What makes a church feel like family?
Somewhere in the last few weeks, someone has been making the rounds to elders and staff (although, I guess it could be an elder…) saying, “This church just doesn’t feel like family any more.” I think the “Any more” means, “Since I came.”
One person said that what we need to make church feel more like family is have more announcements. Apparently at his dinner table someone stands up periodically and makes announcements about upcoming events.
One elder said we need to have people come up and pray after the service.
One of our staff guys said, “We just need to recognize every baby, birthday and burp from the pulpit.” (my own wording. :) )
Someone told me I need to be more extroverted, like T___ (another pastor on staff).
I am not the most personable guy on the planet. I don’t think I ever will be. I don’t think I can be someone I am not. I don’t think I have single handedly removed the family spirit from our church. It was gone a long time ago.
I wonder if anyone considered that feeling like a family might come from real relationships between individual people within the congregation? I wonder if the fact that the church has been run in an atmosphere of sterile secrecy for years might contribute to the lack of family.
Nope. Not that. I am sure it is me.
you mean people arent making snide comments about clothing? people arent whining and saying that is not my job? People are doing what needs to be done without being reminded? no complaining about the costs of things or what the neighbors have instead of us? No demanding more and more for less and less? She or he is going arould complaining without approaching who they think is the problem? stirring stuff up between the siblings? Actually it sounds a lot like family
In a family, at least solid ones, each individual is allowed to be himself. He is not continually asked to be like ___________. Perhaps the church would feel more familial if everyone quit telling us we don’t feel like family!
Family? Well there is the testosterone saturated Kennedy clan. Or how about those laugh-a-minute Hussein boys? You know, Saddam and his merry lads. Then there was Jessie and Frank James and the Earp siblings and Cole and the (lesser) Younger boys. And, of course, everybody’s favorites, the Corleone brood. Yeah. I can see where this family thing is a real spiritual yardstick.