SECURITY SYSTEM

For about the past year, the Session has been discussing
the pros and cons of installing a security system on our
campus, which would cover the Mission Center, the Fellowship
Hall, and the Sanctuary. C.V. Conner has devoted
an enormous amount of time and research into this
project, consulting with First Presbyterian downtown,
nearby universities, relating to both the Ways and Means
Committee, the Session, as well as the staff. He has obtained
bids from a variety of companies, presented them
to Ways and Means and the Session, during the ongoing
discussion.

The Session has voted to go ahead with the Security System,
which is now in the process of being installed. As
I’m sure you know, many churches in populous areas have
felt the need to have this protection. In some ways this is
sad, priding ourselves as we do here of being an open
church. But there are also the realities of living in contemporary
society.

I have one word of advice for us all when this project is
completed. And the word is, PATIENCE! In the last two
churches I served, a security system was installed while I
was there, and in both instances, it took about six months
before all the bugs were worked out and everyone was
happy with the system. At the church in Dallas, where
there were 3,400 members, 3000 of them were unhappy
with the installation the day after it was completed. People
who wanted to get in could not. Some who thought they
needed an entry card did not get them immediately. Groups
using the facilities in the evenings had to have a monitor
at the door to identify participants. In some cases, groups
simply propped the doors open with a brick, thus defeating
the whole system.

I am confident that leaders will receive the necessary “keys.”
But it will take time for all those desiring entrance to one of
our facilities to figure out the system or obtain the needed
“fobs.” You will certainly hear more about the system as it
reaches completion. But just remember Paul’s observation
in I Cor. 13: LOVE IS PATIENT AND KIND!

Shalom, Jack