So here ... so Her

So tonight I made a BIG mistake. I was asked if we know who our new minister is. I said yes, because in truth we do, and just like every other time I have been asked I said "but we can't say who it is until telling Sunday on May 18th". Lesley continued with "I hope he's young with a family." Here was my mistake - "she has a dogter." The 'she' killed me. 

Lesley said "well that is going to decimate the church!" "Why, because she doesn't have children?" I'm way too naive. "No," she rolled on. "Foxhill lost half it's membership when we got a woman minister. Half!"

I thought about what she said. I think that any minister that followed Mike Nobles, who had ministered First, Foxhill for seventeen years (I've been told), would have been crucified. It is the same at St. Mark's. I mean really did Roy ever even stand a chance following Jeff? We could have had Jesus Christ follow Jeff and half the congregation would have left. Seriously. 

Will we, at St. Mark's, be accepting of a woman minister? I had truly thought so until I heard Lesley's remark. Now I am not so sure. 

Reverend Hall is coming to us because Joe perceived conflict within our church and she is a pro at conflict resolution. I wish I could have told him that we have no conflict except with our current minister ... but ... well, our feelings for Roy were crystal clear to Joe and he determined that we are conflictual  and need some resolving. 

So I pray for Reverend Hall, that our ministerial conflicts began with and end with Roy and that there is no lingering side-effects. I pray that our congregation be open-minded. I pray that we warmly greet and accept Reverend Hall for who she is and not resent her for who she is not. Jeff is gone and he will not be sent back into our fold. May we embrace Reverend Hall and acknowledge that sometimes change is indeed good.