I try not to rant on my blog, but feel that I have been forced to do so.
Recently the church I attend made a decision to change the layout of its Bulletins (I capitalize Bulletin, because it seems as if it is that important)! As soon as we did we have gotten a small handful of emails, and I have heard comments about how upset some people are over this change. Now, I know that people are entitled to their opinions (I certainly have mine). What is amazing to me is how strongly people feel about this! We even had a couple that left the church over this (seriously)!!
Do you want to know why young people are leaving the church en masse??
I had been resistant to reading George Barna's latest book simply because I knew that it would remind me of some frustrations that I have with the state of the church (general). I finally gave in and breezed through it this week to find that it addresses the misplaced focus of many churches (programs, polity, traditions, etc.). Barna makes the observation that the congregants have chosen to "go" to church instead of "be" the church. (The post that follows this one contains an excerpt from this book).
My problem/frustration isn't that we have problems in the church (it will always be made up of humans), but that there is no desire to grow. The Bulletins are not the issue! Perpsective and identity is!
Some friends and I came up with some solutions to this specific problem. I will state my two favorites:
1. Collect all the bulletins from area churches and present them to the complainers, let them pick their favorite, and then send them away! That way they can be happy with their bulletins!
2. Start First Tulsa Church of the Bulletin. At this church the Bulletin would take it's rightful place at the center.
5 comments:
I wrote about this very thing a couple of weeks ago. I love Pastor's reaction: "Here's your hat, what's your hurry?"
You're right. People are myopic. Instead of seeing all the good things the church is doing to minister to them, and to reach their community for Christ, their only concern is that their own needs are being met.
We are better off without them.
I am tired of hearing about this. Not saying anything about your blog, but i don't agree with pastors reaction. You have stupid people and they think it is important to leave because of bulletin. Fine who cares, but i don't like hearing the pastor complain about it every week and tell the story over and over. Personally i don't think it should have ever been mentioned publicly. I am sure that even more people care now that he has made it a public issue. You can't please everyone so why try just do you best, but even when stupid people arise i don't think the church should publicly humiliate them. Just doesn't seem like much of a good witness to me. But then again maybe i am just old and don't get you young hip kids and your crazy sarcastic ways.
whytim, I hear what you are saying. I do think that reminding the congregation why we are here is important (and that it is not for the bulletins). My guess is that pastors comments curbed alot of other complaints from coming! You would be shocked at how beat up church staff can get. Would also comment that it is not so much people getting upset about things, I get upset about things as well. It is the attitude that people come at it with (can get very personal). Anyway, hadn't thought about this from your perspective (maybe my own bruises are affecting my judgement). Gives me something to think about!
Whytim, are you really old, or are you being sarcastic? Just curious.
I can appreciate your perspective, and like Todd, I had never considered that until you mentioned it. However, I must respectfully disagree.
For twenty years, I served on the staff of churches, and when things like this happened, I would not mention it in public. I didn't want anyone to think that anyone else was dissatisfied, even if it was over something as eternally insignificant as a bulletin change. As a result of never being called down, these people would gain courage and momentum, and the problems would get worse and worse. If I had it to do over again, I would shine the light on these kinds of complaints, because it causes people to think twice before raising issues like this, and because it reminds the rest of what is really important.
Jasonk,
Amusing comment because I know that 1) whytim is younger than me and 2) though he/she has a tendency to be sarcastic (sometimes very), he is not in this case.
The interesting thing is that I have been reflecting on the potential shortcomings of us as church leaders than pointing the finger at the congregation. I can see both sides, but maybe there is something to be said about reminding the congregation of our God given purpose and maybe if we do a good job communicating this the insignificant issues are seen as such. One staff member who has been to Tanzania has stated that experience is the anecdote to misplaced focus.
Anyway, good discussion.
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