Two Reflections:
Perhaps I am going to break blogging protocol, but I'd like to briefly discuss 2 things that came up this week. Please feel free to comment on any or all of them.
1) The first is an observation. This week we had a men's ministry fish fry. We had about 15 men, give or take a few, who came. Some attend here regularly, some do not. Here is my point. In both of the churches I served in as some kind of pastor there have been strong men's ministry groups. We have been camping, fishing, to retreats, played sports and lots of dinners. In both churches were the groups very well attended. However, in both churches Women's Minsitry has struggled. In both churches there were multiple poorly attended groups and none could really gain momentum and get off the ground.
So in both churches that had gender ministries, the men were far more successful than the women. However, when it comes to worship attendance, the women are far more active than the men. Is your experience similar? Do you have any thoughts or ideas that might explain this?
2) The second is a letter to the editor I read in "The Living Church" (a weekly publication of the Anglo-Catholic Church). It said:
"Indeed, Orthodox churches could make more effort to welcome visitors. We rarely have "greeters." However, the Orthodox Church is growing. My own Anthiochian archdiocese has about four times as many churches as it had 40 years ago - mostly converts. Last week I visited the new Orthodox monastery in Kenosha, WI, which with 19 young nuns is full nearly to capacity... Perhaps evangelistic techinques aren't the chief cause of church growth?"
I have also heard, though I can't cite it, that the Orthodox church is the fastest growing church in the US. Can any of you confirm this? I know google tells you the JW is the fastest growing, but I don't count them among the orthodox Christian churches.
What else, besides evangelistic techniques might contribute to the Orthodox Church's growth? What can we learn from them?
1) The first is an observation. This week we had a men's ministry fish fry. We had about 15 men, give or take a few, who came. Some attend here regularly, some do not. Here is my point. In both of the churches I served in as some kind of pastor there have been strong men's ministry groups. We have been camping, fishing, to retreats, played sports and lots of dinners. In both churches were the groups very well attended. However, in both churches Women's Minsitry has struggled. In both churches there were multiple poorly attended groups and none could really gain momentum and get off the ground.So in both churches that had gender ministries, the men were far more successful than the women. However, when it comes to worship attendance, the women are far more active than the men. Is your experience similar? Do you have any thoughts or ideas that might explain this?
2) The second is a letter to the editor I read in "The Living Church" (a weekly publication of the Anglo-Catholic Church). It said:"Indeed, Orthodox churches could make more effort to welcome visitors. We rarely have "greeters." However, the Orthodox Church is growing. My own Anthiochian archdiocese has about four times as many churches as it had 40 years ago - mostly converts. Last week I visited the new Orthodox monastery in Kenosha, WI, which with 19 young nuns is full nearly to capacity... Perhaps evangelistic techinques aren't the chief cause of church growth?"
I have also heard, though I can't cite it, that the Orthodox church is the fastest growing church in the US. Can any of you confirm this? I know google tells you the JW is the fastest growing, but I don't count them among the orthodox Christian churches.
What else, besides evangelistic techniques might contribute to the Orthodox Church's growth? What can we learn from them?
posted by EF + at 6:27 PM
3 Comments:
Eric,
Personally I have been very drawn to the Orthodox Church. I'm not sure if the Orthodox Church is the fastest growing church in America, but I do know that it is growing here in the U.S.A. Here are the reason I believe the Orthodox Church is growing.
1.)Many people are tired of ME center worship. Devoid of any mystery, awe and sense of the Holiness of the Trinity.
2.)The worship of the Orthodox Church is not only filled with beauty. But you worship with all your senses.
3.) There is a sense of belonging to something that is far bigger than say the community church. That reaches all the way back to Antioch were the the believers were first called Christians. In the Orthodox church there is unity of faith and worship. Even though there is a Western Rite within Orthodoxy. The Orthodox church has never gone through I reformation or counter reformation.
4.)There is a real senses of the communion of the saints through Tradition and the Icons in their Churches. There is a connectedness with those who have gone on before us in the faith of Christ.
5.)Their approach to Theology is much more holistic than in the west. God is Holy, but he is also seen as the philanthropos, the 'lover of humankind'.
There is much more one could say about their sacraments, worship and theology. A great book to read on the Orthodox Church is "The Orthodox Church". By Timothy Ware now Metropolitan Kallistos. Hope that helps a little.
Peace,
Pastor Steven
Here is alink to growth stats from the National Council of Churches. You might have to copy and paste - sorry.
http://www.ncccusa.org/news/060330yearbook1.html
Eric,
I know that there is a lot of interest in Orthodoxy within Wesleyan circles. It has been said that John Wesley had a life long interest in the Orthodox Church.
I'll have to check out that web site on Church growth stats.
Peace,
Pastor Steven
Post a Comment
<< Home