This thoughtful piece is replete with good practicable ideas and sound distinctions to bear in mind in a plan of action that could realize a stronger community.

Well said. I agree.

A well written, honest, articulate article with solid achievable ideas. I read it with JOY and HOPE. St. Peter's is more than a church. It is symbolic of our past, present and future and a Mihkel Bach architectural jewel. It is adjacent to the sacred resting place of over 200 founding community members, both young and old. The church board and community will regret losing PK once it is gone and nothing can ever replace it.

Hilary's viewpoint is like the light breaking thru the clouds of darkness in Peetri Kirik. People, give a Good read of his article, he brings light to forward thinking in how we need to change things to make our church self-sustainable. Thankyou, Hilary, Guido for your inspiring viewpoints. Your devotion to Peetri Kirik comes thru at these dark crossroads. How many of us can say we travel 2 1/2 hours from Ottawa and Lake Consecon for Sunday Service. It is time for those on the Juhatus who believe the sky is falling, and are ready to jump ship to leave. Reetri Kirik is a gift our parents and grandparents left for the Toronto Eesti Ühiskond to carry forward and share our Lutheran Faith with everyone. We should not sell ourselves sort, as we did with Eesti Maja, and surrender this Icon to developer shovels. The Minister should not involve our church and time within the Visual-Politic of Kes?Kus?. Yes, it is time for change. we have Juri Puusaag and Kalle Kadakas as team players who are südamlik/vaimulik to jump in to help the Minister at Peetri. This past Nov. marked the tenth year that Mart Salumäe has ministered at Peetri.
It is time to bring in an Annual Performance Review. To ask questions regards to why our numbers are not increasing? Why you need to take most of the summers off? We should consider a Fee for Service so we can afford to pull in other Ministers. This fee is subject to change if numbers fall. Why continue to approve salary increases when revenues are declining. This kind of budgeting is a quick race to the end for the church. We should encourage the Minister to follow the E=Evangelium in EELK. Restore the English services(many of members are married with ancestry from other cultures).
EELK seems too quick to close Lutheran churches. Consider having two church services per month or joint services with other Lutheran churches renting at Peetri Kirik. If the Minister is not happy living in Peetri Kirik, give him freedom to live elsewhere and adjust his housing expense to 60% versus 100%. Change is necessary now. A change in Juhatus, Kogudus,Õpetaja,and maybe a change from EELK as well.

eesti.ca just loves to beat every dead horse.

"...build something next to it like affordable rental housing..."
What land next to the church? Have you been there at all?
A cemetary cannot be rezoned to commercial, although it already is residential to some degree.
Not sure what you could do with the slivers that are the parking lots.
Who do you suggest we share with? Vana Andres already said no years ago.
The only way to save the church in its present form is to fill the seats with paying customers, so to speak. If you live too far away, there is nothing stopping you, and others, from making generous donations, even though you don't, can't, or won't attend services.

These days churches evolve to remain relevant. Peetri Kirik can return to being much more than a church. It can once again be a "community hub." I'd welcome a new vision and an expanded role for the church. This would include : no permanent minister-instead visiting ministers and guest speakers; concerts and performances in the beauty and acoustics of the chapel...a gathering place (not just Sunday mornings)...that is the purpose of Peetri. Board member Talvi Maimets wrote: "Tulge appi!" I question the sincerity of board members to consider options.

Didnt she also write that roof replacement will cost $1,000,000.? Interesting to know how much all these authors and commenters have donated to help out with expenses?

Zero. These people are all condescending know it alls who complain day and night about everything yet have not once stepped up to make things happen. They shamefully trash the tireless efforts of our community volunteers who actually have the stones to make the sometimes difficult yet necessary decisions.

I appreciate the interest this topic has aroused. This interest seems to have roots in communal existential neurosis. This won't be the last article on the matter. Before you proceed, may I suggest y'all take a step or two back and review the problem of the meaning of meaning? This video, "The 4 Horsemen of Meaning" (two horsemen are UofT psychology professors who are not Christian and two are Christians -- a clergyman and Orthodox icon artist) may be of help:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?... . It is 2.5 hours long and you might want to take notes.
After meditating on the meaning of meaning, one might turn to the topic of the future of this building and make a more meaningful discussion of the problem at hand.

ar and Vancouver:

You have yet to respond to a previous article regarding the sale of Vana Andres by the Estonian & Latvian owners?

How was that sale any different should the congregation decide to sell off Peetri Kirik? They had declining membership and increasing costs not to mention massive repairs.

as for who takes off for two months during the summer... most congregations do have a limited amount of services. Numerous teachers and professors also take extended holidays whether it be at the cottage or overseas... but that is a discussion for another time

As for the $12,000 per guest that is too much ANYTIME! what made it worse is their visit was during a period of contagion.

Lest we forget there was a pastor at Peetri Kirik who not only refused the apartment but the offsite house owned by the congregation.

To “at”:

Still waiting for a response to this and other requests for your other posts?