Categories: uncategorized
Date: 25 February 2007 22:16:29
Well today was the day.
I formally announced that I am resigning as a deacon with effect from the end of March. After what would have been 30 years in July, I'm leaving my little chapel and setting off to find another. When I lived in London for 9 years I couldn't find one I liked enough to transfer my membership or to attend regularly.
Now the time just feels right. There are a few things that are annoying me and I feel detached during the services. Like today, I read further on in 2 Chronicles while Rev Chug-a-Bug did her sermon. I read the text that she was preaching on and it immediately became clear what she'd say and how it would be said. So I read onwards instead.
The worse part for me was telling the kids in Youth that we'd be leaving after Easter. We now only have 2 more Youth meetings to go. I was really struck by how much they wanted us to stay. They were curious as to who'd take over.
However they did make me promise that we'd come down when they have their sleep over; FW would do the biscuit iceing with them again (but after we'd left, as I hate the mess); and that we'd try to do a day out in the Easter holidays.
The things I'll miss most are the closeness of the fellowship and the kids.
The thing I'll miss the least is the lack of action of the deaconate and the lack of planning that seems to take place. The church survey and plan for the future that I led 18 months ago has gone nowhere. We had ideas to follow through but nothing has happened. The house groups that we were going to launch in Lent have not materialised.
Yet the final straw for me was the way in which the Baptist Union are forcing additional expenditure on the chapel that they can't afford. The church membership have discussed what is wanted but, with an elderly and low income congregation, can't afford.