After Hurricane Ian destroyed Chapel by the Sea’s building in Fort Myers Beach, Florida, the session and Peace River Presbytery made the difficult decision to dissolve the congregation.
But Chapel’s work, in a community where “the least of these” often go unseen, isn’t done.
In the 1930s, before Fort Myers Beach became a destination for snowbirds or spring break revelers, Chapel by the Sea was established. It was the first church on Estero Island, noted Dr. W. Maynard Pittendreigh in his 2011 history of the church, where he served as senior pastor from 2008 to 2013. Attendance ranged from 70 during Florida’s steamy summers to 1,000 in the winter season.
Photos tell a story of staff meetings in beach chairs, the blessing of the shrimp fleet, costumed celebrations of Talk like a Pirate Day and Communion served on the beach.
Then there was the work behind the scenes, such as God’s Table.
“Chapel by the Sea served homeless men and women on Fort Myers Beach 52 weeks out of the year,” said former member and clerk of session Diane Means. “We made them breakfast; we packed them lunch. We did their laundry. We partnered with a coordinating agency to refer them for mental health and health services.”
Chapel also worked with Misión Peniel, a ministry with the farmworker community in neighboring Immokalee, since the organization’s founding 18 years ago.
“(Chapel members) always took time to stop by our place to drop donations and express their regrets for not being able to support us in a more ‘valuable’ way,” said the Rev. Miguel Estrada, executive director. “‘Valuable’ was the specific word used by Bill Turner, who led their volunteers. Time after time I answered him, ‘Do not underestimate the value of every single small action you do in favor of this community. Those are like small mustard seeds that sooner or later will be fruitful, blessing many.’”
Chapel’s building itself, constructed in the 1980s, included touches such as the clamshell, a ship’s bell and a stained-glass window with three dolphins representing the Holy Trinity.
In September 2022, Hurricane Ian, a Category 4 storm, brought winds up to 150 mph and an 11-foot storm surge that went right through Chapel’s sanctuary and fellowship hall. Most of the building’s contents were lost.
Though none of Chapel by the Sea’s members lost their lives in the storm, as did 149 in Florida alone, many lost their homes.
“A lot of people went back north,” said the Rev. Melana Scruggs, general presbyter of Peace River Presbytery.
Cypress Lake Presbyterian Church, a few miles away in the city of Fort Myers, opened its doors to the Chapel congregants. Other members worshiped with an Evangelical Lutheran Church in America congregation, which had set up a tent on the island.
Scruggs said Means and husband Tom, who chaired the building and grounds committee, carried the load in Ian’s exhausting aftermath. When Diane Means needed to step down as session clerk, no one stepped up.
“Decision fatigue is a real thing when you’re making it for yourself and for the church. You know too much,” Scruggs said.
The presbytery appointed an Administrative Commission to assist and support Chapel’s session in evaluating a swirl of options. An interim pastor had just concluded his ministry with Chapel; would they call a full-time pastor? Join with the Lutherans? Rebuild?
The congregation’s mean age by then was 81, said Jay Mumper, who chaired the Administrative Commission. Though many were healthy and active, they weren’t interested in leadership roles.
The Administrative Commission assumed original jurisdiction, essentially taking over for Chapel’s struggling session. What was left of the building was demolished; decisions are pending on the property.
A few months later, the AC moved that the presbytery dissolve the congregation of Chapel by the Sea as of Sept. 30, 2024. The motion was approved.
Mumper advised church leaders in similar discernment to recognize the buildings are there to serve them — not the other way around — and moreover, to seek God’s guidance.
“I think seeking God’s will is huge. Huge. Pray about it and let it go. Let those buildings go,” he said.
Nancy Crowe for the Presbyterian Foundation (Click here to read original PNS Story)
Let us join in prayer for:
Bryan Taylor, Administrative II, Operations, Presbyterian Foundation
Nancy Taylor, Executive Director, Presbyterian Historical Society
Let us pray:
God of the old and the new, the great and the small, thank you for the warmth of your love and the inspiration of your Spirit. May you continue to bring new life into your churches, that we might proclaim in a myriad of ways the wonders of your love. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment