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I promised last week that I would address the topic of “consensus” at the
beginning of this week’s remarks. This, I believe, is the best way to
understand how “we” got to the decision of making the “Old Church” our new
Parish Center. And so, you ask, what is consensus? I am going to use the
Diocese’s Guidelines for Parish Councils to help me explain consensus.
“The consensus process involves listening as well as encouraging free and open
exchange of ideas. When everyone contributes, the issue under discussion is
refined and molded into a result that is supported by everyone. A member
opposed to a decision that was reached by the group as a whole, should
seriously reconsider his/her position and acknowledge the power inherent in the
decision-making process. Consensus has been achieved by the Council when
everyone can live with the decision.”
Later on in the guidelines, the following is stated: “It should be noted that
not all Council issues invite the use of consensus. Normally for questions or
issues of major importance to the parish community, it is advisable to strive
for a true consensus within the Council. For more routine matters, a simple
majority vote should suffice.”
Last week I stated that no real consensus had been made regarding the “Old
Church” and that is the reason it just remained empty. What was it used for? It
was used for the big fundraising dinners in March and November. The Knights of
Columbus used it for their monthly breakfasts. The Ladies Auxiliary used it for
the annual Rummage Sale. It was used for smaller meals and gatherings. However,
none of these really used the “Old Church”.
When the topic surfaced for me not long after I was here, I soon discovered
that the Parish Council had reviewed many of the possibilities for the “Old
Church”. The Parish Council told me that selling the property or renting the
“Old Church” to another organization really did not prove to be a viable option
because that would mean that we would not be able to the projects that demand a
kitchen. So, even though the decision had not officially been made to renovate
the “Old Church” into a Parish Center, it heavily leaned in that direction.
However, no decision had been made.
So, having discovered that the Parish Council had come to a general consensus
about keeping the space across the street for parish activities like the big
fundraising dinners in March and November, the Knights of Columbus monthly
breakfasts, using it for activities by the Ladies Auxiliary, and other smaller
meals and gatherings, I decided to provide some leadership regarding an actual
renovation. The reason I did this is because the space of the “Old Church” was
not being used for other than storage. In my mind, it could provide a huge
space for gatherings and activities. This is when we, Parish Council leaders
and myself, began looking at the expense of such a project. This is where I
would like to continue next week…consultation with the Diocese and the
architects of Butler, Rosenbury & Partners.
Thanks for your time in pondering these remarks! Know of my thoughts and
prayers for your and your loved ones.
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