Rambling - May 1, 2025
Today is another anniversary. Twelve years ago, on May 1, I began my tenure as Rector of Christ Church. I'm also soon approaching a milestone in ministry. Next month marks twenty years of ordained ministry. It's still a little shocking to think of numbers like that. At this week's spring clergy conference at Honey Creek, several first-time attendees were new to the Diocese of Georgia. Every time I met one and they asked how long I have been serving Christ Church, the response to my answer was usually "Wow!" or "Really?!?" Although 12 years isn't that long by Christ Church standards (we have two quarter-century Rectors in our history, Watson Winn and Junius Martin), it's becoming less common in the modern era.
Nonetheless, it's strange to look around our clergy conference and realize how many participants have come into the diocese or been ordained since my arrival in 2013. Currently, only one Rector in the diocese has held their post longer than I have. It's equally strange when you realize folks look at you like a wise old elder; I'm far too young to accept that mantle! It happens when I'm studying in Sewanee, too. In three summers, I haven't met anyone in the program ordained longer than me. That said, as we talked about preaching at this year's conference, someone asked how many times we'd preached our way through the lectionary. This time next year, I will have preached around the calendar seven times. When Mother Ashton seems amazed at how quickly I can come up with a theme for a piece of scripture, I have to remind her I've had more practice than she has.
This weekend, we will hear from the Chair of The Dodge Society, Don Baker, who will remind us that we have a planned giving society at Christ Church. Launched with our capital campaign in 2000, The Dodge Society comprises those persons who have made a planned gift to Christ Church (and let us know that they did). As we said in 2020, with the launch of our triple campaign (Capital, Annual, and Planned Giving), we were all invited to be a part of a legacy at Christ Church. This is a community steeped in legacy, and making changes to campuses or making gifts to endowments are very tangible ways we create and leave a legacy for those who come after, just as others left for us.
At our recent Vestry retreat, legacy wasn't the word we used, yet we were aware that one of our strengths, indeed we might call it one of our superpowers, is that we are a parish with a treasured history and deep traditions born out of our Anglican heritage. That's readily evident to anyone who has stepped on either of our properties or attended a worship service. But, for those who haven't done the latter, they might think we're stuck on our history. In fact, docents tell me folks still seem amazed that we're an active congregation, not some liturgical museum. Those who know us know that we work hard to reach people through our history and traditions, intentionally translating both for spiritual growth and thriving today.
I don't think about my legacy much, but I do think about it occasionally. My ears perk up when I hear how parishioners speak of my predecessors. I can't help wondering what the one-sentence description of my ministry will be decades after I've moved on or died (although I'm not looking for either in the near future!). It's a reminder that it will rarely be one thing that we are remembered for. Rectors aren't (usually) remembered for one sermon they preached or one mistake they made but the aggregate of the ministry over the long term. Similarly, generations of parishioners aren't typically remembered for that one parish event or fundraiser or whether the parish stumbled for a season. The cumulative effects of their faithfulness shape decades and eras, like those who met for prayer at various times in our history without clergy leadership when the congregation's future was uncertain.
As you will hear this weekend, The Dodge Society is sending out a brochure next week as a reminder that part of our life of stewardship is legacy giving, the kind of thankful response to God that takes into account our whole lives and looks to the future when others will take over for us in faithful ministry. It is a celebration of where we have been and the history that provides the foundation for us today. It is also a commitment to help those who will come after us keep it going, the way we all benefit from the gifts of those we never got to meet but who cared enough for us and our parish to make one last gift to ensure our light would shine for generations to come.
There is a remarkable legacy at Christ Church. One way or another, each of us is a part of it. None of us is here that long in the big scheme of things. Even our oldest members, who were born into this congregation, don't span a third of our history with their lifetimes, and that ratio will only get smaller. No matter how long we're here, though, it matters that we are here. One day, it will matter to someone that we WERE here, even if they never learn our names or see our photos. Give thanks for what we know because of this parish and its witness about Jesus Christ, and give thanks that we get a chance to be sure Christ Church does the same for so many others we can't even imagine in the decades and centuries to come.
Tom+
