While we are just getting into the “heart and soul” of our long-range planning process, and certainly no consensus has been reached on growth or no-growth for our parish, we must acknowledge that the diocesan missionary strategy and the gospel imperatives are calling us to grow. Many people at the Chapel of the Cross, when they hear of planning that is open to discernment regarding growth, make one of three typical comments. Each one is listed below and followed by a response:

Bigger is not always better. Aren't we already big enough and is getting larger really a good thing?

While bigger is not always better, growth is not necessarily a bad thing. Perhaps it is better to think of having all of the key aspects of a parish in good balance. The Chapel of the Cross has been a large-sized parish for some 20 or 25 years with membership ranging from 1100 to 1600 baptized members. In addition, our church maintains names and addresses of another 500 or so people who are not members but who participate to some degree. However, many of the parish's management and social structures date from a time when we were less than one half the present size. Years ago people felt like they knew or could know everyone; we are long past the size where one can take for granted knowing everyone—a notion that is feasible only for parishes up to 400 or 500 members. Improving knowing one another and incorporating newcomers is a parish task currently under way and is needed whether we grow or not.

Over the years we have added staff in moving to a more professional approach to facilitating our programs, yet our membership asks about other staff positions that could be added: elder care minister, youth minister, volunteer coordinator, hospitality coordinator, assistant musician, director of stewardship, outreach minister. Some of these programs/staff positions could be highly effective, yet these possibilities need to be put into balance with our parish's resources and our buildings' capabilities. That is really what long-range planning is all about.

In that we are starting a new mission parish, isn't it more likely that we will shrink?

While it is true that some of our members may leave to join the new parish, it is likely that the majority of the members of the new mission will not come from the existing parishes. Presently, about 50 persons have indicated an interest in being a part of the new parish, and only a very few are from our parish. Persons at the Chapel of the Cross who are here with strong ties are likely to remain. Those already here or attracted in the future because they like our style of worship and music, or our large number of programs, or the richness of a large parish will also prefer to stay. Furthermore, the western Triangle has had and is still having tremendous growth. The new parish is really playing ‘catch-up' to the reality that much area growth has already occurred.

The Chapel of the Cross has been about the same size for many years now. With the church often full at 9:00 Sundays and such limited parking, I don't think we can accommodate any growth.