Today our paper announced that one of the bigger manufacturers in our area was leaving, probably to set up shop in Mexico. A spokesperson for the company said that although it was great to start up a business in Ohio because of all the incentives, once that business is established, the state doesn’t do much to help sustain that business and in many ways encourages older business to stop doing business or move. Consequently Ohio always seems to have new business coming to the state, which is good, but older establishments close or leave making the overall gains next to nil.
I think the same happens with volunteers on the parish level. I wrote some of my misgivings about volunteerism here last fall. It seems to me that there is always such a drive to get people involved (time, talent and treasure) that the old guard is sometimes trampled underfoot, shoved to the side, or in danger of becoming just another taken- for- granted fixture.
Don’t get me wrong. I think new blood and new ideas can be invigorating and keep parish life from stagnating. I just also think that there is something to be said for seasoned people in church “ministries” who add perspective, talent, history and a sense of the parish identity. I’m not saying either/or – I’m saying both/and!
For me, this is probably the most true in the area of church music. The parish needs to recruit new singers and musicians and encourage young singers and musicians to participate in parish music ministries so that they can gain confidence and experience. I have been very grateful that soon-to-be 15-year-old Sam has been allowed to sing with the parish choir. He is learning do develop his ear and his voice by sitting in the midst of choir members who have been singing for longer than Sam has been alive! It has been a great opportunity for him.
We also have instrumentals and guitarists with our contemporary group from the beginner to intermediate range who have a chance to play with that group every Sunday. This is a good experience for them too.
As wonderful as that is for newbies, however, a group is only as strong as it’s weakest player. There is no opportunity for the group to move on to more challenging repertoire or for the parish to hear music played by more musically mature, experienced, and proficient musicians. The needs of the newbies supersedes the importance of the other musicians which results in the parishioners hearing the same repertoire. Everything stagnates and bored proficient musicians quit or move on.
Another group where I have experienced this is Pre-Cana, where it has recently been determined by newer members of our team that a talk on finance should take such precedence, it is going to open the Pre-Cana day presentations! Money in marriage is important. I’m just not sure that it should be THE primary focus of what engaged couples should focus on. My talk on the Sacrament of Marriage is scheduled for just before lunchtime. Hard to talk to hungry young people when delicious odors come wafting over from the kitchen!
I guess in a way I’m a little old school about this. I think folks new to certain ministries and church groups could use a little time to absorb the culture of the group and sort of work their way up through the ranks as it were. I believe that skilled parish leaders can keep a balance between the new volunteers and the bread- and-butter folks that have been providing their time and talents for years. A healthy balance would go a long way in my opinion of encouraging new members, while retaining the experienced volunteers which in turn keeps parish ministries fresh while retaining the best from the established members.
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