Sunday, December 16, 2007
Attract?
I was looking at this blog and and what it says in response to this article. One of the main issues arising from this article is about a word-- attract. While not the best word for what we long to do when it comes to encouraging young people to explore a calling to ordained ministry, we are rather limited. My thought is-- rather than spending so much time talking about how we talk about the issue (a very Methodist thing to do--I realize those are fighting words!), why don't we figure out ways to create a "culture of call" in local churches and annual conferences? This of course would require us to engage young people and build relationships with them.
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2 comments:
Erika, we've clearly lost our "culture of call."
Now we're just one more voice calling out for social justice in a vast chorus of concerned and effective social justice groups. At one time church leaders led the charge.
Plus, we've lost what makes us truly distinctive: our motive for doing societal changing things.
Most of the "call" to action we hear from our own leaders relies heavily on guilt and obligation. No joy to be found there.
In order to regain any authentic "call" that we can honestly offer anyone (young adult, early retirement boomer, and all in between...) we first need to have some sense of what we're calling people "to."
What was your "first love" of a spiritual nature? Is it still alive? Has it grown and matured? Has it been replaced with a deeper love? How is it all expressed now, at this stage of your life?
The "culture of call" starts with us.
Erika, I think you are right on with the language about attraction and the culture of call. As Andrew Conrad points out in his post, our recent history over the past few decades is proof that the attraction-model of church just doesn't work. I would add that the reason it doesn't work is that it conforms the church to a market-model where we are willing to shape our language, institution, and presentation of the gospel in order to get 'customers.' The church should not wonder (as it tends to) when those 'customers' turn out to be just as fickle in the church as they are in Wal-Mart or Wendy's.
You make the point that language has an incredibly high degree of importance, and that must be true. When we choose to use one word (attract) over another (call), it registers on all kinds of conscious and unconscious levels on the part of hearers. If we are going to present ourselves as just another choice on the consumerist buffet of choices, we should not be surprised when prospective clergy pass us up for the potato salad.
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