In this Issue:

Can you Catch the Spirit off the Beaten Path?

Bridge-Building, in the spirit of John Paul II

People, Parishes, and Pictures across the Diocese

From the Bishop: Breaking Barriers

St. Stephen's Covington: Faithful ot the Kingdom

For Kentucky's Junior Miss, Allison Asay, faith matters every day

A tainted Easter message

Questionable decision

Peace for Teri Schiavo

Navajoland Bishop Stephen Plummer dies at 60

Reflection: Time-out

X-ercizing: Burgers, forgiveness, and alleluia

Pope John Paull II dies at 84: A message form the Presiding Bishop

Archbishop - Pope's last days a 'lived sermon'

Resources

Diocesan Calendar

Advocate Information

Past Issues

St. Stephen’s, Covington: Faithful to the Kingdom

By Kay Collier McLaughlin

Robert Horine came to St. Stephen’s Church at age 15. The neighborhoods of the northern Kentucky area known as Latonia were a mix of mom and pop businesses, single and multiple family dwellings and churches of many denominations. On Sunday, folks walked to St. Stephen’s and worshipped in a close-knit community. Robert Horine and his wife Donna headed what would be the last stewardship campaign for the parish. As Senior Warden of the vestry, he has presided over a Lenten season of discernment about the options open to a land-locked, dwindling congregation in a suburban, mega-church world.

Horine, a local government professional, says that he felt he was “called” to this position — one to which he brought the perspective of economic development, as well as his personal history, and the most recent experience of hoping to raise a budget which would sustain the parish from a possible 36 pledging units. Both current and past senior wardens agree that there are no big donors in this part of the Covington area, but many faithful, committed members already giving as much as they are able. The pledge drive fell $23,000 short of what was needed simply to keep the doors open in 2005. Much-needed upkeep and repair to the facilities would be out of the question. Handicap access, a first-floor restroom and programs which would invite consumer-minded young families and other newcomers to consider St. Stephen’s as a worship home as they drove by to the many-menued mega-church, were simply an impossibility.

“Statistics tell us that it takes 135 members to keep a parish open,” says David Kochara, whose third term as senior warden was completed in 2004, and includes service with three rectors and three bishops over a 23-year period. A businessman with an eye on “desperate” world economics as well as changing circumstances in both church and culture, he had written a “very honest and forthright letter” to Bishop Sauls in early December, offering observations from a retiring senior warden, including the options he saw available to the parish.

The Rev. Cynthia Webstock, a native of South Africa, came to St. Stephen’s in September of 2003. During the fi rst year of a three-year contract, she found that her sermons were all about “taking risks for God.” About the importance of relationships as opposed to buildings. Those were the messages God had put on her heart. If she wondered why these particular messages, she is now clear that they were words of preparation.

Horine and Kochera had independently arrived at similar options open to the parish, given their landlocked location, which allowed for no expansion and no parking, a negative growth situation in an aging, dwindling population, and the financial bind.

1. Merge with one or more northern Kentucky parishes.
2. Find assistance from larger parishes.
3. Continue “as is” and try to implement more programs.
4. Take an affirmative action to use their resources of people and treasure in a different way.

“Most all small, under-funded churches are suffering from zero growth, and emotional burn-out,” says Kochera. He knows whereof he speaks. Kochera and his daughter leave their homes at 6:30 on the Sunday mornings of Cincinnati Bengal home games, reaching the football stadium by 7:30 to prepare concessions before the volunteers arrive to sell to the 56,000 hungry fans. They are home by 8 p.m., exhausted, without benefit of worship, but with the knowledge that their hours on the job have contributed to the small treasury of their church.

At the annual parish meeting, the congregation decided that the Lenten season would be a time of discernment, with weekly opportunities for conversation around the options, and people’s feelings regarding the question of how to be most faithful to the Kingdom. At the invitation of the vestry, Bishop Sauls and Canon Johnnie Ross joined two of the conversations.

“It is truly amazing to me that we did not lose one person from January through today,” says Horine. “Not one person bailed. People came each week and talked, and began to face the reality that our circumstances have drastically changed in the immediate Latonia neighborhood. People now have high levels of mobility. We are in a competitive marketplace, whether we like it or not. There is a wider range of options out there, offering opportunities for outreach, spiritual growth and Christian formation. People today go where their needs are met — and we are simply not able to meet them.”

Kochera, who has buried his wife and two children from this parish, recalls that neither the financial or facility’s situation is new. The annual budget has never exceeded $60,000 – even in the best of times. There has been normal attrition. And, he adds, “I do not think that we as Episcopalians are evangelical enough. When people come into a community with no set religion, we seem to have a harder time drawing them in. Once they come in, they certainly stay. But we have to do more to invite them.”
Horine, Kochera and Webstock are clear that they and others in their small congregation are grieving — and since grief is a process, are in various stages of grief over their loss, from some denial and desperate hope that St. Stephen’s will continue, to acceptance that May 15th will be the final worship service, and the beginning of transition and excitement over the future. It is a tough time. Longevity marks the majority of memberships, including one man who has worshipped at St. Stephen’s for 70 years. The 95-year-old parish has seen more baptisms, confirmations, weddings, funerals and informal gatherings than even their collective memories can recall.

The service on Pentecost Sunday will be a family affair, for those who have called this place home. After that service, the vestry will work with the Diocese on the business of closing the entity that has been known as St. Stephen’s. Webstock is spending time with parishioners, supporting them in prayer, encouraging them to visit other parishes in their area. Several groups’ visits helped make the decision that merger or moving the entire community was not the answer. Some members have already decided on a new home, while others remain undecided. The vestry has asked Webstock to remain in the area until August to help be sure that people are settled.

“St. Stephen’s will not be repeated,” she tells them, “but there are good and positive things in every congregation — and we are all part of the Body of Christ.”

“We have already whittled down to a hard core,” says Kochera. “Being a member of St. Stephen’s has not been for the faint of heart. It is hard work to be a member here. Those who were not inclined to hard work have already gone. These people are extremely hardworking and extremely creative. They will make wonderful members of other parishes as they settle in.” He chuckles. “Of course, they might need a little break before they get back to work.” As it appears the community seems destined to disperse, Donna Horine sees that they have the potential to become a web linking the four northern Kentucky churches where they will find new homes. Reaching out to old friends with news of events in their new parishes could well open up opportunities for building relationships across congregational boundaries.

“Sometimes people try to the bitter end to keep things as they were,” muses Webstock. The end of the sentence is being lived out. The time, energy and resources of a valiant group of Episcopalian Christians have been totally absorbed in keeping the doors of this one small parish open. The brave decision to let go is a decision to offer their time, talent and treasure to the Kingdom in new ways.
“I have rarely been as proud of anyone as I am of this congregation,” says Bishop Sauls. “Their faithfulness in working to fi nd the questions that needed to be asked, in addressing the questions, in their relationships with each other and with the church have much to teach us all.”

“It is painful to face reality,” says Webstock. “But the Lord has been incredibly good to us, incredibly close to us. He has guided us. There has been absolutely no bitterness or blaming — not one iota of nastiness. God has enabled us to do this in such a way that people have grown closer to Him, and to each other.”

“God didn’t put us here just to keep doors open,” says Horine. “It is frustrating to committed, creative folk not to be able to share their beliefs — their desire to help others. So even as there is sadness, there is truly the beginning of excitement about being able to re-direct our efforts for God’s Kingdom.”
“I think I speak for our congregation…” are words that both Horine and Kochera use frequently. Both are adamant that the people of St. Stephen’s did not want to find themselves facing bankruptcy a few years down the road. They feel fortunate to be a part of a church where the voices of the laity can be heard and respected.

“We have made a plan; we have chosen to go out proud of where we have been and what we are doing,” says Kochera.

“We have done our best.
“We have served our Lord well.
“We have served our Diocese as best we could.
“We are proud of St. Stephen’s, and we will be proud to attend other Episcopal Churches in Northern Kentucky.”

For St. Stephen’s, Latonia, this final chapter of their story is about the lived truth that out of death comes resurrection and hope. “I hope we can be a beacon to the rest of the church of God’s working,” says Webstock.

Advocate Online Staff:

© 2005 The Episcopal Diocese of Lexington

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