Our church cabinet's August meeting was hot in more ways than one. I'd read that the question of adding a second worship service is one of the most hotly debated issues in growing churches. Now I was finding out firsthand.

At our leaders' retreat, we'd discussed the issue in general terms. I thought a second service was a good idea; my wife did not. The chair of the board of education said yes; the Sunday school superintendent said no.

Now the cabinet was sharply divided, and that group represented all areas of the church-from young people to seniors, the women's guild to the Sunday school.

The church moderator objected, "A second service might cause chaos in the parking lot as the second group arrives before the first group leaves." This was no idle concern; our lot was small. We were already dependent on an adjacent bank that allowed us to use its lot.

"What about the coffee fellowship?" someone else asked. Following worship we host a fellowship time so people can visit with old friends ...