At the 6/2 afternoon lecture that Diana Butler Bass gave, two lessons stick out. She gave us background as to how she and probably careful potential members might act. In deciding what churches to include as worthy of note, she and her staff looked at websites first. Then, deciding whether to fly and personally visit, she had a local contact check out the significant feature of the congregation.
While the web was not the only source of information, she said that potential new members may not be as careful an information checker as a seminary researcher, like herself. We need to make sure the WPPC website is as user friendly as possible.
We need to be careful of any claims to uniqueness, in this example, hospitality. Bass said the stereotypical example, which WPPC should study and discuss, was a church's web claim to have “extreme” (or some similar adjective) hospitality. She had a friend in the town who happened to be a six foot transgendered woman with a love of feathered boas. Only after this friend confirmed that she had the most warm welcome that she ever had in a church, did Bass include it on her list. WPPC may be a Covenant Network church, but what might we do if going to the next step?
Another definition she clarified was that the village of our childhood was mainly geographic. With the internet and especially in the PC(USA) our connectionalism is worldwide. For each present day congregation, the village is inclusive of different parts of society. WPPC should identify its stakeholders. Our outreach, as well as the rest of our church activities, should reflect our ministry for/to these stakeholders.
As a secular view of the changed environment we are operating, Bass recommended we read The World is Flat, by Thomas Friedman. Apparently the three citations around religion were negative, but Bass feels he gives us good food for discussion. The one that she agreed in both the book and her lecture was the idea that churches generally resist change. Openness to change is key to the churches in her study.
Analogous to one of the individual goals of individual spiritual formation, that of transforming from a human doing to a human being, was one of her key findings for congregations. Her study churches focussed on the “be,” rather than “do.” She noted the congregations that stayed with the “do,” had the resulting burnout.
While tradition can be mantra of resisters to change, a positive use is the re-introduction of new members to their heritage to valuable spiritual disciplines not recently seen in that church. Bass noticed that people generally liked the idea of having roots. She said that folks liked to be flexible in using re-discovered traditions, but also knowing why the traditions were important.
Bass said she often saw examples in her study, churches that created a meaningful way of life that involved knowing God and living ethically. She also frequently saw churches that demonstrated Huston Smith's pearl of wisdom that religion approximates the wisdom tradition.
An individual example was Mother Teresa, who had doubts, but practiced wisdom. The laity in Bass' book did not want to leave their brains and doubts in the church parking lot. They wanted to enter the church to learn a wisdom way of knowing or knowing in a different way.
I like her riff on hospitality. She said it was not navel gazing for baby boomers. She also urged us to move beyond thinking of hospitality to those outside our boundaries. If churches invite the homeless in to be a part of the congregation, she rhetorically asked, “Is there a 'them' to whom to provide ministry, if they are part of us?” Maybe we need to just look upon a ministry to an inclusive definition of members. At the other extreme are the churches, she said, who are so fearful, they employ bouncers.
She answered a question to explain that people still like good preaching. She agreed with what Wes has told us that parishioners like a good story. They like narrative preaching. The challenge now is that people can download sermons from world wide sources to raise their expectations.
Bass said a common reaction to change is toleration, with the hope that it will go away. Another is, “over my dead body.” This often occurs around gender issues. She see gender as a trigger for people's unhappiness around cultural changes. She said pastors need to address concerns around, “we'll lose what we have.”
Nostalgia also holds people back. People need to realize those good old days, really were not that good, all things considered. Nostalgia says two things contrary to the Christian message—my experience is better than any other, and the best days are behind us.
She noted that some congregations that use more body prayer give opportunities for demonstrating community. Once a whole congregation senses everyone moving bodily during the liturgy, it is hard to keep a sense of individual prayer. Body prayer is another way to symbolize our becoming the body of Christ, in corporate ways.
She also gave ideas around Sabbath that her book omitted. Some sessions took an administrative Sabbath to devote a meeting to spiritual disciplines. Some churches practiced a technology fast on the Sabbath. Besides cell phones, and pc's, some churches used natural light only. She noted rather than looking on the outdoors as a competitor for people's Sunday time, she suggested looking on nature as a companion to help draw people to church. By making people thankful for natural light on technology Sabbaths, people can start to recognize previously overlooked natural gifts.
As a historian she suggested that we take lessons from the Protestant Reformation. She said the secular society at the time of Calvin and Luther was in turmoil, as it is now. She said the church needs to change now, just as much as in the time of the Reformers.
Sunday, June 8, 2008
Sunday, June 1, 2008
First 5/25 class posting
In a separate entry I'll add comments on Chapters 16, 17, & the Epilogue. As the news article appeared the previous day, I'll include it and comments for the first entry for the 5/25 class.
Leap of faith: Shopping around for a place of worship, 5/24/08
By Joy Jernigan
Special to The Seattle Times
When Randy and Joanne Harvey of Crown Hill set out to find a church, they weren't thinking so much about Sunday school for their two boys, Emmett, 5, and Griffen, 3.
They were thinking of the teen years.
"We didn't feel the need to go to church until last year, when I started to think about how hard it was going to be to raise two boys in an urban area without family nearby," Joanne said. "I wanted another place for them to turn to when they stop talking to us."
Like many couples, becoming parents made the Harveys think more seriously about finding a religious community that reflected their values. But a glance at one Seattle-area phone book reveals more than 10 pages of church listings. So how exactly does one find a church, and sometimes even a faith, when there are so many to choose from?
Joanne Harvey, 35, was raised Episcopalian in upstate New York.
"I still love the Episcopalian church I grew up with," she said.
She looked up Episcopalian churches in the phone book and attended a few close to home, but found them "too stoic, too folksy or too conservative."
Randy Harvey grew up in a Catholic family in Edmonds, but by the time he was 18, "I pretty much by that point had had my belly full of dogma and religion," he said.
A friend eventually told the Harveys about University Unitarian Church in Wedgwood. They went to a service and liked the church's focus on social justice, as well as the sense of community. They now attend regularly as a family.
Although getting both kids up and dressed in time to attend church on Sundays can be a hassle, Randy Harvey said that one hour a week has been a real comfort to him. "I never really imagined myself going to church again," he said.
Fluid faith
The Harveys' experience is not unlike that of many families. American religious identity is more fluid than ever, according to a study released in February by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life. The study found that more than 1 in 4 Americans (28 percent) has left the faith in which he or she was raised in favor of another religion, or no religion at all. (If change in affiliation from one type of Protestantism to another is included, that number is as high as 44 percent.)
The same study, based on interviews with more than 35,000 adults across the United States, also found that 37 percent of married couples have a spouse with a different religious affiliation.
That can make finding a house of worship a challenge. For couples who share a faith, it's often simply a matter of attending services at a few churches to figure out which religious community they like best. But those who aren't even certain of their affiliation may find themselves scouring the Internet or the phone book, which might not be the best approach.
"I think it's better to start with who you are and who your friends are," said the Rev. Sanford Brown, executive director of the Church Council of Greater Seattle. "If it works for them, it could work for you, too."
That's how Brian and Sherrie McLoughlin of Sammamish found The City Church after they moved to the Pacific Northwest with their two kids from Atlanta in 2005. At a cookout they met their new neighbors, who later invited them to attend a service. Although they had attended a Baptist church previously, the McLoughlins both said they liked the pastor's preaching style.
"I think once we heard the message, we knew that was the right place for us," said Brian McLoughlin, 45.
Finding a church also helped their transition to a new city.
"We really feel that once you move into an area, you need to become a part of the community," said Sherrie McLoughlin, 47.
Checking out churches
Many churches post service times and information about their beliefs on their Web sites. Others go a step further, using podcast sermons or blogs to keep the congregation informed or to attract potential members.
"We find a lot of people go online and actually listen to our pastor's message before they come," said the Rev. Jennifer Kraker, an associate pastor at The City Church, which has locations in Seattle, Kirkland, Issaquah and Mountlake Terrace.
Religious leaders say it's OK to just show up at a church service without introducing yourself to anyone. But don't necessarily expect a warm welcome, said Jim Henderson, executive director for Off The Map, a Seattle-based organization that encourages Christians to serve others in ordinary ways. At many churches, he said, someone might greet you at the door, but that's it.
"If I had to pick one thing I would encourage churches to do, it's speak to the people who walk through the doors," he said.
As a former pastor at what is now Vineyard Community Church in Shoreline, Henderson once paid people to attend his church and fill out a survey so he could find out "what the customer actually thinks." The idea evolved into a book published last year, "Jim and Casper Go to Church," in which he and Matt Casper, an atheist, traveled to 10 well-known churches throughout the country and wrote about their experiences. Henderson wanted to give others the opportunity to review churches as well, and so last year he founded churchrater.com.
Although some might find the idea of rating a church controversial, or even distasteful, "I'm trying to advocate for churches to be more aware of the outsiders they're trying to reach," Henderson said.
Some churches recognize this and have taken steps to be more welcoming. Northshore Baptist Church in Bothell even has a first-impressions team, volunteers from the congregation who serve as ushers, welcome visitors and even assist with parking, said the Rev. John Czech, a pastor at the church. The church also offers orientation classes for new attendees.
Numerous scandals among religious institutions have eroded trust, Czech said, so he recommends that those searching for a church look beyond the religious leaders and focus instead on the core beliefs.
"Then," he said, "you can honestly say to your children, 'Here's what we believe and why we believe it.' "
Joy Jernigan is a freelance writer living in Redmond. Contact her at joy.jernigan@live.com.
Copyright © 2008 The Seattle Times Company
Comments about this article included, the family could have chosen WPPC, except for their putting liturgy at a lower priority. The values & education of University Unitarian (UU) mentioned in the article, matched WPPC favorably. Others commented that their desire for a church that “will help their youngsters when they grow into their teen years...” naively reflected two common changes. In the 10 or so years their kids become teens both UU and/or their teens' favorable attitude could change. Either or both could mean a match for their teens won't exist. UU definitely received favorable free publicity. WPPC & other similar progressive churches are searching, through discussions of this Bass book, for ways to attract families with similar needs.
Leap of faith: Shopping around for a place of worship, 5/24/08
By Joy Jernigan
Special to The Seattle Times
When Randy and Joanne Harvey of Crown Hill set out to find a church, they weren't thinking so much about Sunday school for their two boys, Emmett, 5, and Griffen, 3.
They were thinking of the teen years.
"We didn't feel the need to go to church until last year, when I started to think about how hard it was going to be to raise two boys in an urban area without family nearby," Joanne said. "I wanted another place for them to turn to when they stop talking to us."
Like many couples, becoming parents made the Harveys think more seriously about finding a religious community that reflected their values. But a glance at one Seattle-area phone book reveals more than 10 pages of church listings. So how exactly does one find a church, and sometimes even a faith, when there are so many to choose from?
Joanne Harvey, 35, was raised Episcopalian in upstate New York.
"I still love the Episcopalian church I grew up with," she said.
She looked up Episcopalian churches in the phone book and attended a few close to home, but found them "too stoic, too folksy or too conservative."
Randy Harvey grew up in a Catholic family in Edmonds, but by the time he was 18, "I pretty much by that point had had my belly full of dogma and religion," he said.
A friend eventually told the Harveys about University Unitarian Church in Wedgwood. They went to a service and liked the church's focus on social justice, as well as the sense of community. They now attend regularly as a family.
Although getting both kids up and dressed in time to attend church on Sundays can be a hassle, Randy Harvey said that one hour a week has been a real comfort to him. "I never really imagined myself going to church again," he said.
Fluid faith
The Harveys' experience is not unlike that of many families. American religious identity is more fluid than ever, according to a study released in February by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life. The study found that more than 1 in 4 Americans (28 percent) has left the faith in which he or she was raised in favor of another religion, or no religion at all. (If change in affiliation from one type of Protestantism to another is included, that number is as high as 44 percent.)
The same study, based on interviews with more than 35,000 adults across the United States, also found that 37 percent of married couples have a spouse with a different religious affiliation.
That can make finding a house of worship a challenge. For couples who share a faith, it's often simply a matter of attending services at a few churches to figure out which religious community they like best. But those who aren't even certain of their affiliation may find themselves scouring the Internet or the phone book, which might not be the best approach.
"I think it's better to start with who you are and who your friends are," said the Rev. Sanford Brown, executive director of the Church Council of Greater Seattle. "If it works for them, it could work for you, too."
That's how Brian and Sherrie McLoughlin of Sammamish found The City Church after they moved to the Pacific Northwest with their two kids from Atlanta in 2005. At a cookout they met their new neighbors, who later invited them to attend a service. Although they had attended a Baptist church previously, the McLoughlins both said they liked the pastor's preaching style.
"I think once we heard the message, we knew that was the right place for us," said Brian McLoughlin, 45.
Finding a church also helped their transition to a new city.
"We really feel that once you move into an area, you need to become a part of the community," said Sherrie McLoughlin, 47.
Checking out churches
Many churches post service times and information about their beliefs on their Web sites. Others go a step further, using podcast sermons or blogs to keep the congregation informed or to attract potential members.
"We find a lot of people go online and actually listen to our pastor's message before they come," said the Rev. Jennifer Kraker, an associate pastor at The City Church, which has locations in Seattle, Kirkland, Issaquah and Mountlake Terrace.
Religious leaders say it's OK to just show up at a church service without introducing yourself to anyone. But don't necessarily expect a warm welcome, said Jim Henderson, executive director for Off The Map, a Seattle-based organization that encourages Christians to serve others in ordinary ways. At many churches, he said, someone might greet you at the door, but that's it.
"If I had to pick one thing I would encourage churches to do, it's speak to the people who walk through the doors," he said.
As a former pastor at what is now Vineyard Community Church in Shoreline, Henderson once paid people to attend his church and fill out a survey so he could find out "what the customer actually thinks." The idea evolved into a book published last year, "Jim and Casper Go to Church," in which he and Matt Casper, an atheist, traveled to 10 well-known churches throughout the country and wrote about their experiences. Henderson wanted to give others the opportunity to review churches as well, and so last year he founded churchrater.com.
Although some might find the idea of rating a church controversial, or even distasteful, "I'm trying to advocate for churches to be more aware of the outsiders they're trying to reach," Henderson said.
Some churches recognize this and have taken steps to be more welcoming. Northshore Baptist Church in Bothell even has a first-impressions team, volunteers from the congregation who serve as ushers, welcome visitors and even assist with parking, said the Rev. John Czech, a pastor at the church. The church also offers orientation classes for new attendees.
Numerous scandals among religious institutions have eroded trust, Czech said, so he recommends that those searching for a church look beyond the religious leaders and focus instead on the core beliefs.
"Then," he said, "you can honestly say to your children, 'Here's what we believe and why we believe it.' "
Joy Jernigan is a freelance writer living in Redmond. Contact her at joy.jernigan@live.com.
Copyright © 2008 The Seattle Times Company
Comments about this article included, the family could have chosen WPPC, except for their putting liturgy at a lower priority. The values & education of University Unitarian (UU) mentioned in the article, matched WPPC favorably. Others commented that their desire for a church that “will help their youngsters when they grow into their teen years...” naively reflected two common changes. In the 10 or so years their kids become teens both UU and/or their teens' favorable attitude could change. Either or both could mean a match for their teens won't exist. UU definitely received favorable free publicity. WPPC & other similar progressive churches are searching, through discussions of this Bass book, for ways to attract families with similar needs.
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