Churches and wintry weather
The church cancellation notices began streaming across TV screens by late Saturday afternoon as wet snow began sticking on the ground, although not paved surfaces.
The senior minister of my church was on a mission trip to Mississippi, leaving the associate in charge. She's from Michigan and was skeptical, to say the least, about calling off services on account of a low-powered winter storm.
Good thing. It was cold and clear Sunday morning but perfectly safe for getting around. Yet many churches were closed, missing opportunities for ministry, worship and fellowship. And you generally don't have make-up church on Monday.
A former minister at my church followed the rule that, if he could walk there -- less than a mile -- he'd hold services.
The problem there is that the faithful, those who show up whenever the church doors open, might endanger themselves. And not just on the streets. Sometimes the greatest hazard is trying to walk from parking lot to church door. If a church is open on a snowy or icy Sunday morning, someone has to clear the sidewalks.
This time, some churches were overly cautious. If this winter brings a few more brushes with frozen precipitation, I expect they'll become more reluctant to cancel activities.
Comments (8)
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You know Doug, the decision makers can't win in these types of situations. Someone is always inconvenienced or dissapointed.
Posted on January 21, 2008 10:17 AM
News hype, grocery store mayhem, and ridiculous closings are an integral part of our culture. The entertainment value of watching other southerners panic over 1/4 inch of snow is priceless.
Posted on January 21, 2008 10:59 AM
Services should never be cancelled unless their is a loss of electricity or heat. Whether there is 5 people or a 100 people, they should be allowed to worship. If the Pastor can not get to the church, lay people should lead the service. We don't want people to come if they fear falling or think it will be a danger to them. They should stay home. However, those people should not interfere with others going to church. It's ok if the choir stays home. It's ok if the organist can't come. Each church should have a policy. No pastor should be able to call off church unless it is in accordance with an adopted policy.
Posted on January 21, 2008 12:17 PM
Doesn't matter one way or the other to me - I haven't been to a regularly scheduled service . . . in so long a time I cannot remember but it seems somehow ironic that god (or Allah or whatever his/her name is) would allow the weather to be bad enuf to cancel a church, mosque or whatever service -
Posted on January 21, 2008 2:17 PM
Yes, there is a comic element to it all. But closing schools, businesses, churches and driving on icy roads without a clue how to proceed safely are serious issues. Gabe's right: You just can't always make the right call.
Posted on January 21, 2008 5:24 PM
Doug,
In today's editorial, you state that Grier's salary is $202,903. That is a complete contradiction to Amanda's reporting that his base salary is $226,933 and added perks to a total package salary of $372,193. Following is what Amanda has reported.
I realize that Grier does no wrong in your eyes, but really, do you need to under exaggerate his salary that much?
2007-2008
base salary -- $226,933
local differential (formally travel) - $9,000
longevity -- $11,980
local annual leave -- $17,722
local insurance/benefit conversion -- $18,777
local retirement reimbursement -- $14,303
local service purchase -- $73,479
Grand total (with retirement, benefits, etc) -- $372,193
Posted on January 22, 2008 9:03 AM
The number used in today's editorial came from the GCS chief financial officer, but it doesn't square with other information the N&R has been given. We're trying to look into it.
Posted on January 22, 2008 12:19 PM
I wrote the Grier editorial and got the numbers from figures the school administration (Sharon Ozment) supplied after Grier's last raise.
Here is a breakdown of Grier's salary over the years, as provided by Ozment.
1999-00 $164,000.04
2000-01 164,000.04
2001-02 179,000.04
2002-03 179,000.04
2003-04 182,329.44
2004-05 182,329.44
2005-06 182,329.44
2006-07 187,873.20
2007-08 202,903.08
These numbers don't match any of the numbers we got most recently.
For instance, the latest numbers list Grier's salary
in 2006-07 as $202,860.52 versus $187,873.20 in the numbers provided in October.
I have a call out to Ozment's office seeking clarification.
I also left a message with Grier.
I will keep you posted.
Posted on January 22, 2008 1:56 PM