Dear Dr. Simpson,
My heart goes out to you and to those grappling with the reality of Good Shepherd’s continued (and ultimate) decline, which I have sadly observed from a distance.
Already during the time of my pastorate there (5 years, ending in 1991), it was obvious that the Rox was a community in severe decline, growing older, as its youth left in droves eager to find better life-opportunities elsewhere.
For me, the most bitter sign of the congregation’s decline was when Good Shepherd’s wonderful pipe organ was sold off. The congregation could no longer financially support an organist, so it made no sense to have the organ accumulating dust. Plus the sale of the organ would help pay the congregation’s bills for some (fairly short) period going forward.
Similarly, when it became apparent that Good Shepherd was unlikely ever to be able to support a full-time pastor again, it made sense to sell the congregation’s lovely parsonage. Again, that would provide financial benefit for a time.
Already during my time there, it distressed me that cemetery funds were occasionally tapped, to help balance the church’s books. And once started, that habit became impossible to break. It is quite natural for the dead to sustain an enterprise, if that enterprise happens to be a funeral home. But it’s no way to sustain a church…
I commend you for communicating the situation in the way you have. For too long, the faithful members (who truly love their church!) have had the progress of Good Shepherd’s slow death-spiral obscured.
May they now hear the story, honestly and transparently, without evasion.
God bless you, the Council, and all of Good Shepherd’s remaining faithful members.
In Christ,
Rev. Leander J. Ecola, Ph.D.
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Content is ™ and © Donald E. Simpson 2021, all rights reserved.
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