The Christian Century
This is somewhat old news, but a question (I think) all churches face. Please review the link for background.
Having read Diana Butler Bass's books on "practicing congregations," it was no surprise to me to hear of these findings from Willow Creek. Kudos to them for being flexible. Just a thought--how DO we get out of the mindset that if one checks off certain markers (such as program attendance) of institutional fidelity that spiritual growth will be the result? And how DO we establish the mindset that actually exploring and doing the spiritual disciplines individually and in community are instead the pathways for growth? In the words of Michael Foss's book, how do we shift from member to disciple?
Thoughts?
Thursday, August 7, 2008
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2 comments:
I am still not totally sure as to how to engage people at church spiritually. In the next month I will be facilitating two seminars. One on centering prayer and another on spiritual care of seniors. I am sure that the first will draw at least 20-25 poeple, and the second will draw 100 or more (since it's at a state-wide conference). If I did any of those at my church (which I've done before) I may only pull in about 5-6 individuals.
It's ironic that spirituality is so much more welcomed in other arenas than the church. Baptists just still tend to see spiritual growth as a personal thing, and have lost some ability to interact with people's spirituality on the public, congregational level.
Joe, great observations. It appears that misunderstandings about christian spirituality are prevalent, as well as the fact that most people get their "spiritual needs" filled by other things--be it family, food, success, or our stuff.
I just recently attended the foundational "immersion course" at Columbia Seminary in their Spiritual Formation Certificate Program. This is a partially academic but mostly practice-oriented program eventually resulting in a "certificate" at the end of 6 or so courses. CTS is offering great opportunities for a deeper spiritual life. But sadly most everyone in my group was middle-aged to older females, the majority of whom were ministers. I was one of 2 males and by far the youngest. My wife, Deedra, who coordinates that program says that's typical.
One of the attendees said that she was seeing her elderly father before and after the 3-day course. He told her before hand, "I don't know why you'd want to go and talk with others about your spiritual life. I wouldn't want to do that--that's between me and God."
When performance (social acceptability) are the motives behind piety and love is not exercised enough in community, then we fall into seeing spirituality as an intensely private "segment" of our lives that some guard like they do their medical records!
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