attempt to clarify

Read yesterday's post to understand where this is going.

Here is an excerpt from yesterday, and remember, this is a quote from an associated press article: "the study offers yet another wake-up call for religious institutions. First, catering to older believers is a recipe for failure; younger Americans are tuning out. Second, Americans are interested in God, but they don’t think existing institutions are helping them draw closer to God."

Someone commented, what does this statement mean, "catering to older believers is a recipe for failure."

Sam Fisher, Pastor at Odessa UMC offers these thoughts, "Older believers. I think it means being less than inclusive, not welcoming those that are different than we are. Older believers has nothing to do with age. Older believers hold to the "belief" that one particular way of doing things in the right way. Older believer is an attitude rather than chronological age. I am 62, but don't want to consider myself an "older believer." Intolerance is not a property of "age". This is how I interpret what Jeff was saying."

This is what Jeff is saying about the line, "catering to older believers is a recipe for failure." First of all, I did not write the line. Read my blog carefully, this is a quote from an Associated Press article. With that in mind, what do I think the author meant by those words?

In many churches, the older members represent a resistance to change. They hold to traditional services and refuse to relinquish power in committees. The worst extreme of this behavior is when people say that they would rather have the church die than to change the church.

Fortunately at WCC folks of all ages are supportive of the church. Our seniors are very supportive of the church. What the AP writer wrote about older believers really is not true at WCC at all. Everyone is open and willing to work hard to help win people of all ages.

So, the comment by the writer does not apply to our church. Our church is not dying. One of the reasons that it is thriving and not dying is because people of all ages are committed to the mission.

I hope that helps.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.