Episcopal Church Foundation Vestry Papers - for leading congregations

The air conditioner repair guys were lazy.

They took the shortest distance to install the exhaust pipes – straight from the basement to the outside wall, right beside the entrance. 

Don’t be alarmed: this is being fixed. Today. The National Historic Register and the people of the parish wouldn’t have it any other way.

But still, I think there’s some interesting commentary about how we clean up our messes in the church. Do we take the easy way out – avoiding conflict or perhaps more often, letting off steam in the sidewalk or parking lot conversations? Or are we willing to do the much more difficult work of rooting out the problem, talking with each other, and finding some solutions that may require sacrifice? 

This brings to mind two incidents from the past week. In one, I was the jerk, lashing out from my own selfishness and insecurities to hurt someone I care about. I apologized, and I think the relationship will recover. But I know that I need to do some excavating of my own heart so that I don’t repeat the same mistake. 

In the other case, a woman from church stirred the pot. This isn’t the first time – she has some classic control issues. You know the type – every church has one or two. This person complains a lot but isn’t willing to put in the muscle to make changes. 

I find that I want to be like the exhaust pipe, letting off my frustration in the easy ways, exchanging a knowing smile and an eye roll with a fellow parishioner or even making the snide comment when she leaves the building. 

The much more difficult task is to engage in direct conversation, to listen attentively to her concerns but at the same time be willing to ask for accountability and for mutual responsibility and engagement in solving the problem. 

This won’t be easy, and I’m praying for strength. But at least the air conditioner works.