An Irresistible Church
Many of the inhabitants of our new religious landscape have been
described as wanderers, distant or lost. Increasing numbers of these wanderers have been members of a church at one time. Due to a flurry of recent research about them,
we know a great deal more about those who call themselves Christian, but who do
not attend our churches. Those at the
margins of our churches still hunger for God. They are still impressed by Christ. But they express disappointment with many Christian
churches. Somehow they expect more. They expect to be swept off their feet by God
and they are waiting for a church that is irresistible. Some of these new seekers may eventually find themselves settling into an existing church community. Still the decision to align with a particular church will not be the result of any display of doctrinal prowess. Rather the choice of which church to join will be made based on a more personal and subjective criteria.
Established churches can presume too much about the diverse religious landscape in which we live today. Such churches see right belief and consistent behavior as the way to belonging. These churches can presume that the best way to introduce themselves to newcomers is by offering classes about what they believe. The next step for these churches is to expect right behavior. With these preliminaries completed, the church may move to welcome those who express a desire to belong. Ironically, this path can be the opposite of what the contemporary seeker appreciates.
Many spiritual seekers are impressed with churches that start with warm welcome and acceptance (belonging) without conditions. Once they feel welcome, such seekers feel free to investigate the conduct that is demonstrated and required of members (behavior). Once acquainted and satisfied, newcomers desire to know more about the convictions (beliefs) upon which the community is founded. The funny thing is that one need only read the Gospels to see how natural this path has been in our Church.
So what makes us irresistible? Maybe it starts with what makes us irresistible to God. Could it be our audacious capacity for hope? Is it the conviction of the saints like Teresa of Calcutta and John Paul II who call themselves Catholic? Is it our tolerance of differences or our acceptance of all sinners to the table of Eucharist? Is it our dedication to the truth or our concern for the poorest of our society? According to the research, these are among some of our most irresistible qualities but there is more. And a growing consensus of research also suggests that irresistible communities:
How can we become more irresistible? Irresistible churches mobilize their members to reach out to those just outside the doors as ambassadors of Christ. These churches know that those just outside our reach are friends, siblings and colleagues who share with us a:
How does an irresistible parish work?
1. Connect, welcome and engage with everyone interested in the mission of the parish. This is a hallmark of an irresistible church. Irresistible churches make the experience of church sticky for visitors and newcomers. They walk their talk. We preach the Gospel always, and when necessary use words.
2. Start small. A church that tries to grow numerically usually grows too fast and quickly fosters a superficial community. Most churches that grow from the inside out with intentional small steps. They find success contagious and they adapt what works in small areas across the rest of parish programming.
3. Think creatively. Envision the problem solved. The greatest obstacle to attraction is negative energy. Nothing is as cancerous as a poor attitude. Cultivate the habit of abundance thinking. Be creative and innovate. Where is the abundance in your parish? Even scarcity hints at abundance. Do you know people who do not attend church? Of course you do. They are the sons, nieces, neighbors, and colleagues of people sitting in church every week. St. Joseph in Holland has initiated a census outreach to begin re-connecting with people at the margins of parish life. How can we enlist the support of people who share our mission but do not belong to our church?
4. Begin thinking strategically about the parish. Who are we? What is non-negotiable about our purpose? What is negotiable about participation in our mission? How can we express our convictions with creativity? How do we hope the parish will look in five years? Does our parish have a clear statement of mission that is clear and well publicized? Such a statement must be simple and able to be remembered. For example, “All Saints: where everyone is a saint in the making”; “Holy Redeemer: We love God’s people and help everyone to do God’s will; "Most Holy Redeemer: We welcome all and offer ourselves to all who desire Christ”. Do all the organizations and ministries of the parish know the parish mission and know how their activity fits into the evangelizing purpose of the parish? Are our strategic priorities as much about those who remain outside church as they are for those inside church? Is the parish praying for those outside the parish?
5. Create a focus, assess your resources, develop a plan and stick with it. Develop a plan of action for a few priorities and do not become distracted. Use parish priorities as a way to build bridges with partners in and around the parish. How can we leverage what we do well to accomplish our plan? Will our plan of action empower young people? Will it involve young families? How will the plan impact the larger community? How will it affect the poorest and most powerless? How will we define success? Who will oversee implementation and evaluation of our plan? How will we educate the parish about our plans? Are there strategic partners for us outside the parish?
The Catholic church excels in attracting people who are looking for more. Visit www.EvangelizeBuffalo.org or consider adapting ideas from the folks at Fuller Youth Institute www.stickyfaith.org. or contact Dennis Mahaney, Office of Parish Life, 716-847-8393.
Established churches can presume too much about the diverse religious landscape in which we live today. Such churches see right belief and consistent behavior as the way to belonging. These churches can presume that the best way to introduce themselves to newcomers is by offering classes about what they believe. The next step for these churches is to expect right behavior. With these preliminaries completed, the church may move to welcome those who express a desire to belong. Ironically, this path can be the opposite of what the contemporary seeker appreciates.
Many spiritual seekers are impressed with churches that start with warm welcome and acceptance (belonging) without conditions. Once they feel welcome, such seekers feel free to investigate the conduct that is demonstrated and required of members (behavior). Once acquainted and satisfied, newcomers desire to know more about the convictions (beliefs) upon which the community is founded. The funny thing is that one need only read the Gospels to see how natural this path has been in our Church.
So what makes us irresistible? Maybe it starts with what makes us irresistible to God. Could it be our audacious capacity for hope? Is it the conviction of the saints like Teresa of Calcutta and John Paul II who call themselves Catholic? Is it our tolerance of differences or our acceptance of all sinners to the table of Eucharist? Is it our dedication to the truth or our concern for the poorest of our society? According to the research, these are among some of our most irresistible qualities but there is more. And a growing consensus of research also suggests that irresistible communities:
- are clear about their identity and expectations of their members. Above all else, they are bound together by a desire to share the abundance of life. They know that the contributions of everyone are necessary to accomplish their purpose. They are joined together as a circle but one that faces outward. They are balanced in spending time as a church gathered which enables them to be effective as a church when scattered.
- have people with no compulsion to church shop. These members long to be at church every week and are disappointed if they have to miss attending or any reason. They are telling others about their church and invite others to church events confident about the welcome that the friend will receive and the experience that their friends will have.
- are highly invested in the success of their parish. They contribute with their own talents. They are confident about how money is spent and know that good things happen within and around the church. Members of these churches know what they do best and do it as part of the mission of their church.
- reflect regularly on what God wants them to do with their talents both at church and in daily life. These churches are expert at connecting people to one another both online and in person. They know people in the congregation, offer spiritual guidance and warm friendship.
- call and equip their people for a mission beyond the walls of the church which continues well after the last church bells have rung on Sunday afternoon. An irresistible church casts its bread on the water, cares for the poor, even when payment for its own bills is uncertain.
- are peculiarly humble despite the audacity of their mission. They are not prone to the “perfection
complex”. In fact, irresistible churches
are decidedly flawed. The leaders are
humble and dedicated to a routine of regular self-assessment. Leaders
in an irresistible community are open about their mistakes and use mistakes as
sources of insight and improvement. They
are fascinated by anyone who does not attend church and gracious with newcomers,
visitors and friends from all walks of life.
How can we become more irresistible? Irresistible churches mobilize their members to reach out to those just outside the doors as ambassadors of Christ. These churches know that those just outside our reach are friends, siblings and colleagues who share with us a:
- hunger for God’s presence. We attract people when we pray and focus on God’s presence in their lives. This hunger unites us whether we are inside or outside the walls of church. It keeps our mission on track. Irresistible churches call on God for guidance.
- desire for Christ. What made John Paul II so remarkable is that, despite the countless opportunities, he never spoke about himself. He only spoke of Christ. Likewise the mission of the church is to reflect Christ, not ourselves. And that is irresistible. Irresistible churches boldly proclaim Christ and make no apologies for being Catholic. We have unparalleled spiritual treasures to aid those seeking Christ as long as we remember that we are the means, not the end.
- concern for people who struggle just to get by. Irresistible churches have a heart for people in need. Christ reached to those furthest out. He spent most of his time among those most despised and least likely to succeed. Pope Benedict's maxim in Deus Caritas Est is "A Christian knows when it is time to speak of God and when it is better to say nothing and to let love alone speak." The corporal works of mercy and the works of justice have been one of the strongest assets of the Catholic church throughout the centuries. Irresistible churches actively confront injustice and respond to human material and spiritual needs.
- appreciation of mission-driven organizations. Irresistible churches sustain those programs and structures that support their mission. Just because we have a small group program does not mean people are experiencing mutual support and heartfelt prayer. The presence of a group for men does not necessarily make men good husbands and holy fathers. Irresistible churches are constantly evaluating their activities based on goal-based outcomes.
- radical commitment to Sabbath. Meditation, yoga, Taize and other contemplative prayer forms are getting increasingly popular today because people are being ground down by anxiety and stress. People appreciate a church that slows them down to rest and notice the blessings of life. Slowing down reminds us of the sustaining presence of the God of creation. People who attend church are more grateful, more positive and more satisfied with life.
- concern for helping people to communicate, get along, appreciate one another and deal with conflict. The Holy Father recently observed the need to get along with all people of good will, "There should be dialogue with those for whom religion is something foreign, to whom God is unknown yet who do not wish to be left utterly without God, but rather to draw near to him, even as if to the Unknown." Unresolved conflict, like unresolved anxiety attacks the spiritual immune system and has a cancerous effect on people’s spirits.
- a commitment to keep learning. The futurist, Alvin Toffler wrote that the illiterate people of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write but those who cannot learn and relearn. In order to learn and gain insight the mind needs to reflect. Post Moderns are experience rich but insight poor. Irresistible churches model a discipline of reflection by gathering with participants after every significant event to evaluate its impact and value for the community. They ask sometimes uncomfortable questions: What was the quality of involvement? Was the message relevant to those assembled? Were all the goals accomplished - hearts moved or just minds touched? Was Christ proclaimed or just the church preached? Who was conspicuously absent? How can the message and resources be shared with those who were unable to attend?
How does an irresistible parish work?
1. Connect, welcome and engage with everyone interested in the mission of the parish. This is a hallmark of an irresistible church. Irresistible churches make the experience of church sticky for visitors and newcomers. They walk their talk. We preach the Gospel always, and when necessary use words.
2. Start small. A church that tries to grow numerically usually grows too fast and quickly fosters a superficial community. Most churches that grow from the inside out with intentional small steps. They find success contagious and they adapt what works in small areas across the rest of parish programming.
3. Think creatively. Envision the problem solved. The greatest obstacle to attraction is negative energy. Nothing is as cancerous as a poor attitude. Cultivate the habit of abundance thinking. Be creative and innovate. Where is the abundance in your parish? Even scarcity hints at abundance. Do you know people who do not attend church? Of course you do. They are the sons, nieces, neighbors, and colleagues of people sitting in church every week. St. Joseph in Holland has initiated a census outreach to begin re-connecting with people at the margins of parish life. How can we enlist the support of people who share our mission but do not belong to our church?
4. Begin thinking strategically about the parish. Who are we? What is non-negotiable about our purpose? What is negotiable about participation in our mission? How can we express our convictions with creativity? How do we hope the parish will look in five years? Does our parish have a clear statement of mission that is clear and well publicized? Such a statement must be simple and able to be remembered. For example, “All Saints: where everyone is a saint in the making”; “Holy Redeemer: We love God’s people and help everyone to do God’s will; "Most Holy Redeemer: We welcome all and offer ourselves to all who desire Christ”. Do all the organizations and ministries of the parish know the parish mission and know how their activity fits into the evangelizing purpose of the parish? Are our strategic priorities as much about those who remain outside church as they are for those inside church? Is the parish praying for those outside the parish?
5. Create a focus, assess your resources, develop a plan and stick with it. Develop a plan of action for a few priorities and do not become distracted. Use parish priorities as a way to build bridges with partners in and around the parish. How can we leverage what we do well to accomplish our plan? Will our plan of action empower young people? Will it involve young families? How will the plan impact the larger community? How will it affect the poorest and most powerless? How will we define success? Who will oversee implementation and evaluation of our plan? How will we educate the parish about our plans? Are there strategic partners for us outside the parish?
The Catholic church excels in attracting people who are looking for more. Visit www.EvangelizeBuffalo.org or consider adapting ideas from the folks at Fuller Youth Institute www.stickyfaith.org. or contact Dennis Mahaney, Office of Parish Life, 716-847-8393.
Print Resources
- Anderson, David W. Vibrant Faith in the Congregation. Bloomington: Vibrant Faith, 2011
- Brennan, Patrick J. The Mission Driven Parish. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 2007.
- Cordeiro, Wayne, The Irresistible Church: 12 Traits of a Church Heaven Applauds. Bloomington, IL: Bethany House Publ.
- Kinnaman, David. You Lost Me: Why Young Christians are Leaving Church... and Rethinking Faith. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2011.
- Osborne, Larry Sticky Church Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Books, 2008.
- Powell, Dr. Kara E. and Clark, Dr. Chap. Sticky Faith: Everyday Ideas to Build Lasting Faith in Your Kids. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Books, 2011.
- Winseman, Albert L. Growing an Engaged Church: How to Stop "Doing Church" and Start BEING the Church Again. New York: Gallup Press, 2006.
Irresistible Church, new evangelization, outreach, innovation, planning, strategic, vitality, evangelization, new evangelization, parish, Catholic, renewal, innovation, pastoral planning, faith formation, young adults, Millennials, Mosaics