I once came home from a vestry meeting and said to my husband "starting over with an empty church would be easier than trying to get these people to realize that they way they have been doing things obviously doesn't work". At that point I was ready to just throw everyone out of the church and start over with just the liturgy and a pocket full of hope.
I am very saddened by the decline of “the church”, because I was raised in it and because I still believe in its purpose. For me, the church should be about outreach - into the communities where the church is planted. It’s about outreach and community… sharing and spreading the Love of God. But so many churches have become introverted, cliques of people caring for themselves, excluding certain others, and keeping resources for themselves. The church could be such a powerful support for those in need - any kind of need. It was not meant to be a club in which only the members benefit.
personally, i think so much of it is about how churches were set up to function in the mid-20th century (when the mainline was at its peak).
they system is more like a club or association, with committees and classes and spaces for worship and learning. The idea was to bring people from the community in.
I don't think we've learned how to 'bring church to people'. As you say, how to bring the Gospel out into the community.
I think the 21st century is giving us ways to learn this. If we will.
Also, I think Substack - and other social media and digital communication tools - is part of learning it.
I once came home from a vestry meeting and said to my husband "starting over with an empty church would be easier than trying to get these people to realize that they way they have been doing things obviously doesn't work". At that point I was ready to just throw everyone out of the church and start over with just the liturgy and a pocket full of hope.
liturgy and a pocket full of hope. well, that’s what the disciples started with. we could do worse!
I am very saddened by the decline of “the church”, because I was raised in it and because I still believe in its purpose. For me, the church should be about outreach - into the communities where the church is planted. It’s about outreach and community… sharing and spreading the Love of God. But so many churches have become introverted, cliques of people caring for themselves, excluding certain others, and keeping resources for themselves. The church could be such a powerful support for those in need - any kind of need. It was not meant to be a club in which only the members benefit.
personally, i think so much of it is about how churches were set up to function in the mid-20th century (when the mainline was at its peak).
they system is more like a club or association, with committees and classes and spaces for worship and learning. The idea was to bring people from the community in.
I don't think we've learned how to 'bring church to people'. As you say, how to bring the Gospel out into the community.
I think the 21st century is giving us ways to learn this. If we will.
Also, I think Substack - and other social media and digital communication tools - is part of learning it.
Exactly - I totally agree