Residents! Do you attend services at a Sun City West church or house of worship? Would you like to see your church better connected within the community?
We need your help! Rec Centers’ officials are hosting a gathering for Sun City West spiritual leaders from 1 to 3 p.m. Tuesday, June 11, in the Rec Centers’ Governing Board Conference Room, 19803 R.H. Johnson Blvd. We are seeking parishioners’ assistance in reaching those leaders. Please share this article with those who you feel need to be part of this dialogue!
You’re probably wondering why the Rec Centers are getting involved with the churches. The answer is quite simple actually – Sun City West is aging and changing. Change on the part of residents requires change on the part of those organizations that serve them. The Rec Centers want to ensure that the most important element of this community – our people – remain connected and engaged. An involved citizenry benefits everyone and every organization, including the Rec Centers!
We constantly address the impact of changing demographics, in the music and entertainment tastes of our residents, the clubs they enjoy, and the working status of many newcomers. We have adjusted to continue meeting the needs of our residents – the current Space Utilization project is a prime example. Golf trends and volunteer opportunities are another. Younger generations participate in all these activities, but they participate differently, and we must change to accommodate them or risk losing relevance.
The churches are no different. Over the last several years, we have been approached by church leaders and parishioners worried about their numbers dropping. How do they connect and communicate with a new generation? We’ve also been involved with organizations struggling to reach out to our most elderly population, many of whom find that church is the last activity they enjoy before becoming disconnected completely from the community.
We don’t want any of our residents to become invisible. We want to assist them in being active and involved. We have an ever-expanding assortment of activities and clubs. Churches have a wide variety of available and programmable space. We both have connections with area non-profits that can assist.
Our June 11 meeting is an opportunity to start a dialogue with our churches and begin brainstorming ways to help each other, but more importantly, to help our residents.
So residents – let your religious leaders know about this partnership opportunity. Pastors, preachers and rabbis, mark the date on your calendars! To ensure we have space availability, please RSVP by Wednesday, June 5, by calling Dick at 623-544-6120. We will have a light agenda, but the Rec Centers hopes to primarily act as a facilitator and let our area religious leaders brainstorm and share ideas and concerns.
These connections and dialogue can only make us a stronger Sun City West! Please join us!
When did the Board approve this involvement with churches?
This is far from the mission of the Recreation Centers!
Hello Dudley. Thank you for your interest in the matter. This is simply a conversation with staff and church leaders to see if we have commonalities we can use to benefit the community. What involvement this would ultimately involve for the Rec Centers has yet to be determined. This kind of networking has been a common practice for the Rec Centers as we are a part of the larger community. We have worked with the Chamber, all of our local nonprofits and other organizations. If this evolves into something that requires Governing Board approval, that will certainly be done.
Mission Creep!
I am very much against getting ANY religion involved in the rec centers or any other part of sun city west ruling groups. Separation of church and state should apply. If the churches are concerned about losing parishioners they should look at themselves to learn why. I have yet to see any church help a member in need but they are good at asking for monetary support
Hi L. Martens. Thank you for airing your concerns about our upcoming discussion with the churches. There is no intent on our part to get involved in church business or have them get involved in ours. However, we serve many of the same members, and there are ways we might be able to help each other, without crossing religious/government lines. For example, we use all communication avenues available to us when we need to reach our membership – churches often have contact with some of our more isolated members when other communication methods aren’t working. Another example: we have cooperated in the past with some of the local churches to share parking areas for larger events that have spillover parking. These are the types of issues that will be discussed.
Shame on you, Dudley. Stick to golf….
Please be sure to involve the Jewish Community. There is only one synagogue ( Rabbi Tracee Rosen is the Rabbi and spiritual leader and a great resource). Unfortunately, that synagogue (Conservative affiliation) does not adequately meet the needs of a number of Jews in the community, and the community has not been able to organize or support a Reform or Reconstructionist house of worship.
I firmly object to any involvement with religious groups. This is not what my dues are for. How dare you?? please reconsider. Really doubt if it is legal..
Hi G hill. There is nothing illegal in what we are doing. We are simply having a conversation with the churches, just as we do with local chambers of commerce, the Foundation, the PRIDES, PORA, Posse, etc. We are not supporting one church over another, nor financially contributing anything to any church. Our Articles of Incorporation charge us with promoting “cooperation in all matters of interest and benefit to the members of the Association. To contract, coordinate or operate, with other organizations, associations, corporations or individuals in carrying out and conducting the activities and endeavors for which the Association is formed.” Many of our dues-paying members are the hard-to-reach members who are not involved in any clubs and do not visit the Rec Centers, but pay their dues every year. Churches have a good rapport with many of these individuals. We want to chat with the churches and see how we can best serve our members.
I think that is a great idea & plan on attending.
i like the idea and no community is complete without having both community and church involvement.
I find it sad that so many are against this. How can brainstorming and having a dialogue be a bad thing? I can’t see any reason this would affect your Rec dues. Think back, people! Remember when we started removing religion from schools, government, etc. and you can see the results from the condition our country is in.
I was thinking the exact same thing, Karen. I guess it’s part of the mixed up world we live in where good is the enemy and evil is extolled. Sigh.