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From the Director's Chair
By Tom Welch
Does It Really Matter?
Did you ever wonder if what we do in the Brotherhood really makes a difference? This past Saturday while I was talking before a men's group at a church in Jackson, Mississippi (home base for much of the summer) my cell phone sounded off. When I checked messages later in the morning this is what was there:
“Tom, this is Marty Desmond down at Christ Church, Covington, Louisiana. I was thinking about you this week and the time you spent with our men’s group (now a chapter) retreat at Solomon Center just before COVID hit. You said some things that really stuck with us. I’ve used that stainless Brotherhood tumbler you gave me that day you came to our men’s retreat. It was with me that last day I took my dad home from the hospital a couple of years later just before he died. I’ve been thinking about what you shared with us that weekend. While COVID locked things down, we didn’t give up. We now have two dozen active brothers in our parish, and we are going to outgrow the space we now use. I’ve even been trying to start a chapter at my old parish not far from here. You spoke to us, then several months later Br. Tom Martin (Board member from Marietta, GA) came down and it really made a difference with our chapter. I’m really on fire with this ministry to men. I just wanted to leave a message with you to say “thanks” for what you do. Don’t give up and God bless you.”
There are indeed times in our lives when we all wonder if we make a difference in what we are about. Our brother Marty thinks we do. I imagine you do as well. Sometimes a "return on investment" is rather quick. Its full impact can't be measured simply on a balance sheet software system. Sometimes it takes years for the mustard seed to flourish ... all in God's time and not our own. In the end, it is not about a return on investment. It's about faithfulness to our mission that really matters, isn't it? We are a MINISTRY first and foremost. The ORGINAZATION can't work in absence of ministry.
As we look over new members this summer, I see some of them are a result of field visits for workshops, diocesan conventions and most recently General Convention for the Episcopal Church held last month in Louisville, just blocks from your National Office.
This year we have 200 new members. Below in parenthesis you will see a number. That's the chapter ID# assigned in chronological order starting with Chapter #0001/St. James Cathedral, Chicago way back in 1883.
A special welcome to these new members welcomed just since June 20th:
Jr. Members: (members under age 21)
Christopher Burt, St. James the Apostle (#3407), Conroe, Texas
Senior Members:
Arthur Dery, Member at Large, Deming, NM*
Colin Duncombe, St. Joseph Church (#5173) Port St. Lucie, FL
Compton Grose, St. George's Church (#2575) Brooklyn, NY
Dave Luera, Member at Large, Deming, NM*
Deric Tupton, Member at Large, St. Simons Island, GA
Donald Hanciles, St. Peter's (#5426), Beaumont, CA
Gary Burmeister, Member at Large, Deming, NM*
Jeff Moon, Church of the Good Shepherd (#5259) Friendswood, TX
Peter Eakland, St. Augustines Canterbury (#5302), Rialto, CA
Robert Clark, Member at Large, Deming, NM*
Robert Godfrey, St. Paul's by the Sea (#1770), Jacksonville Beach, FL
These 200 new members YTD place us far ahead of this time last year. Take a brother with you to have a cup of coffee with a prospect and see what happens.
*These "Members-at-Large" (MAL) brothers are soon to have a chapter chartered. Join us in prayer for that and that these other MAL's are able to form a chapter at their churches. Prayer changes things!
Speaking of New Chapters ...
Below is a picture of Rt. Rev. John Harmon installing a new chapter, Trinity Church in Hot Springs Village, Arkansas, earlier this year.
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