Town Hall Meeting Questions: Important Decision Making

Last week I started a series of bulletin articles answering town-hall questions about how important decisions are made in parish life.  As an example, I referenced the months-long, synodal process that led to the recommendation to me that our parishes become one through the process of merger, rather than amalgamation.  This week I would like to offer another practical example of an important decision-making process in parish life using the repair of our South Office (Holy Trinity’s office/rectory) as an example.

Decision Making Example 2: Leaky Roofs
The need for a new rectory/office roof at Holy Trinity surfaced when Deacon Bill repaired a roof leak at the South Office for about $1,500.  I approved the repair because it was under $25,000, which a pastor can do.   At that repair, the contractor related that there was an urgent need to replace the roof.   
The buildings and grounds committee, finance and pastoral council all recommended that the roof be replaced.  It appeared as though the only remaining question was funding. However, I was wrestling internally.

Pastor
After further inquiry, I was not comfortable offering my recommendation for the project.  I had several concerns. While not calling into question a contractor’s evaluation of the roof, I couldn’t help but wonder how critical was the need for a new roof?  There didn’t appear to be any active leaks.

Church Has Older Roof
What is more, since St. Peter and Paul Church is older than the rectory/office, it made sense to me to think that the church roof probably needed to be replaced before the rectory roof.  Some of the church roof had already been repaired, years ago, causing the limestone staining on the interior.  However, I was assured the church roof was higher quality than the roof on the rectory/office, even though it looked as tired.

Funding and Buy In
At that point a call was put out to parishioners to raise the $30,000 or so necessary to replace the rectory/office roof.  My sense was, if the faithful were able and willing to offer, say, half of the sum of the cost, that would further support the possibility of a replacement.  (Over several weeks during the summer past, St. Saviour raised over the $28,000 needed to replace its office roof, which had active leaks.)
There were many donations at Holy Trinity…and a handful of very generous donations. Thanks to all who donated! Yet, after several weeks under $6,000 was donated from parishioners.  (Another Crescent Parish Parishioner not from Holy Trinity donated $25,000.)
In all the factors above, my mind and intuition were not comfortable recommending roof replacement to Archbishop.  Ultimately, it didn’t make sense to say that we are going to replace a smaller roof because we have the money, when the older roof was on the Church.  Then it happened.

Thanks for Patience and Respect
During the weeks of January rain, two visible leaks appeared in the church.  In other words, it seems the Church roof needs replacing more than the rectory roof.  We are looking into the cost of repair/replacement.  Deacon Bill estimates a million dollars for church roof replacement.  Thanks to Holy Trinity leaders who were patient and respectful while wrestling with this issue!
 
Same Process for All Big Decisions
In the decision about merger/amalgamation and expensive building repairs above, a careful process of stakeholder considerations and recommendations are employed.  This is the same type of process that will be used to make big decisions in our parishes.  What about a related, town hall question: Have leaders (Archdiocesan or Crescent Parishes) already decided which church buildings will remain? 

Have Church Building Decisions Already Been Made?
The resoundingly clear answer to this question is “No.”  No, archdiocesan leadership has not told me as pastor to close/sell some church buildings and keep others open.  In the same way, Crescent Parish leadership has not decided which buildings/properties will stay and which will go. Now, does that mean that Crescent Parishes Leadership Team (PLT) has not discussed, conjectured, and debated this question.  Certainly we have,  pastoral councils and finance committees and most all parishioners have probably talked about it too!  These informal discussions on all levels will help all to be better prepared when we actually tackle the decision through the process of making big parish decisions as in the examples above. 

One Parish First
Also, it is important to note that it is likely we will become one parish before making some big decisions about buildings/properties.  In other words, in most cases, first our parishes will merge into one.  Then, we will work through the careful process of making big decisions about buildings and properties.
Thanks for reading and praying about the ansers to the big questions/issues in parish life.  Next week we'll look at two more town hall questions:  1) Which buildings will be used in our new parish and 2) Will decisions about repurposing/closing/selling churches be influenced by finances?

Lenten Journey
Thanks to those who are making this Lent wonderful, through prayer, fasting and giving and through so many opportunities offered in our bulletin.  Lent is all about conversion into the image of Jesus we were made at Baptism.  Becoming better disciples of Jesus, we will better invite and inspire others to come to him, growing our Churches and furthering the Kingdom!

Sincerely and with Love in Christ,
Fr. Pat