Gather the people, tell the stories, break the bread.

Many of you have heard that definition of the church by now several times. I looked back and saw that I used it for the past three annual reports. It bears repeating this year, because once again, we are about the task of gathering the people of God, in order that we may share our stories with one another, in the context of the Christian fellowship where we break bread together in sacramental liturgical settings. It is fitting to use this definition as a prism to understand what has happened at Good Shepherd in 1998, and to catch a glimpse of where we might be going in 1999 - a vision if you will, of that which is yet to come.

Last year began on an ominous note. On January 1st, 1998, a passerby on the sidewalk out front smelled gas and called the gas company. They in turn sent crews to assess the danger, and sure enough, there was a gas leak on the major pipe leading into the church. A trench in the ground and sidewalk had to be dug out to the street in order to repair the break, and as if that weren't enough, to add insult to injury we were informed that the cost of repairs and the responsibility of assembling a work crew was ours. It was a rude awakening to the new year - a major property expenditure; unexpected, unplanned, and unbudgeted. But we managed.

Shortly following the gas leak incident, we engaged in the wider parish involvement of the Mutual Ministry Review. A highly qualified outside consultant met with the clergy, the wardens, the vestry, and held interviews with 35 people over a two day span. It was a full and comprehensive review of Good Shepherd's ministry, and it concluded with a number of specific recommendations and comments.

The report noted positively that:

There was strong affirmation of the Church of the Good Shepherd. Many people talked about the great strengths and ministries of your church. There were many positive comments about your church, your rector, and the people. The most consistent was that it is where friends are and that it is "home" for many persons. Other comments which strongly affirmed your Church were: "I love this church", "Our outreach is great", "We are so good with social issues", "We are such an inclusive church, welcoming all persons", "Our rector is a good administrator", "I love our liturgy", "Our choir is wonderful". "The rector and our members serve the larger community so well", "Our Christian Education Director is terrific", and many others.

Strengths that were mentioned to me covered a very wide range of characteristics of your rector and members. There is strong desire for sustaining and expanding your membership, its programs and its corporate life.

A large number of people stated that this was their church, some having been members for most or all of their lives. You have many people who are deeply committed and want the Church of the Good Shepherd to be the best Church it can be.

Do not underestimate your strengths. Keep them in the forefront of your mind.

On the down side, there were some serious fault lines detected in our communication. It was not always clear how decisions were made, who made them, and what happened to them after they were made. A small number of parishioners felt there was a weakening in the pastoral relationship between myself as rector and the parish. Some sharp comments were made and some deep feelings were untapped.

The review eventually resulted in the vestry setting direction for the remainder of the year along some clearly delineated paths, with some specific recommendations for improvement, such as the Bread Ministry and the welcoming of newcomers. Not all the recommendations were implemented immediately, some are still to be considered, and others remain to be enacted. On balance, it was good to do what we did. It showed that parishioners care deeply about Good Shepherd, it revealed some areas for growth and improvement, and it evidenced concern for the church's well-being and future.

Let me summarize this portion of my report by quoting once again the affirmative over-all finding of the consultant:

(Remember) You have many people who are deeply committed and want the Church of the Good Shepherd to be the best Church it can be. Do not underestimate your strengths. Keep them in the forefront of your mind.

As a postscript, I would be remiss if I didn't remind you that by virtue of convention resolution the Diocese requires an annual mutual ministry review to occur in every congregation; and while we may not undertake again such an extensive review as last year's, we at least have a process of evaluation in place, and a point of reference that we can use as a benchmark. I want to publicly thank Jack Flemming for his leadership in this effort, and I trust we will take seriously the recommendations the review put forward.

No sooner had we begun some closure in the Spring on the Mutual Ministry Review, than we started to prepare for a special visit from the former Presiding Bishop, Edmond Browning. That proved to be an exquisite time for all of us. When he arrived in town, we were mesmerized by his gentle presence, yet fired up at the same time by his fierce commitment and dedication to the cause of peace and justice. During his brief four-day stay, he had occasion to see and observe "hands on" a goodly portion of religious work not only at Good Shepherd, Epiphany, Nelsonville, and the Hocking Valley Deanery, but also a sampling of educational programs at Ohio University, civic initiatives in Athens, and economic development efforts throughout the wider southeast Ohio region.

Coming to Athens when he did was particularly meaningful and restorative for him. It was his first public engagement since retirement. It allowed him a chance to put in perspective his previous duties and heavier responsibilities as presiding bishop, and gave him an opportunity first-hand to see at the grassroots level some of the initiatives taken in the name of his office, specifically ReUse Industries, a grant recipient of the Presiding Bishop's Fund for World Relief.

Bishop Browning's visit also afforded me an unforgettable and memorable high-water mark in my own ministry, when together we visited an inpatient at the psychiatric hospital here in Athens. To engage in pastoral work and outreach with a former presiding bishop is a moment that I will forever cherish and remember. It marked my understanding of what ministry is all about in a profound, explicit way - never being too high or lofty in religious position or rank that we forget our primary call, to reach out and offer through our presence and utter vulnerability the love of Jesus serving "the (very) least of these," our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. Thank you Bishop Browning for that insight.

By June, ordained ministry in the Episcopal Church was very much on our minds as we anticipated and welcomed Katharin Foster back to Athens, and prepared for her ordination to the priesthood. A recent Seabury Western seminary graduate, she was well-equipped, theologically educated, and fully prepared to undertake priestly ministry as part of the mission team in the River Bend Cluster of Episcopal churches on both sides of the Ohio River, where she now serves. Katharin's ordination was a glorious occasion, with a special treat provided by another Good Shepherd-sponsored former seminarian, Edward Payne, who sang the offertory anthem in his most majestic, operatic, and fully engaged style.

Katharin's ordination here at Good Shepherd was a reminder of just how fortunate we are to have spawned and sponsored so many candidates for ministry over the years. As the Rev. Dr. Edward Dougherty, an assistant to former rector Bill Black, reminded us during his visit in December, when you take into account all the associates, assistants, staff members, interns, visiting priests, and assorted ministers related to Good Shepherd over the years, who have gone on to productive ministries in their own right, the number is quite impressive - well in the dozens. For a church this size, in this location, tucked away in southeast Ohio, this is truly remarkable.

How do we keep track of all this information related to ministry over the years? Frankly, I hadn't given it a lot of thought until I was approached by Brian Tomko, our college-university peer minister at the time, who suggested a church web site, with an offer we simply couldn't refuse. He would set up a web page for us gratis, if we would agree to let him work it alongside his course of study in communication systems management. What a deal! And what a benefit! Brian single-handedly designed our front page, worked on a flow chart of information, linked us in to the university, the internet, and the wider realm of cyberspace. As I became more enthused myself, I began to understand the notion of "virtual reality" and saw that Good Shepherd could be experienced in a totally real, totally valid, and totally informed way, without leaving home. This is truly a blessing and an asset for those who are shut in, or who cannot get to church for whatever reason.

Nothing of course beats the face to face interaction and fellowship that occurs here in this building, in this very space. But I am persuaded that considerable ministry, legitimate and helpful ministry, can occur by means of these new technologies now available to us. We are not trying to discard or do away with anything, instead we are seeking to expand and enhance what we already have in place, and communicate it to a wider range of people, parishioners and non-parishioners alike.

For those of you who were here for our most recent baptism, you know that the whole service was developed over the internet, and the baptism of an infant born in California didn't take place here in Athens, until all the necessary material and information was processed through e-mail and our church's web page onto the official parish register. Our newest member of Good Shepherd is in fact a San Francisco resident, a mere three-month old infant, who is nonetheless very much connected with our parish family not simply by virtue of his baptism here, but because the technology permits him to stay informed as he grows and matures. I suspect he and his parents will be back some day soon for a visit, and he will not be a stranger to the church where he was baptized. He'll know more about Good Shepherd than many of us ever did regarding the churches where we were likely baptized as infants.

Working alongside Brian Tomko, and now Sarah Spurlock as peer minister, makes me realize just how fortunate we are to have such talented young people in our midst. In case you hadn't noticed, the twentysomething year-olds are taking over the church. On the staff side, we have truly benefited from the work that Emily Richards has done with our own young people, and we have taken on a newly invigorated direction in the parish office with the work of Amy Davidheiser, our recently appointed parish secretary. On the ministry side, we have seen full participation of young people in the nursery, and in the classes taught by Elizabeth Shepherd, Twig Miller and Charlotte Irwin. We have observed the Acolytes and Servers faithfully organized by Curtis Sherman as they have served here at Good Shepherd and at diocesan functions as well. You may have noticed three members of the guild currently appear on the front page of the Interchange. And at the university level through the Canterbury Association, we see the involvement of students like Leeza Glazier our college vestry representative and lector who, among other things, is an anchor on the WOUB television news, was the person who gave us emergency warnings over the radio during last week's ice storm, and has written articles and special reports for church and non-church publications alike. She is scheduled as well to give one of our lenten series sermons later this Spring. Let us also give thanks for the regular and faithful contributions of our Vocal Music Assistants (the VMA's) who add so much to our musical tradition of excellence. Youth are very much in evidence at Good Shepherd, and will continue to be. Mary Sanderson is coming on board as a lector, and our own Jenny Spero is becoming the college/university representative to the vestry. For their presence and vitality in our midst we are deeply grateful.

I could not complete this report unless I made more than a passing mention of the planning, preparation and hosting of the Diocesan Convention that took place here at the Convocation Center on December 4th and 5th. With our official hosts, President and Mrs. Glidden of Ohio University, and with an assortment of bishops, special guests, and visitors, we were able to pull together a first-rate convention that equaled if not surpassed our previous hosting of the same event in 1993. It was a stunning success

Let me share the two letters I received from both of our bishops. They pretty much speak for themselves about the way the convention was perceived by over 600 participants who registered.

First Bishop Thompson wrote:

The consensus throughout the diocese with all whom I had conversation is that the Diocesan Convention, 1998, was not just normally successful, but one of our best ever. I whole-heartedly concur; more I rejoice. It was almost a palpable sense of the Holy Spirit and we are poised with enthusiasm for the work that lies ahead.

and then Bishop Price wrote:

I know you have had an official letter of thanks from Bishop Thompson, so I wanted to wait a few days to send my personal note as well. I have been closely associated with Diocesan Conventions for the past thirty years, and directly responsible for the Southern Ohio one for the past four. Never, in all that time, have I felt as good about one, as I did the 124th Diocesan Convention in Athens. The committee that was assembled outdid itself. Every need was attended to, every detail anticipated and provided for. I can not thank you enough for all your efforts. Our evaluations sang the praises of Good Shepherd, of the Hocking Valley Deanery, and of Ohio University. Leave 'em happy and they'll be back. I trust someday we will return again. Many, many thanks.

Let me extend one more time, as Chair of the Local Arrangements Committee my own appreciation and thanks to all of you who helped to make our Good Shepherd piece in the diocesan convention such a success. It was a lot of work, hard work, but well worth the effort.

And now, back closer to home, I'd like to make one final comment about a particular person. Today marks the end of the current Senior Warden's term. Julie Nehls is, in the parlance of church-speak and organizational administration, rotating off the vestry and completing her duties. Hers has been both a distinctive and a distinguished period of leadership for this church. I am not going to embarrass her or become effusive with praise, but I simply want to state publicly and for the record - Julie's love and deep regard for the Church, for its wider mission and purpose, and for Good Shepherd in particular, is unmatched. When I needed counsel and insight, Julie was there with sound advice. When I needed to be prodded to go visit so-and-so, or speak out on such-and-such an issue, Julie set me straight. Her judgment about people, situations, and the inevitable predicaments that we all find ourselves in, is uncanny. In an era when values are up for grabs, and decisions are maddeningly tentative, Julie is absolutely trustworthy. She is not a person of many words; but when she speaks, listen carefully and pay attention. She has something important to say. And when there is a problem to be solved or work to be done, don't look to Julie to pontificate and endlessly describe what has to happen. Simply observe the example she sets. Julie works hard. She labors unselfishly for the church. She gets things done, makes sure they are done right, and done well. She is a rare, marvelous person, and Good Shepherd is fortunate to have her in our midst. Thank you Julie for all that you've done for me, and for this parish.

I began this report on an ominous note related to church property and a dangerous gas leak, unexpected and unplanned, so I suppose it is fitting to end on a similar note of caution and warning. Though you can't see it, there is a major problem in the organ loft where the pipes are located, right back here. It too was unexpected, unplanned and unbudgeted. The rain, snow, and ravages of time for well over forty years, have caused erosion and tears to occur on the roof; with plaster falling, and organ pipes threatened. The physical needs of an aging church will require much attention in 1999. And the communication needs of an aging congregation will also require considerable attention. A new copier is desperately needed in the parish office, and special fund raising efforts will have to be devised to secure the cost of purchase. I'm not sure how all the money will be raised, but I do know this; the resources are both out-there and in-here, and if we really seek to be the church, and go about what God would have us do, we will fix the roof, repair the organ pipes, run off thousands of copies of bulletins, newsletters and leaflets, and tell the whole world the Good Shepherd story on the internet.

This is what we are about, because we seek to

Gather the people, tell the stories, break the bread

I am delighted and proud to have been rector of this remarkable church for twenty years. But we're just getting started, and I trust 1999 will be another banner year in Good Shepherd's history. With God's help, it will.

The Rev. E. F. Michael Morgan, Ph.D. Rector

Front Page Back to Archives 28/Sep/2001