Sup Juggalos,
Here's some news that we have for you coming down the wire. 2008 has been a hard year for everyone. I'm reminded of 'Family Guy' when Cleveland was playing the Civil Rights Board Game and Peter asked "Does anyone ever really win at this game? Cleveland responded with "You never win you just do a little better every time." That's like FOJ is when it comes to running a large church. You never really win you just do a little better every year. Let me first start off this review by hitting you with the bad news and then later I'll come with the left hook for the good news.
* First off, we have had a lot of well "deadbeat" clergy for lack of a better term. That means that we have some individuals who are clergy that are in our database as clergy and we don't hear from them for periods of multiple months at a time. Granted I understand that communication is difficult for some people. But for va beach chapter we have individuals who are clergy who refuse to show up to weekly clergy meetings. Being a member of clergy is all about sacrificing. Time is the biggest thing to sacrifice. So to help alleviate this problem we have generated some Policies and Procedures which I will be posting shortly that will let clergy know what is expected to them and what at the bear minimum must happen for them to remain in good standing with the church. Think of it as a job, if you never show up to work and don't give a reason to why you don't show up to work and never tell anyone why you're not showing up to work then sooner or later you're going to be replaced. The work load doesn't stop just because an individual stopped coming
* One of the guarantees that I offer our congregation is the right to a sound safe environment in which to worship. We do this in many ways, one of these ways is we have our webmasters like Rev. Wicked Wyatt and Deacon Giggleshasmcl make sure there is no pornography on the website. We read all the emails on the website and scan for bigotry, hatred and do our best to keep the drama down to a manageable level. I try to hold the same committment to those that actually attend services in person, those that come to the weekly sunday service. In light of recent events, the secure place in which we were holding service has become unsecure. I will not go into details as to how I feel that this is so. Know that we are currently looking for a safe secure location in which to hold Sunday Service. Until then, Rev. Dave, Rev. Checks, Rabbi Ponix and myself will be attempting to do a webcast. We are investigating different avenues that allow for a live broadcast in which individuals online and around the globe can participate in. The criteria will be it needs to be cheap, easy and readily accessible. Bare with us as we are toying with a couple of these ideas that we are going to try out. We can expect to be broadcasting at the very latest February. Any ideas you have please send them to Rev. Dave or myself.
* Speaking of Internet connectivity. FOJ has moved from our MSN group that you are familiar with to another location. We are now available at the following locations: http://fellowshipofjuggalos/groups.live.com , My Juggalo Space has an FOJ group, and Multiply.com has two groups. Sermons are still available via www.juggalofaith.com . http://myjuggalospace.com/rev_last_rite , and www.myspace.com/rev_last_rite . We are working to create an all source ".com" site. You will see various FOJ myspaces, these are currently not being updated. Either the moderator lost the password or it hasn't been updated in so long the information is no longer valid. I would ask that the creators of these myspace accounts would delete them or request that they be deleted. I want a one source myspace so that everyone can go to it. We will be working on that as well.
* On the brighter side of things, as you might have noticed I stated that we have a clergy database. Keeping this database and updating can be a pain in the butt, however this allows us to ordain our own clergy. Rabbi Ponix being not only the first Jewish Juggalo Minister to be ordained but the first Minister to be ordained by the Fellowship Of Juggalos vice Universal Life Church. Once I have the whole database updated I will be mailing out paperwork for Ministers to fill out and submit back to us and then we can start issuing certificates and credentials. One road block in the way of doing this is 1. updating the whole database (i.e. phone numbers, emails, addresses from both Ministers and Deacons and 2. having our new logo completed so that we can put it as a seal on our documents.
* This brings me to the new logo. Rabbi Ponix as you may or may not recall was the creator of our first FOJ crest, the one with the Lotus Cross, the Hatchetman and the different religious symbols, a wonderful piece of work really. He has come up with the new FOJ Crest, which will have the Lotus Cross, different religious symbols and have two new items to it. Introducing the Shangri La man, which is a running man with a ball of light in his hand and instead of stating ULC in the corner it says in fiery letters FOJ. Once he is complete and has it digitized so it can easily be replicated we can move on with a lot of work. Hint Hint Rabbi.
I'm going to need the combined forces of volunteers and Clergy to make 2009 a productive year. FOJ has grown to the 10,000s and is heard of across the globe. We are making a difference. We are changing lives. Now more than ever we need to come together as a team so that we can provide for the people that we serve...our Juggalo Family. The Juggalo Creed needs to reach the lips of every Juggalo and become our mantra. Faith needs to go forth to every Juggalo both far and wide. Like a Lotus, if you care for it and you cherish it then you hold it in your arms and you help it grow. How much we grow and how far we grow depends on you.
How much and how little we accomplish depends on you. FOJ can no longer rest on the backs of the few but must be carried in the heart by the many.
MCL
Rev. Last Rite
