Consumer Church

"The most pervasive logic or vision for ministry today is shaped by the market and the values of consumerism rather than by the Gospel of Jeus Christ," - Kenneth Cardin, Methodist Bishop

Like it or not, your church, my church, competes in the market place. Our "competition" is not other churches, but rather any event, past-time, choice that serves as an alternative to church attendance. There is an old business adage though that applies to this market place dynamic -- go where the competition is not.

In a business sense, to go where the competition is not, is to create a new mental space -- a unique place in the consumers array of choices. To extend it a bit more, it means to create a new loyalty in their heart.

I believe that business practices and marketing strategies have gone where they should not go in the ministry of Christ, however, I think there is important application here.

By striving to create that new loyality in their heart we are striving for spiritual matters. I know without a doubt that the things of God are more attractive, more meaningful and more fulfilling than anything the consumer world can offer. Yet, the market place is winning the attention of the consumer.

If the message of Christ is unchanged, and the power of Christ has not diminished, as lay leaders and pastors, we must examine why the things of Christ are not widely held or appreciated. If it is not in the message, perhaps it is in the messenger.

Consider what your life "sells" to those around you. Do you speak more admirably of your car than you do of your faith? Do you know more about the NFL than the book of James? Have you found yourself going on and on about the latest movie plot while never giving a second thought to the greatest story ever told?

I fear that we, the messengers, have been to blame. The message is still strong. We have not remained so.

As a laity leader of your church or a pastor, I encourage you to ask the following question for 1 month in each of your classes, meetings and informal gatherings: "What does it mean to be a "consumer" of Christ as opposed to a consumer of things? After 1 month, call a special evening of dialogue to honestly share what you have learned. I suspect it will be a turning point for you, your church and your community.

Middle Class Attitude Down

"Americans feel stuck in their tracks. A majority of survey respondents say that in the past five years, they either haven't moved forward in life (25%) or have fallen backward (31%). This is the most downbeat assessment of personal progress in nearly a half century of polling by the Pew Research Center and the Gallop organization." -- Report: Inside the Middle Class

Distressed times make for distressed people. As the U.S. economy falters, look for the sentiment of the population in general to move to guarded self-concern. In this state of despair, the church will have a window of ministry opportunity to provide financial counseling, marriage mentoring and career guidance.

Special attention should be paid to congregational disconnect as concerns drive parishioners inward and less willing to be a part of community. Those churches who set up support groups and confidential lines of communication for community use will capture this down time as a spiritual time of growth and connectivity in their community.

To better understand the middle class views of your congregation, this 169 page free report is an excellent composite of their current attitudes.

Expanded Prison Ministry Opportunities

In their newly published report Life After Lockup, the Urban Institute provides an exhaustive look at the prison population in city and county jails. An opportunity for church based prison ministries exists in expanding their focus from State or Federal Penitentiaries to local jails. Local inmates experience a very high return to criminal behavior, have more immediate family needs and lack a support mechanism upon release to help them overcome the offending issues.

Local churches are well suited to provide much needed support to the inmate as well as their family during these relatively brief times of incarceration. A more expanded localized jail ministry is an excellent opportunity for church laity to organize around and serve this need that impacts the community at large.