Last evening our Transitional Transparency Meeting was divided into three parts. First, we looked at a family story that was really a history of our church. Next, we read through a time line of the events leading to our having a woman as associate pastor. And finally, we went over some of the points of how to resolve the problem of the disconnect between our leadership and the people in the pews. Then we broke into small groups and discussed and prioritized these points.

While these meetings are rather interesting, we are starting to question their effectiveness. It seems like we are not really addressing the problems that may help stop the downward turn in our attendance. Supposedly looking back, as well as dealing with some of the current problems, will get us all headed in the right direction to address the future and how we can grow. If nothing else, it is helping us as a congregation to better understand each other and perhaps also understand God's calling for us as a group trying to serve him.