When institutions fade.

My wife and I went to the annual meeting at the church today. As I am not a member of the church (being nominally a Catholic and the church being Lutheran) I could not really participate. The biggest issue was that of the diminishing congregation. On any given Sunday, there are only 15 to 20 members in the congregation. This has resulted in the parish not being able to sustain the church, either physically or financially.

A motion was put forward to consider discussions about merging with the other church in the parish, with the possibility of closing the smaller one.

This issue has been coming up for years now, and many in the congregation have felt that a merger and closing were all but inevitable. Emotions have been running very high over the issue, with many desiring to keep their church at all cost, letting it go eventually when the Synod says that it has to close. Meanwhile, the council has been dealing with the issue for quite some time. Many have been sitting for much longer than they are constitutionally mandated to. There just hasn't been anyone to replace them.

It is sad to see a beloved local institution fade away. Memories are tied to them. Weather it be baptisms or weddings at a church, or family meals at a favorite restaurant, these things are deep at our cores. When we see them start to vanish, is it any wonder that we react strongly? Many a voice was cracking with tears during this meeting. As well, tempers were flaring, and patience wearing thin on both sides.

It is going to be very difficult for the next couple of years as both sides of this problem come to grips with what is happening.