nine questions church visitors aren't asking

Nine questions church visitors aren't asking (...but churches are still trying to answer)

1. So, how soon can I get involved with your committees? 

2. Can I get a longer bulletin - maybe something with more detail?

3. Will you please single me out in front of all the people during worship this morning?

4. Will you please send some "callers" by my house later and interrupt me while I fix dinner?

5. Can you please seat us in those uncomfortable pews with our fidgety kids and aging parents?

6. How quickly can I fill out a pledge card?

7. Does this church have weekly meetings, rehearsals, and other activities that will consume most of our family's free time?

8. I need more paperwork!  Can you give me a folder filled with glossy pamphlets, old newsletters, and denominational statements of belief?

9. During the worship service, can someone with a monotone voice speak (at length) about all the insider church happenings and people's private health matters?  I find this so inspiring.

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A big SALT thanks you to Matt Rosine - minister, congregational consultant for Church Extension, and student of Jesus - for this witty and wise blog post.  You can read more of Matt's writing over at Mosaic.  Also, thanks to Mr. T in DC for capturing the well-worn pews at Sacred Heart Church in Columbia Heights, MD.

Comments

[Ann]

Why don't they just stay home or make their own church -

[Lonster]

Just reading this and nothing else on the site (which I probably won't now), I'd guess that SALT is an acronym for silly asinine little twirps.

[Phill]

Contrary to previous comment, I believe that in this day and age, at a time when the church is changing (and needs to change drastically), we should be doing all we can to make visitors feel welcomed, comfortable, and not pressured. It isn't 1952 anymore. Church attendance is not socially compulsory, and the church is no longer (generally) the social hub for young families.

Like it or not, things have changed. I am a Director of Music in an Episcopal Church. I recently moved our choir rehearsals from mid-week to just before the Sunday service. The choir numbers doubled/tripled. I gained young people and families. Enough said.

[Becky]

Phill--I've been a church organist for almost 50 years. I totally agree with you. I may personally love to play Bach, but I have also learned to appreciate the wealth of contemporary church music and try to stay open to whatever increases our church membership, taking good judgment into consideration. We have a wonderful young pastor who loves to plan great worship services and I'm having such joy in being a part of that. Hopefully, this will help us to attract new visitors/members.