Re: [pf] where I am coming from

by prichter1

20 December 2000 13:53 UTC

In a message dated 12/19/00 11:02:24 PM Eastern Standard Time, 
bbarnum@wavetech.net writes:

> I hope your congregation decides to do the community garden.

Me, too, Betsy, but I understand that there has been some recent conflict 
over this, causing a couple of people to leave the congregation. After the 
holidays I'm making it a priority to really understand the issues, but I 
think it's because some want to have a "nature preserve" to walk around in.  
Now, we only have a few acres, much of which is already developed (parking 
and building -- not even a playground for kids).

Those who want the garden have left, so I need to understand their issues 
better.  The church is in an unincorporated part of the area and there are 
not too terribly many neighbors, but I would like to see us develop more 
linkages. Since people in the congregation seem to be fairly self absorbed, I 
am working first on changing attitudes and helping people to see themselves 
linked to the larger community. This church has become a sanctuary *away 
from* rather than a bridge to the larger community.  This will be a very 
large piece of my work here, but they knew that about me when they brought me 
in.

Betsy, what you wrote yesterday about your interfaith efforts are inspiring 
me. I think that Minnesota in general is way ahead of "groupthink" in this 
area, but we are ripe. This is a beautiful area that is largely rural and 
populated with many small farms. A large Amish population is part of our 
county. My congregants are mostly university faculty, who live so estranged 
from other parts of the universe (other than the universe-ity). My work is 
cut out, but you all are inspiring me.

One of the things that I'm doing is making my own community linkages -- this 
is a slow process, as I am an introvert and not terribly gregarious.  I'm 
hoping that my linkages will bring some like-minded folks to the church if 
not as members at least as resource people.

The work of change sometimes has to go slowly or those of us who are change 
agents find ourselves on the outside. This seems particularly true of 
churches, which absorb a lot of cultural change and be places where people 
bring their fears. Fear causes people to act out. Tradition also plays a role 
here, but this is another subject. I moved too fast in my first church, 
causing me to have a very rocky tenure there. 

Thanks for your encouragement and challenge, pf-er's.  You make a tremendous 
difference in my life.

Blessings, Priscilla

Blessings, Priscilla