Trees and Forests

    Sometimes I get so caught up in what I am doing that I miss the forest for the trees.  Last week was a perfect example of this phenomena.
    For the past month, I have been analyzing Epiphany’s financial condition.  I continually asked about loans, mortgages, principal and interest payments, the end date of loans, as well as annual receipts and expenditures.  As in all things, the questions I asked determined the answers I received.  When I asked different questions, I got different answers.  It seemed like all I did was bump into the trees as I tried to figure out the financial future of Epiphany.
    At the conclusion of my analysis, I was certain that Epiphany could not financially afford to call a new senior pastor for at least a year.  I remembered the rumors that were circulating last January and February about the demise of Epiphany.  I remembered predictions that the Austin Campus would be sold by now.  In my heart I knew Epiphany would survive but the question was, How?
    I also had come to the conclusion that there were two game changers in Epiphany’s financial picture.  The first was revisiting the Capital Campaign.  If we could buy two, three, or four years to fund Epiphany’s debt obligations, we would take a gigantic step in securing Epiphany’s future.  The second game changer was a stewardship campaign that would increase giving by a minimum of 5% in 2012.  I came to these conclusions while I was still in the trees of daily questions.  There was no forest to be seen.
    On September 18, the disciples of Epiphany pledged an additional $171,098 to the Capital Campaign.  Over the next week, additional pledges grew the total of the campaign to $250,000.  I have to go back to my analyzing to determine how many years we have bought to secure our financial future.   There is only good news awaiting in this analysis.
    Even with a new analysis, I am still in the trees.  One challenge has been met.  One problem has been managed.  The immediate affect of the increase in pledged giving enabled the Council to vote to continue the search for a new senior pastor.  The Call Committee is ready to interview candidates. 
    On Wednesday night, the forest came into view.  A participant in my  Bible study made an observation about the Council’s vote to proceed with the call process.  His observation was: The Council’s vote to proceed with the call sent a strong message of hope.  Epiphany is not stuck in the past or the present; rather, Epiphany is moving into the future.  All of the trees used to analyze Epiphany’s finances and answer questions about projected giving suddenly blended together to form a healthy forest.  I had missed that message of hope and future for a long time when I was trying to navigate the trees of financial challenges.  Today I am full of joy and increased energy as look at a forest full of potential.
    On Wednesday, I go back to the trees as the Stewardship Committee plans the fall campaign to begin in October.  There will be the trees of analysis, letter writing, recruiting disciples to talk about worship, outreach, care of members, and administration.  As the committee navigates these trees, I will try to remember to look up and enjoy the forest named Epiphany Lutheran Church.
Pastor Pete