Separation of Church and fate?

So, hubster had some *gulp* news yesterday. His job {@ a undisclosed Lutheran Church} is asking all staff to take a 2-week furlough. That's a whole paycheck. That's a BIG deal! See, they're kind of like lobbyists on the capitol; the longer you've been around, the more you hold water. And that goes double for A's "assistant". She's been failing more and more with the tasks A gives her {like mailing time-sensitive information} and makes him look like a total nincompoop. Yet she's been friends with the Pastors forever so they side with her. Even with evidence. How aggravating!

And with the lack of a Sr. High Youth director, a lot of A's kids from last year {and their families} are church shopping. They're stalemating the congregation to move away while asking for money to "balance the budget" {did I mention that their finance guy is a volunteer and still has no idea what 2007's budget was?} when they initially said they were $60K behind...and in the next 2 weeks they announced they'd received anonymous donations in the amounts of $20K and $40K...sounds like they got what they asked for...

Not quite.

In a meeting yesterday, the lead pastor again stated they are $60K behind for this year. WTF? Really? Did I also mention that they think it is "wrong" for their money in the bank to earn any interest so it's in a PERSONAL checking account. Really? I thought you were supposed to invest your "time, talent, & treasure so they may grow and be fruitful". Apparently not.

So here we are, stuck in limbo again. A's hand has been forced to start applying at other churches up to 1.5 hours away. Not fun. Scary. And for a church who claims that young families and youth are the center of their ministry to be driving those exact demographics away.

Sorry. I had to get it off my chest. Since I'm young and new to the community, all of my concerns have been waved off as valid as they are. With parents of 9th graders or soon-to-be-9th-graders asking me weekly why there isn't a Sr. High Youth Director, I've been nice and played the middle. I don't think I can play the middle anymore. It's time to start scoring goals. Especially for the youth. It's sad that my 9th grade mentee complains about the same things and how there's "Nothing for me". Heartbreaking. Time to be the shield for these kids.


Call me Gallahad.

~e