Church Growth Strategies: Charging admission

It is rather odd that following on from the 'asking people to pay for stuff' the issue comes up again as a result of my experiences of the past week. When I became a Christian, one of the things that struck me about my faith, and something I used to tell my friends was that Christianity was, 'Something so amazing that we couldn't ever find a way of being able to pay for it and yet it was also something that we struggled to give it away!'

The past week has seen me on holiday and one of the places we visited as a family had a number of amazing places to visit and the means of seeing the exhibits and visiting the historic buildings was made ors by the simple purchase of a ticket. When I asked at the sales desk they told me that the family ticket would enable me to visit the main attractions and exhibits and that this included the local cathedral too - so, of course, I forked out the required dosh.

Now, as I'm always being up for any opportunity to stop and enjoy chatting with the Boss in an historic sacred space I forked out the (not insubstantial) amount asked for so that we could all enjoy the sites and sights of that place with the thought that at the end of it all there was to be a 'God moment' to top it off.

So we went into all the buildings and visited the wonderful exhibits - made the mandatory stop at the souvenir shop for the equally mandatory thimble for the matriarch (AKA 'Nanna') and then I headed for the 'God slot' and the cathedral.

Upon entering I was ushered to a sales desk where, like a good punter, I showed my tickets.

'Ooooh,' said the really nice woman, 'They're not our tickets dearie. You'll need to buy one that looks like this (you'll need to imagine the ticket she waved in front of my nose!). 'But I was told that this ticket does everywhere and everything,' I mumbled, aware of the looks from the cathedral bouncers (I mean ushers - sorry, always get confused under pressure) and the sales staff.

'So,' I asked, 'How much will it cost me?'

The response from the sales person, reaching for the tickets, was, "Oh, it's such good value. It'll only cost you £28.80 for the whole family and we don't close for another hour' (because apparently there was a 'paying' event on and they were going to close early to set it up!)

The woman looked crestfallen and the man next to me mumbled something about not passing up a chance to see a building that had been there since the late twelfth century and how it was 'really great value' and stuff like that.

But in the end, making a point of telling the sales staff and supporting cast how I worked in a place a bit like that every day of the week and so was only missing out on some of the local variations but would take the bloke I came to chat with outside (where the encounter was free**) and do it there.

Not missing a beat, one of the welcoming staff (they weren't that welcoming really) then took great pains to point me to the cathedral shop (where apparently there were MANY wonderful things to purchase - and obediently I did visit and did purchase something to ensure I received a blessing (or evaded another stern look) and left with a smile towards the sales staff and 'welcomers'.

Oddly, none of them smiled back - not even a wave was on the 'free menu'!

Outside, I found a small church with the message: Come in, we are free! Perhaps they knew something that the cathedral didn't (or not being part of the Dean's people weren't that bothered about the cost of keeping what might have been a wonderful building going (don't know - didn't go in and so, like the folk in Dario Fo's great farce: 'Can't Pay - Won't pay' I moved on.

As we made our way along the edge of the cathedral, another of the (many) sightseers, noticing my 'cathedral' bag, asked what I thought of paying to go in. When I explained how I hadn't paid and so hadn't been into the building other than to shop there my sightseeing friend remarked, 'Bl**dy robbers, I'd be happy to make a donation but I'll be damned if I'm going to pay admission charges. It's a place of worship not a bl**dy museum.' (I think he liked the 'bl' word as he used it quite a bit.

One of our children then suggested going back in and turning the tables over but I thought that might disrupt the paying customers and get in the way of them closing early for the other 'paying' event so instead we found a music shop and bought a guitar with the money we hadn't paid to see whatever it was that was so special inside (and used it to sing God's praise for the rest of the week too - making it a real bargain I reckon).

I did try to point out that church buildings consumed a large amount of QEII drinking vouchers (AKA money) and that there was little in the way of government and other public support but my new friend was having none of as he pointed out that Church was always out there with its begging bowl asking people to support their cosy little club and their fine buildings and lifestyles.

I knew this was a battle I was not going to win and so left it for one of the Dean's staff (for it transpired that they lived in the place and were more than just a sightseer - they were almost a campaigner!

The problem is that I heard many people moaning about the charge for entry to what they assumed was God's house rather than part of the tourism industry of that place. The good news was that I didn't have my dog collar on and looked like the rest of the world and so, like the wretched priest in the tale of the Good Samaritan, I walked on the other side and kept my head down.

I took a moment to see how many others (and who they were) charging for admission. Apparently there are seven cathedrals, One Abbey (Westminster), an Oxbridge college and a royal chapel (you need to pay to get into Windsor Castle - the Chapel is then free) where charges apply for entry. Thankfully ours (Lichfield) is free and I often drop my change in there when passing to support the work of the place. I note, with great interest, that Chester have scrubbed the admission charge thing (went there the week they started charging and it was not popular with the locals at all.

Not a positive move charging for entrance I reckon: Even when it is 'such good value!' but then again, when the building you have is perhaps just to be considered as another stately home or museum (perhaps a sign with 'God used to live here once'?) where Church also meets rather than a place of worship would make the admission price policy right and proper./

Still, bumped into Jesus just next door to the cathedral when I bought a chap a sandwich (wonder if He might have even been happier at me spending my dosh on that exhibit of God's love made flesh before me than the bricks behind me?

Discuss

** I didn't point that out in case they thought He was part of their package and chased me off for touting or something!

Church Growth strategies: 'Make your services attractive : 1. Baptism!'

Starting, as always, with a word from Stanley Hauerwas:

Church growth strategies are the death rattle of a church that has lost its way.

Last week I was given some wisdom from a clergy colleague who is (in their own words) 'transforming Church' as to how we need to, Make Church popular by throwing off the old stuff and attract people by making our services light!' 

Intrigued I asked what they meant and was pointed to the 'new' liturgy for baptism and the 'getting rid of all those words' as being part of the process. They continued, 'We don't  do all that old stuff where we talk about sin and the devil and that sort of thing, the people who come don't like it and it turns visitors off!'

Nodding (in unbelief rather than assent) I passed them the shovel and allowed them to keep on digging - and they did as they told me how Church needed to become accessible and stop using religious words and concepts and give the people what they want to hear in the way they want to hear it.'

I was taken back to one of my lecturers who challenged me regarding my approach to the baptism service some years back as I explained how I did mine. I explained that I engaged them and went through the safety stuff and make a joke about which way to leave and then asked them to not fight with crying children because, 'Church should be a place where children are.'

Shaking his head, my lecturer said, 'Oh, so you're one of those who like to make Church a circus are you? What about the solemnity and import of the service before you?'

Now, when this happened I was quite annoyed because in fact I don't think Church should be a circus and while I do think we need to make it accessible, the words of today's NT reading (which have always been a spur and guide for me) where Paul speaks of:

'being all thing to all people - without compromising our faith or falling into sin' 

Amazingly, a few years later I saw that self same lecturer conduct a baptism and (sad to say) it was dry, turgid church; church designed to remind us of the days when Brilliantine and suits were the order of the day. The liturgy was impeccable - the congregation unnecessary and the content uninspiring!

The additional offering (not changes) to the baptism service came about because of a disconnectedness between the baptismal family and the liturgy. Whilst I don't doubt that, I do have some struggles with the assumption that this was because the words were too difficult for the customer (which surely saying something rather negative about them and their education, reading age (the national average being nine) and culture) and the like.

Working in a setting which is more Sun (reading age of eight years) than The Times or Guardian (fourteen to sixteen years) I have found the words of our services (including the baptism service) to communicate well with those before me. I think to proclaim the dumbing down of the liturgy to make it accessible is to take an elitist and quite mocking approach rather than presenting something popularise and accessible.

So Where does the problem lie?
Not going to be popular this I reckon, but the problem isn't in with the punters but the providers!

Taking the baptism service's 'prayer over the water':

We thank you, almighty God, for the gift of water to sustain, refresh and cleanse all life.

Over water the Holy Spirit moved in the beginning of creation.
Through water you led the children of Israel from slavery in Egypt to freedom in the Promised Land. 
In water your Son Jesus received the baptism of John and was anointed by the Holy Spirit as the Messiah, the Christ, to lead us from the death of sin to newness of life. 

We thank you, Father, for the water of baptism.
In it we are buried with Christ in his death. 
 By it we share in his resurrection. 
 Through it we are reborn by the Holy Spirit. 

Therefore, in joyful obedience to your Son, we baptise into his fellowship those who come to him in faith. 

Now sanctify [an epiclesis is indicated here*] this water that, by the power of your Holy Spirit, they may be cleansed from sin and born again. Renewed in your image, may they walk by the light of faith and continue for ever in the risen life of Jesus Christ our Lord; to whom with you and the Holy Spirit be all honour and glory, now and for ever. Amen. 

This one block of text provides us with the opportunity to include creation, Exodus, Redemption, Baptism and the ministry of Jesus leading to the cross and so much more. If this isn't being taken up then the problem is surely with the person ministering rather than the words of the people before them!

Moving on to the devil - from Futurama through to the old and gold films like the Omen, Rosemary's baby and the like (who do you think the 2012 film 'the devil' was about?) - you'll find dark thinks and satan featuring large in popular TV, film and literature. 

How odd that we worry about looking out of touch by talking about an entity who appears in so much of the modern cultures media offerings. In fact, plonking your audience into the 'low education' bracket probably means they have encountered more about the devil than many of the faithful members of your church!

People understand the tensions between Virtue and Vice, Good and Evil, Right and Wrong - so why are we so frightened to use the word 'sin; I wonder?

No I'm sorry but whilst I am all for making Church accessible I can't see how, as we seek to be all things to all people, watering down of the Gospel or weakening the message is going to do anything but fail to deliver the word. If people don't understand then we need to tell (and teach) them: And if we cannot then let us stop blaming the written words and realise the weakness lies with the person delivering it.

So baptism: How do you do yours? 

* Epiclesis: the invoking or imparting of the Holy Spirit (AKA the 'Priestly bit) - A Blessing, usually associated or accompanied by the making of the sign of the cross.

Top Horror films of 2014

Rank	Movie	Release Date	Theatrical Distributor	MPAA Rating	2014 Gross	Tickets Sold
1	Annabelle	10/3/2014	Warner Bros.	R	$84,273,813	10,315,032
2	Ouija	10/24/2014	Universal	PG-13	$50,856,010	6,224,725
3	Deliver Us from Evil	7/2/2014	Sony Pictures	R	$30,577,122	3,742,609
4	Oculus	4/11/2014	Relativity	R	$27,695,246	3,389,870
5	Devil's Due	1/17/2014	20th Century Fox	R	$15,821,461	1,936,531
6	The Woman in Black 2: Angel of Death	1/2/2015	Relativity	PG-13	$15,027,415	1,839,340
7	Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones	1/3/2014	Paramount Pictures	R	$14,118,761	1,728,122
8	The Quiet Ones	4/25/2014	Lionsgate	PG-13	$8,509,867	1,041,599
9	The Pyramid	12/5/2014	20th Century Fox	R	$2,706,405	331,261
10	Tusk	9/19/2014	A24	R	$1,821,983	223,008
11	The Remaining	9/5/2014	Sony Pictures	PG-13	$1,169,603	143,158
12	Saw	10/29/2004	Lionsgate	R	$815,324	99,794
13	The Babadook	11/28/2014	IFC Midnight	Not Rated	$742,092	90,831
14	Mo jing	4/18/2014	China Lion Film Distribution	Not Rated	$172,010	21,053
15	Horns	10/31/2014	RADiUS-TWC	R	$164,480	20,132
16	A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night	11/21/2014	Kino Lorber	Not Rated	$158,707	19,425
17	Afflicted	4/4/2014	CBS Films	R	$121,179	14,832
18	Gojira	5/7/2004	Rialto Pictures	Not Rated	$78,869	9,653
19	Honeymoon	9/12/2014	Magnolia Pictures	R	$9,318	1,140
20	The Sacrament	6/6/2014	Magnolia Pictures	R	$9,221	1,128
21	13 Sins	4/18/2014	RADiUS-TWC	R	$9,134	1,117
22	Come Back to Me	7/25/2014	Freestyle Releasing	R	$7,744	947
23	The ABC’s of Death 2	10/31/2014	Magnet Pictures	Not Rated	$7,171	877
24	Stage Fright	5/9/2014	Magnolia Pictures	R	$7,078	866
25	Almost Human	2/21/2014	IFC Films	Not Rated	$5,710	698
26	Tore tanzt	6/27/2014	Drafthouse Films	Not Rated	$4,871	596
27	Exists	10/24/2014	Lionsgate	R	$3,650	446
28	V/H/S: Viral	11/21/2014	Magnolia Pictures	R	$2,756	337
29	Ahi va el diablo	12/13/2013	Magnolia Pictures	R	$1,263	154
30	[REC] 4: Apocalypse	1/2/2015	Magnolia Pictures	R	$708	86
Total Gross of All Movies					$254,898,971
Total Tickets Sold						31,199,367

Church Growth strategies: 'Be IT Savvy: get a website - part three!'

So here we are with the final part of thinking about getting ourselves a web presence. As we do, Hauerwas' strapline reminds us to avoid the desperation that strategies can sometimes become:

Church growth strategies are the death rattle of a church that has lost its way.

Today was going to be purely about another Content Management System (CMS) approach to creating your own website using a product called Joomla - something I feel sits between the traditional web offering and the simplicity of using Wordpress but brings with it a little more power in the way things appear and the roles that can be passed out to contributors. It was, but I have been encouraged to take a look at something by the name of  WEEBLY, and it looks like something well worth considering because it is as simple a means of getting a web presence with CMS potential added as a bonus.

If you'd like to find out more about using Joomla - take a look at the web site below the video and think about what you might be able to do with Joomla (and the other products here - then either get someone from within your church who is techie to work with you or sign up for a demo site  at Joomlas and have a go at creating a test site yourself (which is a good idea as you'll have some understanding of what is going on.

Now, although I am looking to encourage people to become a little more IT aware, I don't have the time (or the inclination) to reinvent the wheel so instead, here's an outline on Joomla (and a church web site)

Here's a church site using Joomla

And a video (and web site) for Weebly:

and here's a church site built using it

And just to be egalitarian, here's the same agin for Wordpress too:

And a church site using wordpress

So there we go. Hopefully I have convinced some of you out there that being 'IT Savvy' and getting a web site is not the fear-filled task you thought it was.

If I can be of any assistance give me a call.

Thanks go to Catriona Baker, a designer who pointed me to Weebly - It is so very good to have people who will point us to new things and she does that on a regular basis :-)

Church Growth strategies: 'That 'Back to Church' thingy!'

As always we start with a reminder of Hauerwas' comment:

Church growth strategies are the death rattle of a church that has lost its way. 

The problem with many strategies is to be found in the fact that they involve making a conscious decision to do, or use, something to bring about a desired outcome. One of the things my management and Industrial Engineering training taught me was that whilst it is possible to learn how to cluck and purchase a chicken suit: Unless you can learn to lay eggs, you'll never really be a chicken!

And that, people, is the problem with so many of our churches (and other institution and clubs): Looking and sounding like that which you wish to be is useless if it isn't what you really are! Being 'authentic' is the only way because people see through the posing and the masks we all wear.

Yesterday I found myself engaged with by a cleric who was making grumpy noises about the 20th September and the planning required for this year's 'Back to Church Sunday' (B2CS) - although they referred to it as, That 'back to church thingy!' 

I listened as they moaned about having to organise special stuff for the day and how the 'members'* are so keen to have it but struggle to think of new and excitingly attractive things to put on as they seek to 'bring people back' to Church.

Because this is perhaps some people's only church growth strategy I thought I'd interrupt websites for an hour or so (but part the third will be here soon) and reiterate a few points regarding 'bringing people back'. So here we go again (hold tight):

How can you bring people back to a place they have never been to before?

What we are really talking about in the effectively post-Christian age (second generation post-christian where I am!) is bring them in for the first time. The problem is that the 'BACK' bit is a something of a red herring and perhaps it's should be called 'Bring them to church for the first time' Sunday!

The second problem is that whilst it is brilliant to lay on barbecues and bands and other great attractions., this is a bit like: 

(Sorry Martin)

In case you're wondering, I am a big supporter of B2CS and think it is one of the better things that we can do as a means of reconnecting with those who might have left and a really positive way of attracting those with no previous history too.

BUT

We need to make sure that the situation above never becomes reality! 

We need to have some integrity in the way that we present ourselves and in the way that we 'do' our church services. Yet when I made this point to the colleague who was moaning they just moaned louder about the people that they called Church and the unattractive services that they put on.

The answer is simple:

a. Remedy the naff services - gas the choir, shoot the music team - exile the organist - learn to preach - right the wrongs - cure the ills - rejoice in the changes!

b. Get rid of 'welcomers' (because all too often they ain't at all welcoming) and build a congregation who are not just welcoming but the sort of people who will bring people in as well. This is what brings people back on the second week!

Not bands

Not barbecues

Not the false stuff 

Jesus calls us to be authentic and real people: That's what those outside would like to find when they come in to our buildings.

And if they do - the tend to stay.

__________________________________

I'd like to recommend a 'Season of Invitation' as something that those who would wish to see their church engaged in bringing people might consider. This offering from B2CS tells us that it takes a few throws before the new people begin to stick and so it works on a series of engagements that build relationship and help people to be comfortable (just make sure that you're bringing them in from your own patch rather than those of of others ;-) ).

Pax

* Anglicans don't have members, we leave that to the other churches. We have 'parishioners (they live in our patch what we call a parish). and we have communicants (those what take communion) - simple innit? So why do we so often talk about our members then?

Church Growth strategies: 'Be IT Savvy: get a website - part two!'

Hauerwas' strapline challenges us all to put off strategies and become authentic:

Church growth strategies are the death rattle of a church that has lost its way. 

And one of the ways in which we might make the 'way' found is to by being seen to be attractive, transparent and authentic. When people see integrity and attractive and compelling bundled together in open, honest, welcoming and engaged (and engaging), they want to know more and have a relationship (at best) and feel warmly (at worst) towards, and with, those people!

One of the shop windows on our hearts (apart from the eyes that is) is created by means of a well crafted, honest and attractive website. One of the simplest ways of getting a website can be found by using Wordpress. This is what we call a 'Content Management System' (CMS) - learn the language and you'll look like you're up there with the kids in no time (you can even buy yourself a hoodie and get a skateboard to complete the image). You can do it yourself or pay someone to set the whole thing up for you : The choice is (as always) yours:

What is a CMS all about then?
Exactly what it sounds like:

1. You find yourself a company who will do the web hosting and get yourself a server. Then you install Wordpress onto it (it's a simple process and you are guided on every step - it's a 'one click' process, so no need to panic).

2. You select the 'look and feel' (the Theme) of the site (and there are many to choose from already) and you start to build your site using it. Once you're happy with what you have as a start you upload* it to the server - this is easy too (there are so many guides and walk through available) and then you start to smooth the rough edges and add the features you want.

3. You 'plug in' any special features: members pages, images, photo albums, etc. (you can do this from you uploaded web page which means that once the site is loaded everything else is simply done by selecting the options and installing them by a click of the mouse) and customise the site to reflect your aims for it.

4. You add your content and assign 'rights' and 'roles' to people so that they can add, edit and generally tinker with the content (the words and images and stuff) but cannot change the look and feel or any of the major bits that make it what you want your site to look and feel like!

This is a completely quick and easy (and did I mention cheap) way of not only getting online but also making sure that you have a site that is contains up to date information from the people who own that area. The wardens write the 'from the Wardens' page -  the Vicar writes the 'from the Vicar' page and everyone who contributes to the site has their own little kingdom to keep relevant and worthwhile.

This is every web master's dream come true - currency of information without them having to sit and do the editing! (let me hear you say 'hallelujah!').

This is every church member's dream come true too because some of the biggest complaints I have regarding church websites are to do with being current too. ('Why isn't nnnn on the site' is no longer valid complaint when the members have access to a place for their area of interest to be featured).

This is every church site reader's dream too. I recently visited a site which spoke about a visit to the place from a band I like. 'Coming next Sunday' the front page proclaimed. So I rang about tickets and getting in to the event and was told, 'Oh yeah, that was last week, we need to change the web!'

Too flipping right (wonder who was daft enough to just turn up assuming the information to be current?).

So that's the 'How' sorted for this one - let's take a look at a site I made earlier. It's the site for Tamworth Street Angels and it's a simple site with a few pages and a private area where members can log in to get documents, leave and see reports from nights on the streets and see roots and the like. The whole thing took a couple of hours to select, get a server (and URL) and upload and it's run seamlessly and painlessly for a couple of years now. This is the sort of site that would serve some of the churches who at the moment have music and unnecessary bells, whistles and stuff, extremely well:

Here's the front page:

Click here to visit site

You can see the menu bar which has the almost mandatory 'About us' link and then there are newsletter, two members only areas - users have a password to access them - and a means of being contacted via the site.

Here's a link to the Wordpress site where you will find some of their 'popular' themes on display. Why not click HERE and have a look at the demos to see what you like. (If you type 'church' into the search box you'll find some other ideas. You can also just type 'church web sites Wordpress' into your search engine and have a play with the offerings there (some are free and others are 'paid for' - agin, you're choice: Find what you like and put a copy onto your machine:

1. find a theme

2. download it to your machine (create a folder and download into to that)

3. get a host (you'll need to tell them you want to host a Wordpress site on it because it needs some techie bits running,

4. upload - add plug ins - add content - assign roles - sit back with brew of choice (mine's tea) and await comments (praying that they are all good).

Simple!





*Uploading - this means putting the stuff onto the server, usually using and FTP (File Transfer Protocol) utility. You put your user name, password and web name into the thing and this connects to your site and lets you push the information onto the server. Using Wordpress there are upload processes which can be activated and used without the need to purchase additional software though.