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What are the underlying attitudes that we hold about our church and church outreach?
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by Theresa McQueen
- In every area of church organization and life we are making the decision to grow or not to grow, whether or not we realize it.
True?
- We can have Divine Revelation, professional advertisements, techniques for talking to people, wonderful programs, an incredible financial endowment, and still not grow.
True?
Tonight we will take a few minutes to look at different areas in our organization. The purpose is to try and uncover some fundamental mind-sets we hold that are likely to either block, or produce healthy growth.
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Differences in Outlook between the Outwardly Focused Church and Inwardly Focused Church1
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| Topic |
Outwardly Focused Church |
Inwardly Focused Church |
| Offerings |
What they need drives what we provide.
Offer what people come in off the street needing as well as offering what long term attendees need.
What do people today need the most? How can we provide it?
Grief Counseling, Family Support, Teen Programs, Parenting Classes, Connection and feeling of Community.
Peter Drucker (1985) said "It's more important to do the right thing, than to do things right." And "We are getting better and better at doing that which should not be done at all.2
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If what we offer doesn't serve new people, perhaps they don't belong here. What we offer is what we offer.
Offer what we have often traditionally thought they should need.
We know what is good for them.
Looking at it as if the doctrines are in opposition to need-based programming.
Banquet of ideas.
Friday Supper, Classes, Schools.
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| Research |
To determine what people need and how we can serve those needs.
Demographic Studies: Who lives near us? What are they like?
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Determine reactions to what we offer, if we do research at all. We know what people should need.
We do research into the state of the human race.
Not a bad thing, but is it the goal?
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| Innovation |
Focus on locating new opportunities to fill needs and serve others. |
Focus is on current programs and cutting costs. |
| $$$ |
Responsibility for resources is a critical objective, but willing to stretch or reallocate necessary funds for important opportunities.
There is a time to invest in a hopeful future.
Our building project.
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Raise enough to cover the costs. Any new projects will be considered according to the residual.
"Hunkering down for the long cold winter."
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| Tolerance |
Seen as a natural outcome of growth and something to be worked with.
Full of fire and new ideas, Marital Problems, Disciplinary problems, Unmarried couple, Swears, Wrong clothes.
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Seen as a necessary evil to be corrected as soon as possible.
Acceptable and unacceptable warts. Stuff we are used to. Alcoholism, child abuse, gossip…
Frank Roses telephone call example. Lost? Wrong place! Hang up.
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| Packaging |
Seen as important to initial contact and a general expression of pride in the church. Multiple right ways to do things.
What does our facility look like? Where are our signs? Do we have greeters? Is the service newcomer friendly?
Willingness to change, multiple right ways of doing things.
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Seen from a practical and economic viewpoint, or not seen at all. Denial of packaging: church service formats, music choices, etc. Sacred cows.
That sign was put up by Uncle so-and-so, we can't change it! Anyone could find their way to the chapel. Just because the entrance isn't well marked, and you have to walk down a hall and through two sets of doors……
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| Accessibility |
Hours of availability, times of events, set according to needs of the congregation and community. |
Set with the staffs, and the present membership's convenience in mind.
Cancel a 9:30 service 1/mo. To combine with 11:00.
Rummage Sale on 1st day of Passover.
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| Advertising |
Need-satisfying benefits of association with the church.
Lack of information/awareness --> liking --> preference --> conviction/ join the church.3
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Informational.
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| Time |
Help the new person to find ways to integrate into the congregation if it is a good match for them.
When they get there, who cares? One or two evangelists? The whole congregation? No compelling doctrine such as "They burn in hell if they aren't saved."
People have to want to be friends with the new arrivals. Is there room in your life?
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Sell the church to new people without general acceptance on the part of the congregation that new people are an asset and potential new friends.
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| Relationship |
Follow-up contact and integration into congregation.
Hey, nice to have you! You're on your own.
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When someone has joined the church, they are on their own to make a place for themselves. |
| Language |
Adapt the language to the audience.
Avoid using Swedenborgianese.
Ask: What is the most useful presentation of this message?
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The message is the message, the language is the language. Let people learn to decipher it. Reverence for a translation to the point that it is used even when it will not be understood.
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| Prayer |
Pray specifically for the growth of ones local church, and the church as a whole. Pray for the willingness to serve new people. |
Don't pray about growth. |
Something to Consider
 A passage from the Arcana in an original translation:
With those who are to be regenerated, who are here treated of in the internal representative sense, the case is that first of all they are in a state of tranquility, or in a state of external peace (for external peace, or peace in externals, is called "tranquility"); and the same is produced from the Divine state of peace that is inmostly within it; and it comes forth into the externals through the removal of cupidities and falsities; for these are what cause all unrest. Moreover at the beginning of his life, that is, during his infancy, every man is in a state of tranquility; but as he advances in life, that is, grows up to manhood, he removes himself from this state, because he gives himself up to worldly cares, and consequently to anxieties caused by the cupidities of the love of self and of the world, and the derivative falsities. [2] The case is almost the same with the new life in the man who is being regenerated: at first he is in a state of tranquility; but as he passes into a new life, he also passes at the same time into an untranquil state; for the evils and falsities with which be had before become imbued emerge and come forth, and disturb him, and this at last to such a degree that he is in temptations and vexations inflicted by the diabolical crew, who are continually striving to destroy the state of his new life. Yet inmostly the man is in a state of peace, for unless this were with him inmostly, he would not combat, for in his battlings he is continually looking to this state as the end, and unless he had such an end, he would in no wise have power and strength to combat. This moreover is the reason why he overcomes; Arcana Coelestia 3696
The same passage paraphrased for a new person:
People who are being made wise, or regenerated, begin in a state of tranquility, and of external peace. This tranquility is produced from the Divine state of peace that is at its core. Tranquility emerges into our external life through the removal of harmful tendencies, bad habits, and false ideas, because these are what cause all unrest. At the beginning of our lives, that is, during infancy, everyone is in a state of tranquility. But as we advance in life, that is, grow to become adults, we remove ourselves from this state. We give ourselves over to worldly cares, and consequently to anxieties. These are caused by the tendency we all have to love ourselves, put ourselves first, and look for our happiness in the things of the world. From this approach to life come all kinds of false ideas that justify and confirm our attitudes and choices. The situation is the same with the new life in us as we are being regenerated. At first we enjoy a state of tranquility; but as we pass into a new, wiser life, we also pass, at the same time into an un-tranquil state. All the attitudes that had permeated our lives emerge, come to our attention, and disturb us. This progresses to the point that we experience temptations, irritations, and conflict as our lower self battles with our higher self. Yet most deeply on the level of our spirit, we can be in a state of peace. Unless this peace from God was present, we would not have the will to go through this kind of spiritual combat. Even when we battle we continually look for the state of tranquility that waits for us in the end. ~Arcana Coelestia 3696 (paraphrased)
- Adapted from Perreault, William D, and McCarthy, E. Jerome, Exhibit 2-3, Basic Marketing: A Global-Managerial Approach, Twelfth Edition, Irwin, 1996
- Business Research Realities: Erekson, Shaha, Swenson, Simon&Shuster Custom Printing (1996) Drucker, P.F. (1985) Innovation and entrepreneurship.London, William Heinemann
- Erekson, Shaha, Swenson, Exhibit 14.1, Business Research Realities: Simon&Shuster Custom Printing (1996)
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