Thinking Outside the Steeple

Most Clergy like to believe that, “Our parish is a little different.” But while the style of the building or the local history may vary, for most Episcopal parishes, the basic dynamics are strikingly similar: an established presence with a shifting financial base, and the internal perception that, “we can’t do anything new, because we don’t even have the money to take care of the essentials.”

That’s what makes the recent story in the New York Times about “St. Bart’s” and its rector, the Rev. William Tully, a must read.

To be sure, the scale of the challenge facing St. Bart’s new rector 14 years ago was larger than most clergy dream of. This is a place that requires an $8 million annual budget just to keep the doors open and the lights on. The essential challenges were the same, though: how to rebuild a loyal flock, reduce the reliance on a handful of well-to-do donors, and make what could easily have become an urban museum a relevant contributor to the community. Rev. Tully’s solution was a “radical welcoming” and a reliance on outstanding communication strategies. You can read the entire story here.

The same opportunities exist here in central Pennsylvania, albeit on a smaller scale. Some of our smallest parishes have already proven that a willingness to “think outside the steeple” is a lot more important than a hefty bank account. We need more of that, because the need for God’s light in Christ is just as real and present in the small town as the large city. We have many congregations that are spiritually rich, while having very limited financial means.

As you begin your new year, resolve to help your congregation find something new, however off-the-wall it sounds, and explore its potential to grow into something meaningful. It’s important.