tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12659679.post112325254613732568..comments2023-09-27T07:42:18.141-07:00Comments on Rebel Without A Pew: When this was noised abroad . . .Karen Sapiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01952041607368514856noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12659679.post-1123525534320564142005-08-08T11:25:00.000-07:002005-08-08T11:25:00.000-07:00This is a phenomenon I've been puzzling over since...This is a phenomenon I've been puzzling over since I arrived in this community...My church is the only church in town, and it's an important part of how they see the town as a whole - but most of them cross the threshhold only for our annual chicken BBQ. Most of the people in town are or have been members of the church at one point. I think in many cases, church has just slipped away from them....evidenced in the fact that many of them say things like, "I know I haven't been in church for a couple of months," when records show that it's been more like years. Puzzling.Staceyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17453551055054412289noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12659679.post-1123507317046226732005-08-08T06:21:00.000-07:002005-08-08T06:21:00.000-07:00I think it's also the loss of hope for what they m...I think it's also the loss of hope for what they might have done..like actually walk into the church one day. It's sort of like when someone dies and you'd been meaning to go see them (for years). Suddenly the chance is gone and you want it back.Lisahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14482723497287290855noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12659679.post-1123429665065738672005-08-07T08:47:00.000-07:002005-08-07T08:47:00.000-07:00Y...absolutely agree with purechristianithink...as...Y...absolutely agree with purechristianithink...as part of the ordination course I did a survey of our 3 parish benefice, which included their attitude to building, clergy and lay ministry (which still feels a bit radical for country parishes round here)Overwhelmingly, people saw the church as the sign of God in their midst..and were prepared to do without clergy altogether if they could continue to have THEIR village church there for them...so they have somewhere not to go on Sundays, I presume!Kathrynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09171138485811816831noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12659679.post-1123384696247542812005-08-06T20:18:00.000-07:002005-08-06T20:18:00.000-07:00Gord--thanks for the link to your comment. I'm wo...Gord--thanks for the link to your comment. <BR/><BR/>I'm wondering if there isn't something really primal at work in part of this: if the temple is there, the God is present. If the temple is in ruins, what will become of us??Karen Sapiohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01952041607368514856noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12659679.post-1123381552578263982005-08-06T19:25:00.000-07:002005-08-06T19:25:00.000-07:00Interesting question. I've wondered about this. I ...Interesting question. I've wondered about this. I like Lutheranchiks thought about gathering all those who do for the church but won't attend in a room to ask why and how and what for.<BR/>Church must have more power just as a building than we think.St. Casserolehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14046979001194772038noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12659679.post-1123380584044432902005-08-06T19:09:00.000-07:002005-08-06T19:09:00.000-07:00We have this same phenomenon in the neighborhood a...We have this same phenomenon in the neighborhood around our church. When we have our annual yard sale -- this is our annual moneymaker, and it's a Big Deal locally -- folks from the 'hood give us donations over and above the cost of the merchandise, or just give us money...this year someone wants to donate two <I>horses</I> to our sale (!...anyone want to buy a horse?)...a couple of years ago someone donated a van to our church...a lot of people in our area seem to have goodwill toward our parish, but we never see them in church. I'd love to get a focus group of these folks in a room, and in an atmosphere where they are entirely comfortable about self-disclosing, and ask them what it is that keeps them from coming to church.LutheranChikhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02685566332651377907noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12659679.post-1123342703497348002005-08-06T08:38:00.000-07:002005-08-06T08:38:00.000-07:00This is a recurring theme here, as being the "esta...This is a recurring theme here, as being the "established church" means that the C of E effectively /belongs/ to all those people who wouldn't dream of setting foot in it, except for baptisms, weddings and, yup, funerals, still less help to pay for its upkeep.....but when there is any hint of closure it is suddenly<BR/>"OUR church that those nasty clergy are trying to take away from us".Kathrynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09171138485811816831noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12659679.post-1123297155908401862005-08-05T19:59:00.000-07:002005-08-05T19:59:00.000-07:00Reading this sparked some of my own thinking and r...Reading this sparked some of my own thinking and revisiting a colukn I wrote about 9 months ago. I blogged it if you are interested.Gordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03767921257861340046noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12659679.post-1123295670995579042005-08-05T19:34:00.000-07:002005-08-05T19:34:00.000-07:00What an excellent question. It's almost as if some...What an excellent question. It's almost as if some people need the church building to remind them of what they're still rebelling against ("My parents made me go there when I was a kid...."). <BR/><BR/>Interesting dynamic, but sad for your congregation. Such a challenging time indeed.Suehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03407981987874669303noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12659679.post-1123293574422505462005-08-05T18:59:00.000-07:002005-08-05T18:59:00.000-07:00A couple years ago we were doing one of those "con...A couple years ago we were doing one of those "contact-every-member" blitzes. There were a couple of people who were in fact honest enough to say that they only needed the church to be there when they die. In addition to the question reverendmother asks, I wonder "how do they expect that we will still be here if they don't help support (in money and time and participation) our continued existence/presence?"Gordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03767921257861340046noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12659679.post-1123288515688278932005-08-05T17:35:00.000-07:002005-08-05T17:35:00.000-07:00Isn't is interesting that people don't wonder unti...Isn't is interesting that people don't wonder until the doors start to swing shut?<BR/><BR/>Prayers to you tonight.Theresa Colemanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12134175277230355640noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12659679.post-1123257830289460492005-08-05T09:03:00.000-07:002005-08-05T09:03:00.000-07:00That's a really really good question. And an inter...That's a really really good question. And an interesting one to bring with you to a new call (thinking about the PIF again)--what are we here for? What is our ministry to people who will never actually darken our door?reverendmotherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07457532866087494676noreply@blogger.com