The Treasurer who Roared
Scott Cormode

Rev. Clare Morgan was at the February board meeting. In her third year as the pastor of Grace Church, she was increasingly optimistic about the direction of the congregation. Although the first year had been difficult, she saw real signs of growth in the past year. Joining with other congregations in founding an ecumenical soup kitchen had re-kindled interest in mission. The new worship format had begun to draw a cadre of young families to the graying parish. Even the church board was feeling the effects of new life, with two recent additions who (like Clare) were not quite old enough to remember the 1950s, when everyone went to church on Sunday mornings. Clare had even recruited a new Sunday School Superintendent, Angela Michaels. Angela had been a branch-manager for a bank in Atlanta until her family re-located two years ago. She did not expect to return to banking, however, until her infant daughter went off to kindergarten.

As Angela made her first report to the Church Board, she positively beamed, especially as she rattled off the names of newly-recruited teachers and recently-located musicians. The board-members were obviously pleased, although few of them recognized the names she read. Angela was especially enthusiastic about the new curriculum that the teachers would be introducing during Lent. "It's so much more Christ-centered than the material we used to get from the denominational publisher," she concluded. Basking in the approval of the board, she waited for someone to make the perfunctory motion to receive her report. That's when it happened.

"You did what?" roared Gilbert Gaddis, the church treasurer. "Exactly which 'new curriculum' did you purchase? We never approved such a change. And I know I never would have authorized the purchase. We buy denominational material for a reason. Its theology and priorities represent who we are and what is important to us. It speaks our language."

"Oh, stop that Gil," interrupted Hattie Berger, "You're going to frighten the girl." Hattie had been teaching Sunday School at Grace Church for so long that she could scold anyone like she was their mother. "Don't worry Angela," Hattie said soothingly. "Gil goes off like that about every other meeting." The nervous laughter around the table suggested that folks had come to expect Gil's little tirades. "Now tell us about this new curriculum."

"Well, as you know Hattie," Angela began tentatively, "a lot of the Sunday School teachers have been complaining that we aren't teaching our children about the Bible, especially the newer members. We spent so much time during Advent reading about Christmas around the world that we did not have much time for the Baby Jesus. I bet we talked more about hunger than angels and shepherds." Angela gained confidence as she spoke. "So we decided at the Teachers' Meeting - you were there Hattie - to look for something else for Lent, something that would talk about salvation. So I took Carol Jones - the loudest complainer - and we went to the Christian bookstore and found something more appropriate. I couldn't find any kind of reimbursement forms, Gil, so I put the receipts in your box this morning."

"It's worse than I thought," Gil said slowly shaking his head. "We have an account with the denominational publishing house," he explained with a pained patience, "so this kind of thing won't happen. You see we don't like to issue reimbursement checks, and especially not for Fundamentalist propaganda." He shifted in his chair and his face softened. "But don't worry," he said comfortingly, "I think we can fix the problem. I'll give you back the receipts and you can return the materials to your bookstore - I assume you haven't opened them - and we'll place a rush order with the denomination. I'll pull a few strings and we'll have your curriculum by this time next week." He was suddenly in a good mood. "No real harm done," he concluded.

As Rev. Morgan looked around the room, she saw the tension ease. Everyone but Angela nodded in agreement. Even Hattie seemed to like the idea. Angela's face was hard to read. She was either shocked, hurt or angry. Clare was not sure what to do next.

Clare Morgan did not do much to prevent the crisis from erupting. But how would the story have been different if she had been looking ahead? Click here to find out.