Are We Just Sitting on our Hands?

A number of people who attended our last "Year of Decision" Focus Discussion expressed some frustration that we have spent too much time talking and doing studies in the last few years rather than taking action and moving forward. This frustration is understandable, but I wonder if the critique is truly merited. Given that Channing means a great deal to us, isn't it important that the Congregation take the time to participate as a whole in the decision about where we want to go in the future? Shouldn't this decision be an informed one? I think so, and I think the discussions and studies we have done over the past few years have laid the groundwork for making such a decision. This year, with the information in hand, we will make some decisions about our future that will empower the Board and other leaders to develop and implement plans to solve our infrastructure challenges while meeting the growing ministerial and program needs of our Congregation.

Although we are taking time to have a Congregation-wide discussion this year, no one has been standing by idle. Not only are we continuing to provide ministry and programs but we are also setting the stage for realizing whatever vision we decide upon. To give you a few examples:

• Our Social Justice Committee has catalyzed energy and enthusiasm in the Congregation to understand the impact of climate change and to do something about it. We are laying the groundwork for becoming an important center of environmental awareness and responsibility in our community. I'm confident this will be an important aspect of our community outreach for years to come.
  
  
• Amy's sabbatical has given us the opportunity to "spread our wings";
  sustaining and enriching our shared ministry through lay-led services, guest ministers, fellowship events, and religious education while continuing to provide care for the needs of our Congregation. The Committee on Ministry, our Worship Associates, the Choir / Music Director, the Fellowship Committee, the RE Committee / DRE, our Caregiving Coordinators, and many others have been instrumental in making our "sabbatical" a success and in giving us the confidence that we can sustain and grow our shared ministry in the future.
  
  
• Our Property Committee has been proactive in addressing urgent contract repairs as well as compliance with the new fire code. We have just committed to a $50,000 project over the next two years to comply with the new code. Additionally, we are taking steps to address long-standing drainage problems to sustain our property's value while meeting our community obligation to ensure our drainage goes where it should and not where it will adversely impact the environment. Regardless of our long-term decisions about our property, we are acting now to sustain its value.
  
  
• Our Finance Committee has been developing a budget and exploring means whereby we can use our existing resources effectively to meet near-term infrastructure repair and improvement needs. Meanwhile, our Canvass Committee has planned and implemented an exciting schedule of events, with the goal to complete the canvass by Amy's return on April 1st.
  
  
• Finally, the Transition Team has been working hard to inform the Congregation about our future challenges and opportunities, to engage it in discussion and provide the framework whereby we can agree upon a vision of our ministry and our property that will empower the Congregation and its leadership to move in specific directions. All you have to do is look at the "Year of Decision" references on our website to understand the scope of effort and accomplishment thus far.

Are we taking time this year to discuss and decide? Yes, because the Governing Board decided at the beginning of this year that it is important we do so. Are we standing by idly waiting for this decision? No! We are moving forward. We are forging ahead. We have already embarked on a path to our future. Where it will lead precisely, we don't know yet. What we do know is that we are already on our way and that we are setting the stage for a brilliant future for Channing, no matter what direction the path takes.

-- Tom Beall, President