Ridgell's Originals

And still the rumors circulate.

Here are my four favorites I heard this week (but not from anybody directly).

We are following the (insert name of congregation here) model.

While I overwhelmed that someone would think we have some kind of long range, thought out plan...no such luck. We really don't pay much attention to anyone else. And, seriously, we have no plans to change our current worship policy.

We want to keep people from leaving to go to (insert name of congregation here).

I do appreciate the fact that we have members other churches would want. However, if we planned services around a defensive strategy to try to keep everyone happy enough not to leave we would go absolutely nuts. Our plans are about growth, not retention.

We want to be just like (insert name of congregation here).

While there are any number of wonderful congregations all over this world, we just don't have time to be like anyone else. We have enough to worry about being Southern Hills.

We want to influence the brotherhood in a different direction than (insert name of congregation here).

Again, I am thrilled that anyone actually thinks we can influence the brotherhood. We are concerned with what happens at Southern Hills. And we believe in church autonomy. So we trust other elderships to do what is best for them. Just as we are trying to do what is best for Southern Hills.

So... feel free to weigh in.