Contemporary Issues
Contemporary Issues Class:
Last Sunday morning, among all of the other festivities of the 150th Anniversary celebration, I was surprised to find that Christ Church is involved in a fund raising activity to purchase a second concert grand piano. It is my understanding that the current concert grand piano would be moved to the ECC to support activities there, and that the new concert grand piano would be primarily located in the sanctuary.
While a substantial portion of the cost will be paid for through donations already pledged and significant participation by the CUMC Foundation, a general request of the congregation to participate has been made.
While I am concerned about whether this rather significant expenditure of funds is the best use of our resources, I am equally, if not more, concerned about the process whereby this funding request has come to us. The announcement in the bulletin did not indicate the CUMC "team" that is sponsoring this request, nor that the Trustees, Worship Team, Finance Team or Leadership Team are supporting this effort. I do not know the extent to which these teams were involved in consideration of this fund raising effort and its ramifications.
I am also uncertain as to how having the "best chamber music venue in Rochester" fits with the CUMC Mission Statement.
I have attached a copy of an e-mail that I received from Ken Bauman who expresses other concerns.
I have also attached a copy of the announcement of the fund raising effort for the concert grand that appeared in last Sunday's bulletin.
jim colville
___________________
E:Mail received from Ken Bauman - November 20, 2007
November 20, 2007
As I sit here, coffee close by, warm and comfortable, I ponder what my responsibility is in responding to a recent decision made at Christ Church.
In the Friday, November 16, 2007, Northern Bytes email communication, I read the UMCOR updates. Three areas of need are noted: (1) Hurricane Recovery in Mexico and the Dominican Republic ( Advance # 982511), (2) Zimbabwe Food Crisis ( Advance # 101250), and (3) The AIDS Orphans Trust. These are but a few of the many places that need our help. I am also painfully aware of the need of the children of Zimbabwe, orphans of the AIDS pandemic who need support to keep them from starvation.
It is with these thoughts in mind and also the “We Are That Church” statements written by Pastor John Darlington in the November18, Sunday bulletin, that I question the decision made by the Foundation to support the purchase of a Baldwin grand piano for $35,000.00. With all the need in the world, as well as in Rochester, I question how a purchase such as this can be justified.
As a church congregation whose Mission/Purpose statement is to “Live, Love and Serve as Jesus Teaches”, I ask myself how does this purchase fit into this statement? I don’t know what Jesus would do, but I can imagine that his first interest would be to support causes that “feed the lambs”, as opposed to becoming “the best chamber music venue in Rochester.”
_______________________________
Following is the announcement of the fund raising drive in the CUMC Church Bulletin - November 18, 2007:
HELP US RAISE THE REMAINING BALANCE FOR A
NEW GRAND PIANO FOR OUR SANCTUARY.
The Opportunity
Hamilton Music is making available to Christ United Methodist
Church the one time opportunity to purchase a new seven-foot
Baldwin grand piano at the price $35,000. The regular price is
usually from $75,000 on up. As you can see, this is a great
savings.
Our Christ Church Foundation has graciously given a one-time gift
of $10,000 toward this project. The Foundation is also making a
1:1 matching grant available to the total of another $10,000.
Currently, we have had several generous gifts totaling $7,440. We
are blest! This brings the total on hand to $23,440. We are
seeking to raise the balance of $11,560. You can help by
donating to this project by making a check out in any amount to
CUMC and placing “Piano Project” on the memo line. Thank you
for your generosity.
The Ministry Opportunity
With the positive reaction of the congregation over the use of
piano in the 9.00am Worship Service and with the growth and
energy around the 11.15am Worship service in the ECC, there is
an immediate need to have a piano in the ECC that will support
congregational singing and for special music for that service. Also,
with the recent renovations to the ECC and the new hard flooring
surface that is to be installed at the stage level, the ECC will
become an excellent recital hall for chamber music, piano and
voice recitals. By moving the present grand piano from the
Sanctuary to the ECC, Christ Church will be positioned to be the
best chamber music venue in Rochester. This will assist us in
outreach to the community. An additional hope is that with having
two concert grand pianos under one roof, we can have more
special piano concerts that feature two piano music.
News in Religion and Politics- click to read an article
