|
|
G R A C E E P I S C O P A L C H U R C H — 76 Eldredge Street, Newton Corner, Massachusetts 02458 (617) 244-3221 |
|
©2008 Grace Church Newton |
(#22 in a series)
In November, 1959 two quite different events occurred: Tom Lehman began his 22 years as Rector #11; and the long-awaited results of the Diocesan Survey arrived, complete with the Bishop's suggestions for the future of Grace Church. Forty-one year old Rev. Thomas Henry Lehman had grown up in Winthrop, graduating from Boston University with a major in Business Administration. During four years in the Army Air Corps, Captain Lehman served as an Instrument Flight instructor. In 1953, Rev. Lehman graduated from ETS (now EDS), then served as rector on Martha's Vineyard (9 AM every Sunday at Grace Church, Vineyard Haven where he lived with his family in the rectory, and St. Andrew's, Edgartown at 10:30!) until coming to Newton. "My new work [at Grace Church, Newton] will be predicated on the findings of the Diocesan Survey. I can't imagine any one tool that could be of greater use to a brand new parson...since these ideas are the compilation of the thoughtful consideration and experience of a great many people who know, love and appreciate this parish in all its rich history and increasing diversity" wrote the new rector. The Diocesan Survey noted that "Grace Church is one of the strong, established parishes of the Diocese. It has problems and weaknesses, resources and strengths which are not evident on the surface. Among its problems and weaknesses are the following: The decreasing numbers of Episcopalians in its neighborhood; The slow but steady decrease in its membership as shown in the Survey; The rising age level of the community...a decrease in families, and an increase in single, elderly people; The growing transiency of the population of Newton; The steadily increasing cost of upkeep of an expensive plant; The somewhat low percentage of the adult congregation, both men and women, active in the societies; [While church space is utilized by many community groups meeting at the church] and while this represents a generous offer of hospitality...it represents community-mindedness on the part of Grace Church parishioners only in so far as they are active in these groups.... There is real evidence of the parish's strength and resources: The plant, while not new and expensive in upkeep, is an extremely fine plant, one which in beauty, permanence, space and solidity would be almost irreplacable today; Financial resources have made it possible to have a top-level staff...Lay leadership is strong, dedicated and thinks beyond the parish; The educational level is very high (52% college)...Initiative and administrative ability are far greater than in most parishes; There is a good core of family life, and children enough to make a splendid Church School; The past history of the parish which has had rectors of stature, who were outward looking, community minded and also held responsibilities in the Diocese, has given Grace Church a fine tradition of service; Although the parish's endowment income is large there has always been a fine response from its present members as well as the generous repeated overpayments on its missionary quota [of the Diocese] and its assistance to St. Margaret's, Brighton. "Taking these factors all together, it would seem that attention should be given...to discovering names of new families or individuals moving to Newton and working them as quickly as possible into the life of the parish...this will be increasingly important as the transient nature of the community grows. The participation of members of Grace Church in community affairs is the best way of making friends, among whom are sure to be members of other churches who have lapsed and are looking for a new church home....The real growth of this parish will be in proportion to its continued growth in depth and its service to the community, and the Church beyond its own walls. Grace Church has the resource to produce a distinctive ministry, a distinctive program...it can experiment, conduct pilot projects and set standards and objectives for the Diocese....To accomplish these purposes it might be valuable to consider the "Commission System" used at Trinity Church, Concord....Parish Commissions on Christian Education, Missions, Evangelism, Finance and Worship, might do much to develop and use the splendid resources which [Grace Church] has....Grace Church has meant much in the life of this Diocese, and much in the city of Newton....May its strong leadership, both clerical and lay, use the same energy, resources, and wisdom in meeting new conditions which it has shown in the past. May its fine tradition continue." How did Grace Church and Rev. Tom Lehman meet the societal changes of the 1960's and '70's? We will learn more in the next "History Minute". Don Kennedy, Parish Historian History Minute Doc Download: #2 of a Series #3 of a Series #4 of a Series #5 of a Series #6 of a Series #7 of a Series #8 of a Series #9 of a Series #10 of a Series #11 of a Series #12 of a Series #13 of a Series #14 of a Series #15 of a Series #16 of a Series #17 of a Series #18 of a Series #19 of a Series #20 of a Series #21 of a Series |