 November/December 1999 (XXXVII 5) |
henever I read or hear of "shrinking Meetings" I am concerned anew and reflect on what more I can contribute to effective outreach. At Meeting I recently spoke about the competitive nature of religion in our society. Our local churches offer a wide variety of "enticements" including clowns at the first day of Sunday school. While I am not proposing anything quite so extreme, we could be a little more direct in our approach to attracting and keeping members.
Have we ever studied the reasons we lose members or attenders? This simple question could be asked and answered anonymously: "Is there a particular area in which we failed to meet your spiritual needs?" Only with a clear understanding of the issue can we begin to form a more effective outreach program.
"Helping others to find a transforming experience of the Presence and the Grace of God" is a worthy, focused goal. A tangible plan would help in the interim as we work toward that goal. I am a convinced Friend for the past 8 years and I see few areas where there is less agreement than on the topic of outreach. We have a terrific window of opportunity right now. More and more "boomers" are "going back to religion" and seeking and we can offer much to seekers who want something different from "organized" religion.
Edie Gleason
Lehigh Valley Meeting (PA)
Last modified: Wednesday, February 18, 2004 at 08:18 AM