The year 2002 was going to bring with it the first major change in the pastoral leadership of the First Baptist Church of Manlius since the Reverend Paul Bailey was installed as pastor on September 24, 1989. By the end of 2001 Reverend Bailey had made up is mind as to what he would like to do in 2002 and the years that would follow. He wrote a letter to the leadership of the Church inviting them to attend a special meeting of the Executive Committee on January 8, 2002 at 8:00 P. M.(the committee would have been in session from 7:00-8:00) to discuss a proposal he was considering to present to the Church membership. Gary Baker was asked to be present and to moderate the discussion. The meeting was meant by Pastor Paul to be informational, with no decisions being madeuntil later. Pastor Paul then wrote two letters to his “Brothers and sisters in Christ” (all members of the Church). On January 9, 2002, in the first letter he wrote, “I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the Gospel from the first day until now.” (Phillippians 1:3-5). He invited everyone to come to the annual Church Meeting on January 13, 2002, where he would present some proposals for a future ministry which would allow him time for evening studies at LeMoyne College for acquiring a MST Degree.
In his second letter to the Congregation he wrote that he had long believed that the Bible taught that all Christians are ministers, and that he would like to explore a “new area of Ministry,” that of teaching children in public schools,. However, he wished to emulate the Apostle Paul, who was both a missionary and a maker of tents. Before he could teach in public schools, however, he needed to attend college (LeMoyne) to acquire a MST Degree, necessary for his certification as a teacher in the public school system. Pastor Paul would be unable to serve full time as Pastor of the Church, and would need assistance from additional staff.
Two other possibilities had been noted, i.e., Pastor Paul would serve the Church 20-25 hours per week until June 1, 2002 and then resign. A third possibility was for Pastor Paul to resign February 15, 2002. The Church met to discuss the solution on January 27, 2002, and voted to proceed with Rev. Paul Bailey as Pastor on roughly a 2/3 basis. ( A provision was made that either party could change the decision after May or December each year.) On February 20th a Ministry Staff Search Committee was formed for the purpose of finding additional staff and to expand the Church ministry goals as expressed in Doug Anderson’s Consultant Report.
After a several month trial, it became evident that no additional paid staff to help with the Church Programs would be available and that Rev. Bailey needed more time for his teaching duties. Pastor Paul wrote another letter to the congregation on July 28, 2002: “It is with great sadness and great love that I announce my resignation as Pastor of the First Baptist, Manlius effective September 8, 2002. May God who has been our help in ages past be our hope for years to come.” - Pastor Paul Bailey
Pastor Paul Bailey had spent a remarkably active and successful 13 year ministry with the first Baptist Church of Manlius and the Ministry Support Committee planned a grand thank you and farewell party for Sunday September 8, 2002 after Reverend Bailey’s last worship service. There was to be an outdoor picnic, catered by Dinosaur Barbeque. The Committee created a Memory Basket for Pastor Paul and his family and a large collage-type poster display for the picnic. Members were asked to bring appropriate cards, special notes, pictures, poems or other memorabilia. Donors could pick up their contributions after the picnic, or if they wished, the items would be condensed in an album to be presented to the Baileys at a later date. A large number of Church members attended the barbecue. The weather was very supportive and it was a memorable afternoon.
The Annual Report for 2002 of the First Baptist Church of Manlius was the first in many years without a Pastor’s report to the Congregation (although he was pastor from January to September) concerning his feelings about happenings in the Church during the year, his comments on things happening in the world about us that might have an effect, good or bad, on Church programs and goals, and his hopes for the future. Pastor Paul did, however, write very personal and revealing messages to the Congregation in the March and October 2002 Christian Carriers. The message in the March issue was entitled “From the Pastor.” Pastor Paul wrote concerning his early years in his family’s church. As a child he did all of the things concerning religion expected of him in a home with Christian parents and grandparents, who were missionaries to China. He went to Church every Sunday, never missed Sunday School, and was baptized at the age of 13. He declared publicly by his words and actions that he believed in Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior but confessed that in his heart he did not. Pastor Paul explained the situation partially by quoting Billy Sunday, “Going to Church will make you a Christian just as going to a barn will make you a horse.”
Pastor Paul did not tell us exactly how, but after several years of being part of the Church he finally found Christ “in an unexpected place and through an unexpected person.” In Pastor Paul’s first farewell to the Congregation written in the September 2002 newsletter, he thanked God for sending a stranger to him in the summer of the early 1970s who told him the good news of salvation and for compelling me to commit my life to Him. Pastor Paul described the incident as a “lightning bolt” type of conversion in his teen years that would shape his life for years to come. The purpose of telling his story was to encourage those who experience difficulties as Pastor Paul had and tio show them the way to truly become a Christian.
Pastor Paul’s last letter to the Manlius Baptist Congregation appeared in the October 2002 Christian Carrier.
“As Phyllis and I (and Josh, Andy and Isaac) settle into this new chapter in our lives, we have nothing but gratefulness in our heart for all of you. Thank you for the joyous worship and great celebration picnic and for the wonderful gifts. It was overwhelming. I met this weekend with some pastoral friends and one asked me how the Church showed their love to me that day. I thought of the celebration and the gifts, but first remembered that you washed my feet. Thank you all, Your Servant in Christ.”
Our former Pastor Bailey concluded his letter with a humorous list of things to do (inspired by All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten by Robert Filghun): share, play fair, don’t hit people, wash your hands, take afternoon naps, etc. While Pastor Bailey was unable earlier to balance his love and time needed for the Pastoral Ministry with his love and time for teaching in our public schools, the Congregation was pleased to hear that conditions had improved for Pastor Paul and that as noted in the Neighbors East section of the Post Standard, he was now able to accept a call to the Camillus Baptist Church to serve as their Pastor as well as to be able to continue with his teaching duties. Congratulations, Pastor Paul.
A special printed program entitled Dedication and Celebration was prepared for those attending the Dedication and Celebration of our new Entrance-Elevator building addition. The members of the building Committee and the Rise Up-Reach Out Campaign Committee and pertinent scriptures were listed as well as a statement of how we will celebrate our mission (inviting others to unite with us as part of the Family of God) and our goals (accessibility for people with disabilities.) A copy is included. The Building History of our Baptist Church starting on December 8, 1797, when the early Church members may have met in homes, a schoolhouse or a barn, to the modern day Church was also presented.
