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Hinkle 1 Caitlyn Hinkle Mr.

Hackney Rhetoric 101 22 November 2013 Exodus Throughout the years churches have seen a decline in attendance in church services, Sunday schools, and community events led by the church. Religion is not dying, because people still affiliate themselves with religion, but yet the numbers in the pews are dwindling. A number of people have recently suggested that the church is reaching out in unique ways to form ministry bonds with people they never thought they could. Although it is not said directly, some believe that the leaders of the church are the reason people are leaving, because the church members feel unwelcome. From a different perspective it is seen as though people are trying to assimilate into many different cultures and traditions in the community and their ethnic groups. Although some believe that it is people themselves becoming part of the community beyond the church I uphold that the church is finding new and unique ways to build relationships with people outside of their church community. The term lost sheep refers to what the church identifies as lost members. This is one of the biggest issues seen in churches in this generation. With my experience as a Preachers daughter, I understand that people leaving the church brings dramatic changes to the congregation. Others who are still there begin to reevaluate why they are still there when the congregation is getting smaller. It doesnt matter if you have a congregation of 200 or 50 you will see the effects of losing members. Many might disagree that the numbers are not a key

Hinkle 2 factor to church and say that 80% of people still identify themselves as Christian or of other religious affiliations. To begin, Micah Bucey, the community minister of arts at Judson Memorial Church, introduces the idea that church is becoming a relationship and partnership with the community. He writes, First, we embrace artists and dont censor them. My church, Judson Memorial in the West Village, has a decades-long tradition of opening our space to artists. What is revolutionary is Judsons commitment to considering this outreach a ministry in its own right. Bucey shows that by opening the church doors throughout the week ministry is being done that draws people back into church by letting them see a new side of religion. Quite reversely, Thom and Joani Schultz, authors of Why Nobody Wants to Go to Church Anymore, explain that people are in fact leaving the church in search of a better circumstance. Meaning that they have been unsatisfied in some way by the church they previously attended. In their article they quote other people who have left the church, such as The church is filled with posters and know-it-alls or Youre not interested in my thoughts or feelings, you just want to lecture me. When these ideas are brought forth to ministers and church leaders they simply get defensive and blame them for their lack of interest in congregational life. This shows how the lost sheep are being treated in an unloving manner even after they have left the church. Furthermore, it is the new ministries and outreaches that churches are participating in that is drawing new people to the church rather than driving them away. Being part of a church plant for the past five to six years I have experienced many new types of outreaches that have brought people into the church that are unexpected. As Bucey says, Just as we allow uncomfortable artistic questions to inform our own beliefs, we should (and do) allow ourselves to be reshaped and reinvigorated by those whose identities are different from our own. This point is just as

Hinkle 3 important as it is valid. You see through the eyes of this church leader it is key to invite and let questions be said and heard. We cant stop others from asking, because if their voice isnt heard they dont feel important. But even through this, the leaders of the church may not always have the answers those people want to hear; they may not even have the answer at all. Schultz says, Were all in this together. We all struggle. No one has all the answers. We are all trying to know and follow Jesus together. Even my father being a pastor for more than twenty years still doesnt have all the answers for everyone. In saying that though, he can help them find the answer by leading them spiritually in the direction they need to go. This is what I believe churches can do once they have achieved those relationships in the community through outreach. In contrast, some believe that it is better that the separation of people from the church is a good thing and is benefitting the church. Adam Greenway, Dean of Billy Graham School of Missions, gives a very insightful yet devastating perspective to how he feels about the drops in attendance in churches across America. Greenway argues, With the increasing secularization of contemporary society, however, the theological and sociological aspects of Christian America are separating like never before. There is cause for rejoicing in this. It is impossible to understand how someone can even believe or think this way. If what the Bible says is true, and God loves everyone, then we shouldnt be rejoicing in losing his children from our fellowship. He states, Biblical Christians should care not so much about recovering an elusive American Christendom and rebuilding church attendance with nominal adherents, but rather focus our efforts on living as faithful exiles in an increasingly strange land. This is revolting to hear coming from someone of great importance in theology. To see him be so blatantly ignorant to what the world is changing to, those who are lost sheep cant be left behind and forgotten but guided and led back to their spirituality. In fact, we cant just let, what he believes to be, dying

Hinkle 4 Christianity die off. But rather we must integrate it into society as Martin Luther or John Calvin did in their efforts to bring change to Catholicism. In conclusion, the numbers of congregation members in church services are dropping but the church is finding new and innovative ways to reach out to people in the communities. We cant give up on our efforts to win people back to the church because then it is like we didnt even try. The church must be willing to go outside of their comfort zone if they want the community to find its way back to the church.

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Works Cited Bucey, Micah. "Bringing the World into the Church." New York Times the Opinion Pages. New York Times Co., n.d. Web. 12 Nov. 2013. Greenway, Adam W. "A Goal of Faithful Living, Not Filling Pews." New York Times the Opinion Pages. New York Times Co., 27 Oct. 2013. Web. 24 Nov. 2013. Schultz, Joani, and Thom Schultz. "A New Attitude." New York Times the Opinion Pages. New York Times Co., 27 Oct. 2013. Web. 13 Nov. 2013. Sorett, Josef. "Don't Read Too Much Into the Numbers." New York Times the Opinion Pages. New York Times Co., 27 Oct. 2013. Web. 17 Nov. 2013.

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