Barlow, R. (18 June, 2005). “Mainliners Adopting Evangelical Zeal,” The Boston

Globe.

 

 

Overview

When Rev. Kate Ekrem became rector at Grace Episcopal Church in Norwood, Massachusetts, reports Barlow, the congregation’s size had withered on the heels of a long rector search, and there was an ‘anemic’ spirit among the remaining bunch. In time, with the help of a “low-key, corporate-style sharing of information” effort, the numbers began to bounce back.

 

Evangelism efforts included:

 

·        A splashy color brochure advertising the church as “a place to worship, raise a family, and form lasting friendships”

 

·        Targeted mailings according to demographic data of surrounding neighborhoods

 

·        Open houses

 

·        A subsequent mailing

 

The efforts and their result, says Barlow, showcase one example of the dividends coming from the recent commitment by the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts to a new evangelism – a goal of boosting average Sunday attendance 50% by 2013. Presently, the diocese counts roughly 77,000 members in the nearly 200 congregations of eastern Massachusetts.

 

The resurgent emphasis on membership is also a feature of more mainline churches. Rev. Steven C. Bonsey, for example, holds the relatively new title, canon for evangelism, at Boston’s Cathedral Church of St. Paul. Last year he published a booklet, “A Shy Person’s Guide to the Practice of Evangelism,” which offers low-key suggestions that otherwise wary Episcopalians can follow in introducing others to their faith.

 

“It’s been a real cultural change within the Episcopal Church to understand evangelism differently, and in a positive light,” says Bonsey. Part of what drew Carol Hobbs and her 9 year-old daughter to Grace Church, for example, is the emphasis on community activities and family-oriented membership. These priorities, for some, differ from the conservative and evangelical practices that might have been off-putting in the past.

 

 

Questions for Reflection and Discussion

 

1.      Are you or teenagers you work with a part of a local church?

 

2.      Have you been in the past?

 

3.      What is your experience with Christian evangelism?

 

4.      If you are a Christian, what do you think should be the central components of evangelism?

 

5.      If you are not a Christian or church-goer, what do you think would be an appropriate way to get introduced to the faith?

 

6.      Would church involvement be an important part of the life of a young person growing up in today’s culture?

 

 

Implications:

The article reminds us that churches of today are in a bind: their faith commitment in principle encourages outreach and evangelism, but these activities are often shunned by our culture. Identifying ways through which non-churchgoers can be invited to church and learn about the Christian faith is not only a practical challenge, but a vital mission of the churches.

 

Christopher S. Yates cCYS