Exchanges
A simple question:
If a church (or faith-community if you like) sits inside the greater (larger) community, then there’s an exchange going on.
I draw it like this:
I get the community-to-church exchange. Basically it’s “we ship you people and money”.
But here’s my question – what does the church ship back to the larger community? What is it that the church provides (or could provide) to that larger community?
Tags: economics of church, money, people
Todd said
am February 9 2010 @ 4:43 pm
I think the church ships back many things. Here are a few:
1. Moral/Religious Education – I know of several people who don’t go to church, but send their kids so they will learn morality.
2. Social Services – Many churches provide social assistance and services to their members, but also the community at large.
3. (Hopefully) the love of God and message of Christ. (Sometimes I think #1 and #2 are assumed to be #3, but that isn’t always the case).
On a completely different note. Why is the community wearing pants and the church wearing a dress?
-Todd
Helen said
am February 9 2010 @ 8:38 pm
Todd, maybe the church is in a dress because the church is the bride of Christ?
Phil Merten said
am February 10 2010 @ 7:27 am
I hope it’s not as simple a transaction as this. A church is (or needs to be) not just a dispenser of a commodity to its community, but a neighbor. How do you chart the exchange of benefits between neighbors in a community? It’s complex, and it should be.
Al Doyle said
am February 11 2010 @ 1:53 am
Sometimes I think some church’s highest and best use is to keep Evangelicals busy inside their four wall doing all kinds of church-y things. It makes life easier for the followers of Jesus to love their neighbors. Of course, this is when I’m at my most cynical.
Bryan said
am March 25 2010 @ 8:59 am
Interesting question! To be honest, the two are not different really. The members are the church. Somewhere along the way the buildings and budgets have seem to have gotten in the way.
As I read things, believers are the church and are called to live out their lives serving others. No church programs needed. No financial commitment to believe and/or belong. Just a willingness to love and follow the Spirit’s direction.
Just my 2 cents…
Betty McBee said
am April 18 2010 @ 11:00 pm
This is a question that I have been mulling over too. For a year or so now I have been reading books and magazines about “being the church” and serving the community. Last fall our ministerial association sponsored a joint worship service in the high school stadium and declared that they wanted to do more things together. I was hoping that meant serving the community, not just large gatherings of church members.
I really want to find ways for “the Church” in our town to exhibit the love of God to the whole community, and do it together. I’m looking for doable ideas from churches that have actually practiced being the church outside their own buildings.
My own suggestion to our pastor was to sponsor a fair where all kinds of “helping groups” could be represented so people could become acquainted with help that is available here in town–both non-profits and businesses–from the Caring Pregnancy Center to the business “Heavenly Helpers” who provide all kinds of helping services.
I have just finished “Jim and Casper Go to Church”. I loved it!! It goes next to my pastor, and then to everyone else I can get to read it. Thanks Jim.