Yesterday we hosted the Rev. Peggy Howland at the Lederle-Ensign B&B. Peggy was on her way home to New York after spending the winter in Florida, and was looking for a place to crash for the night.

Peggy, who is in her late 70s, was the 12th woman ordained to ministry of word and sacrament in the Presbyterian church -- 18 months before I was born. I met her through my work with the Presbyterian Peace Fellowship, on whose board she serves.

All of which is neither here nor there, as they say. What matters, or, at least, what struck me, is the steadfastness of her faithfulness to a church whose doors she's been knocking on or knocking down for more than half a century. She was an overture advocate at the most recent General Assembly on behalf of the ordination of faithful GLBT Presbyterians, and we spend considerable time last night talking about work on marriage equality in the church and in the states.

It is easy to grow cynical and to lose hope in the midst of difficult and divisive days. When posturing in the political world undermines the commonwealth far more often than it enlightens the electorate the cynicism seems the sensible response. When the church echos the worst of the culture rather than shaping its leading edge, hope decays into despair.

So it was good to spend some time with a saint of the church, still militant after all these years, and to be reminded -- and thus, to remind you, as well -- that we are called to faithfulness over the long haul. The journey of faith is not a short sprint, but rather a long march. Come, march on!

peace,

 David

As the church enters a season of self examination with an eye to the future we also need to extend that discerning view towards our facilities and personnel structure here at CPC.

Many of our practices, from mission-related tenant arrangements to personnel policies, have evolved over several decades and they are due for an update.

Likewise, member feedback indicates interest reimagining worship space, improving exterior space, and making capital improvements to the building.

 

All of these things items, and more, can use fresh eyes and new input! Join Carol DeFord after worship, Sunday March 11, to discuss these issues and develop a plan of action.  

 

If you're not able to attend, please send Carol email to cpc.fandp@gmail.com  and we'll make sure to keep you in the loop.

 

CPC's staff design group continues its work this month according to the principles laid out fully in the attached document.

The group's work is being conducted in relationship to the broader visioning work of session and the congregation, and will proceed according to a set of broad goals and principles that emerged from the group's conversations and guidance from session.

To maintain and expand a vibrant congregation, the staff design group will ensure that staffing at Clarendon be designed to:

1. Ensure effective and efficient stewardship of the congregation's human, financial, and physical resources.
2. Develop more diverse and interactive ministries, particularly with respect to music and Christian education.
3. Facilitate better identification and harnessing of congregational time and talents.
4. Complement the strengths of existing staff and lay leadership.

The group has reviewed data from National Capital Presbytery and from the broader Presbytery Church (U.S.A.) on staffing patterns of similar-size congregations, and will present those findings Sunday. Elders Travis Reindl, Karen Kimmel, and Gordon Hawthorne, and members Dave Norman and Grant Mandsager are serving on the staff design team.