Hey, didja hear …

Years ago when I was single and serving a church, word got back to me from the congregation that I was going to get married.  This came as quite a surprise to me, as I was not even dating at the time.  So the next Sunday during announcements I shared with the congregation that I had heard that I was going to get married, and if anyone knew my intended I would love to be introduced to her …

That stopped that rumor, but only that one!

Communities of people are rife with hearsay, rumor, misinformation and just plain old gossip.  There are a couple of items currently in circulation around town about our Shaping Our Vision program; the first is that we are going to move to Renton (maybe on the empty lot next to my house?) and the other is that we have consummated a deal with a national developer and are selling the building.

Sigh.

We belong to the United Church of Christ, with congregational polity.  In a nutshell that means we can’t, won’t and don’t do ANYTHING without first consulting with about ‘leventy-seven committees and we sure can’t sell/exchange/modify any property without a vote of the congregation!  So unless there was a secret congregational meeting while I was on holiday, my hunch is that the rumors are just that … rumors.

Bellevue First Congregational Church has, during her history, not always had the best relationship with pastors.  It’s just a fact that some pastors have not acted in the best interests of the church, so it might be natural for folks to wonder if the new pastor (me) might be trying to do something … unorthodox.

But you know the members of the Shaping Our Future team – John Koziol, Otis Gillaspie, Randy Wallingford, Lucy Brand, Paul Burckhard, Anne Healey, Vicki Shipley, and Duane Baker – they are your friends and neighbors.  They are fine trustworthy people and I am proud to work with them; I have been incredibly impressed with their dedication, commitment, transparency, and thoughtful attention to detail.  So even if Kevin C. Brown was a dirty dog, you can trust them!

So if you hear any rumors or have any questions, do not hesitate to contact me or any member of the Shaping Our Future team, or our Moderator Mary Holm.  We will tell you the truth, because that’s what Christian’s do.

See you in church,

kevin