Could someone explain to me why we need programs to get people in the church door? Sure, be welcoming (nobody likes an unfriendly bunch). Sure, invite the community in. Why, however, does the church need to market itself like another commodity supplier? Why does it have to have community open house events just to make its presence known?
Maybe I’m being too harshly critical at worst, or idealistic at best. In a theoretical world, people would show up at our churches seeking pure doctrine and Christ crucified. That is not reality, of course. I’d say that we Lutherans have a pretty good thing going here. Too bad that stuff called original sin has to muck it all up.
It just appears that we seem to be missing the point. It’s not about numbers—either in the pews or in the plates. Okay, reality check again. Without numbers in the pews or in the plates one cannot sustain. On the other hand, whose job is it to grow the church? That’s a rhetorical question, in case you’re wondering. You know the answer is not people.
Okay, I can hear it now: “What about the great commission?” Sure, but one has to remember--going and making disciples isn’t like going and making a bird house. Yep, here’s your disciple; let me make another for you. A pastor who is much smarter than I explained it to me once: Making disciples is actually a verb. Go and disciple (discipling, discipled, had discipled, if you want to conjugate it). It’s a process that is continual. How? Word and Sacrament. Catechesis. It is the cooperation of the laity and the pastors. The laity have the workaday world contact with people. They are the ones who can initiate the connection. That should be the contact to get them in the door. Then the pastor can do his job.
Programs and bait-and-switch tactics cannot sustain a congregation. If a person is looking for single parent support groups, pick-up basketball games, and community dinners; let me direct you to the community center down the road. I won’t go to them looking for forgiveness; why should they look to me for a synchronized swimming program?
Whew!
2 days ago
1 comment:
It's a good question, especially if the programs are truly of the "bait-and-switch" sort (e.g. basketball league with some "Jesus talk" thrown in when people wouldn't expect it) trying to get people in the door.
Where the programs more-or-less arise out of the community of believers, then it's not a "bait-and-switch" or something to lament, but the natural result of having an organization of people who have something (the greatest SOMETHING: the confession of Christ as Lord) in common. In some ways, I would wonder if a congregation didn't have such events happening: Is there something under the surface that is keeping the disciples from interacting beyond the Divine Service and Christian Education opportunities?
Another category of program that could arise are the charitable sorts (e.g. provision of meals, medical clinic, etc.) that arise out of love for neighbor, member or otherwise. This seems to be consistent with the apostolic statements about loving in deed and truth, rather than just with words. Again, it would be surprising to see a congregation without some sort of charitable program: Is there a disconnect at this place between faith and works?
Of course, such programs are not the raison d'etre of the parish, but they naturally develop out of the aural and visible Word that strikes the hearts and souls of the disciples.
As your post pointed out, there are some ditches that parishes need to avoid falling into:
(a) Secondary programs (even the parochial school connected to the parish) becoming the major focus of the parish's efforts to the detriment of "discipling." Result: The "mission" of the Church loses its priority.
(b) Secondary programs being described as "perks" that members receive. Result: Good works are used as a chip to bargain with or as lures to hook members.
(c) Secondary programs and participation in them becoming the measure of true membership in the parish. Result: The Church has then become a community club and Word and Sacrament reception is denigrated.
LTZ
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