“Progress Takes Time”

We keep hearing that progress takes time. Usually, this mantra is spoken by someone who would prefer that congregants stop agitating for change.

We recently came across some notes from a February 2017 congregant forum. The church was in upheaval then, too. Kate Lore, the Social Justice Minister, had resigned—whether she left voluntarily or was “pushed out” depends on who you ask. Beyond the specifics of Kate’s situation, congregants were upset about the lack of congregational input, lack of democratic processes, concentration of power under Policy Governance, fairness of staff pay, and other things that sound all too familiar in 2024.

If you have 10-15 minutes, we highly recommend downloading this dark relic of a past that feels uncomfortably similar to the present.

Examples to pique your interest…

How are you planning to involve congregational input into decision-making (big decisions that will impact the congregation) before they are finalized?

What forms of oversight are currently in place and/or will be put in place by the board over the Executive Team?

How do you justify the way key decisions are being made here and our 5th principle of Democratic Process?

“Truth & Reconciliation” Cannot be one without the other. What is the truth about Kate Lore’s departure? Was it her free will? Financial concerns? Friction with the ET?

The promises made in 2017 don’t seem to have come to fruition. Is “progress” really in the works this time? How long are we willing to wait, given what’s at stake? And why does “progress” require congregants to sit back and be quiet rather than leading the way forward?

This article was written by the congregant action team. We are doing our best to learn and distribute accurate information about how the church operates. Please contact us with any questions, feedback, or corrections!