meet in-person this week from Monday afternoon through Wednesday afternoon. I have been learning alongside these 13 other pastors from around the state since November of 2020 and it was wonderful to be in person with them for these two short days.
Our session topic was "Demography and Race in Indiana". It was an inspiring topic that yielded probing questions and conversations. We were shown maps of our community, with the church at the epicenter, and encouraged to really take a look at what is around us. We were introduced to a demographic tool (thearda.com) that provides information regarding age, education, family status, income, religion, etc. We were challenged to look at the maps of our cohort and offer things we noticed in their contexts. Guess what everyone noticed on OUR map? LOTS of churches and LOTS of lakes. I'm still waiting for divine inspiration in how to use those assets more fully in our ministries! (I'm open for suggestions ... ).
On the topic of racism, we had deep conversations about our responsibility as spiritual leaders in both addressing the topic in our congregations and meeting the congregation where they are to open up the topic more fully. We discussed that most of our congregants would likely not consider themselves racist and because of that might be less likely to desire engaging in the conversation. I, too, used to feel that way about myself - until I started learning more.
Almost a year ago I listened to an interview with Ibram X. Kendi, author of "How to be an AntiRacist". I am currently listening, to his book. Mr. Kendi suggests that a person is EITHER racist or antiracist NOT as a permanent label of who they are, but as a temporary label that is reflective of a current action. Our words and actions in any given moment, whether we are aware of them or not, are either racist or antiracist. There is no neutral. Now I've sat with this thought for some time and I can find it to be true, although I'm definitely not always thinking about whether I'm acting in a racist or antiracist way. My awareness has increased, however. And with awareness comes the opportunity to make better decisions.
I stop here to offer a short teaching moment that was enlightening to me. Being racist doesn't only mean that a person is actively discriminating against people of color. Racism happens in the following categories:
Interpersonal - Bigotry and biases shown between individuals through word and action
Systemic/Structural - Ongoing racial inequalities maintained by society
Institutional - Discriminatory polices and practices within organizations and institutions
Internalized - Race-based beliefs and feelings within individuals.
A few weeks ago the police pulled me over as I pulled into Phyllis Nichols' driveway. (I sure created some excitement for her that day.) I was getting out of the car BEFORE I noticed the undercover vehicle directly behind me with its lights on. I then realized that I had taken off my seatbelt and had the door open before they could even approach me. I was terrified for an instant, especially since I had NO idea why I was being pulled over.
In THAT exact moment I had this thought "Why am I afraid? I'm a white woman driving a decent vehicle and wearing a clerical collar. I don't need to fear for my life." The very next thought was this "My white privilege increases my safety. The ingrained systems of institutional and systemic racism makes this same situation far more dangerous for a person of color." A year ago I wouldn't have thought about this at all. Awareness is a powerful tool.
As a short aside, I did not receive a ticket (for apparently not coming to a full stop at a nearby stop sign!). On a far more important aside, this example in no way reflects my opinion of our police, who work hard to keep our communities safe. It is simply a moment when my white privilege was evident to me because of increasing my awareness and ability to recognize it. And that is what I pray for each of us to discover in our own respective journeys.
There is much for us to learn, both as individuals and as a congregation. Please know the manner in which I raise this topic for conversation is both intentional and an invitation. There are many ways we can be the hands and feet of Christ in this world. It is our responsibility to encourage each other in our varying ways of doing so.
Enjoy this beautiful day and don't forget to wear red on Sunday!
Blessings,
Mother Michelle
priest@stpaulslaporte.org | 219-575-0226 (c)
Join us for Chair and Church with St. Paul's, a simple gathering of St. Paul's parishioners for city events throughout the summer. This is an opportunity to spend time with the people we love, in places we love around the city. LaPorte has a variety of events to offer this summer. And the only requirement is that you bring a chair and a fun loving attitude. (Rides are available for those that prefer not to drive at that time of day.)
The first event is Cruise Night on Saturday 6/5. Bring your chair, and your St. Paul's tee shirt if you have one, and join us in front of the PNC bank at the corner of Michigan and Lincolnway. Beginning June 9th, we will gather at the Fox Park pavilion on Wednesdays to enjoy city band concerts via Arts in the Park. More details are available at our Facebook events. All are welcome ... even those who do not yet call St. Paul's their home!