I had a member show up in my office yesterday, as I was hiding out momentarily during the BIG FUNDRAISER EVENT OF THE SUMMER. (More about that later)

She handed me two sheets of paper single-spaced, typed up and said, "This is for the newsletter. I have some very exciting ideas to get young families in this church, so that it doesn't die out in the next five years." Then she left.

I wasn't able to read it closely, but I did see the sentences "Let's not expand the parking lot!" and "Who wants to come to a congregational meeting to discusss my ideas?"

This morning I got to church early and read it closely. Essentially she is asking the congregation to reverse a decision of session, the congregation, and the Presbytery, just based on an epiphany she recently had that we should build a community garden instead of our expanded parking lot.

Where to begin? I wrote her an e-mail, very carefully worded, in which I thanked for for her enthusiasm, and reminded her, a 35-year Presbyterian, and elder (currently not serving) that such matters should go before session. I invited her to the July meeting. She told me she didn't want to wait that long to start implementing her vision for the church.

I'm now almost afraid to go to GA--afraid of what shit-storm is going to go down while I'm gone. Her timing is suspect.

She is a very powerful, influential member. I'm probably the first pastor who has told her "Hold on--let's do this properly." She seemed genuinely surprised that I'm not going to just print her 1.5 page single-spaced diatribe.

Oy.