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Guys, I'm a freeper and I'm not derelict.

When I first got to GS I made calls to everyone on the rolls for whom I could find contact info in order to greet them. I’m not sure exactly, but I would say about 90% of those were unreachable (their info had changed etc. Those I could reach I left contact info and never heard back.

Should I then have swept them off the rolls? Undoubtedly. But in my first months I was not about to do that nor did I know why I should. They had been there long before me.

Should I sweep the rolls tomorrow? Perhaps. But I teach 5 bible studies one Christian Ed class a week aside from leading services etc. So, I do indeed have more important things to do.

Moreover, and I’ll be frank here, the last thing you want to do (and this is not something I’m making up) is spend time and energy getting old long departed members back. They left and stayed away for a reason. If they know leadership has changed and they still do not come, then spending energy trying to change there mind is more effort than it’s worth.

My responsibility is NOT primarily to reach out to those who have heard the gospel and for one reason or another decided to leave the parish long ago. My primary responsibility is to carry out the great commission. That is done by seeking those who have yet to hear the message and proclaim it.