In today’s blog, Church Development notes how there might be more of a need for the social aspect of the church than in years past.

I remember logging onto my email account years ago and reading the headline, “New Study Finds That Real Friends are Closer Than Online Friends.” I immediately started laughing, because we don’t really need a study to tell us that obvious truth, do we?

Well, unfortunately, as a society we do.

Maybe it’s just the ease of technology or a number of changing social factors, but most people would agree we support an isolationist culture. You can go to school online, work online, date online—none of which requires interacting in-person. Don’t get me wrong; my smartphone is a lifesaver when I’m on the go, but if I didn’t have anyone who could literally get in my face, I’d be in big trouble.

Robert D. Putnam felt the same way. In 1995 he wrote an article called “Bowling Alone: America’s Declining Social Capital”—centered on the notion that the number of people bowling had gone up, yet the number of those bowling in leagues had gone down. Five years later, Putnam put out a 500+ page book expanding on the same topic. The bottom line:

It's a little older now (2008), but USA Today released an interactive map of the topography of faith in the U.S. that's well worth a look: http://www.usatoday.com/news/graphics/pew-religion-08/flash.htm

Of note:

Church Development shares some potential forums to invite your church into shared decision making.

In wrapping this series on the importance of involving your church in decision making, I wanted to share some common forums we recommend to embrace this process:

1. Town Hall Meetings

The easiest time and place to hold a town hall meeting to discuss where you’re heading as a church is in your worship space right after service. Put the event in your announcements a couple weeks ahead of time, then promote it the Sunday of, that right after church you’ll have a 15-30 minute town hall meeting on the church’s present state and future goals. 

I’ll let you know now that 50% of your church will bolt for the door, but for the ones that stay, it’s important to have a basic agenda with lots of room to receive comments. I recommend that someone take notes on a notepad easel. Pass around a microphone, guide people along if need be, and, pastors, close with something along the lines of, “Thanks for staying and sharing your opinions on where you’d like to ahead as a church. This isn’t a democracy, but we value your views.”