Wednesday Word: Challenges & Opportunities

“The Parochial Report is here! The Parochial Report is here!!” said no one, Ever.

For those who don't know, the Parochial Report is sent to every Episcopal parish each year “from the home office” as a way to look at the life of the Church in the previous year. It sets out to capture things like attendance, baptisms and confirmations, burials, number of worship services, number of people enrolled in education programs, and the parish budget. And, just like your taxes are due on April 15, the Parochial Report is due March 1.

Knowing what we know about 2020, there are some things on the report that needed to be adjusted. Attendance being a major issue. How do you track attendance when you (practically speaking) haven't had anyone attending? So this year the report changed how we calculate that metric and began including online attendance – which won't actually be calculated until we get the 2022 report; but hey, they need to start somewhere.

For the first time, the report this year included a section that was to be completed by the Vestry. So I sent out the questions asked and spent time yesterday collating responses into something we could put into the report. I won't go into all the questions and answers from the Vestry, but I wanted to share a few of them with you today.

“What were the primary opportunities, innovations, and challenges during the pandemic, and what have you learned?”

Opportunities included the ability to include people who couldn't physically get to the church and improving our online presence. Innovations included reevaluations of how we use technology and new ways of reaching out. Challenges included that less tech-savvy people may be neglected and how do we keep Sunday worship from home a priority? What we learned is that Holy Eucharist is incredibly important to the people of this parish, fellowship of all kinds is important to us, and we are able to overcome obstacles when we work together.

“What do you think are the primary opportunities and challenges the church faces as it plans for the future?

Opportunities included renewed fellowship and expanded involvement of people beyond our parish boundaries, learning how to reconnect with people in non-traditional methods, and continuing to see our online or media presence as an important part of who we are. Challenges included having people get back into the habit of attending worship and church related activities on a regular basis, and how we might increase our evangelism efforts.

Some of these I found familiar and some of them were new to me. If you are reading this, you are a part of Saint John's in some manner. With that in mind, know that we are all in this together – it is not strictly my job, or the job of the Vestry, to attend to these things.

As we move forward into 2021 and beyond, how might you address some of these challenges and opportunities so that Saint John's will continue to be healthy and vital in the coming years?

Blessings,

Todd+