Dr. Eberhard Speaks Out - "Why All The Fuss"

For the next issues of the Historic Trinity "Messenger," The Rev. Dr. David Eberhard will do an article called "Dr. Eberhard Speaks Out". He will challenge us with his thoughts and experience as a leading churchman in America. While we may agree, or not agree, he will share with us what he has learned that works in the local parish. Over his forty years of experience in the ministry, he has always tended to be ahead of the current curve of church practices and is always "pushing the envelope" to get us to expand our thinking.

Why All The Fuss" ? You will notice throughout this "Messenger" mention is made of maintenance, restoration, and updating of Historic Trinity's facilities. But why all the concern about just a building ? It's the age old struggle between spending money to keep these sites operating, or using all the money on "ministry" to persons. While we could not afford, nor should we try to build such an edifice in today's world, (To rebuild Historic Trinity today it would cost $16,000,000.00.) we have this "jewel"of a church facility in downtown Detroit that should be preserved . This structure that produces a dynamic urban ministry for our day. We should not abandon all the great churches in the downtowns of America. These are our anchors, our beacons of Christian testimony, in an ever growing secular society. Look around you, great churches are becoming restaurants, museums, lofts, and stores. Soon we will have no churches left in downtown America, and we will have no one to blame but ourselves.

While it may not be practical or even wise to build such a grand church today, we do have a legacy, a heritage, a responsibility to preserve and maintain Historic Trinity, which is a national, state, and city designated historic site. The whole architecture, artifacts, statues, windows, carvings, paraments , and other works of art testify to our faith in the Lord Jesus. This church is more than just Historic Trinity Lutheran Church congregation, it is our cathedral church in downtown Detroit - it belongs to all of us.

Historic Trinity members, friends, and persons throughout Metro Detroit need to make a "fuss" over our "Mother Church in downtown Detroit" . Somehow , somewhere, we need to secure the present and future of this historic landmark. Your participation, your advice, your donations, your investment in "Mom" - Historic Trinity - is always appreciated. Everyone remarks how well the church facilities look and how well they have been maintained. They see how Historic Trinity has done an outstanding job, in even these hard economic times, to fund and support its multi facet ministry. Now its time for all of us to make a "fuss" over Historic Trinity and step up to the plate.