Will Mancini is an author, pastor, and speaker who founded Auxano – a church consulting group with a unique approach to developing a church’s vision frame before providing traditional consulting services. He recently blogged about why church membership is no longer as helpful a construct as it once was. In addition to references to churches that have moved away from church membership in favor of partnership, Mancini suggests five reasons churches should consider making the shift:
- Membership is culturally hijacked terminology by its use from country clubs to platinum cards. Partnership is a term that carries less baggage and brings new metaphors biblically.
- Membership may emphasize privilege to the neglect of responsibility. Partnership emphasizes both.
- Membership could bring deeply rooted assumptions about church in general that are no longer valid for your church. Partnership creates an opportunity to reset expectations.
- Membership is a static. Partnership brings a sense of both action and direction.
- Membership is a relatively small portal for vision-casting. Partnership opens a dynamic metaphor range for future-orientation, impact, togetherness, adventure and risk-taking. It captures the “sentness” of a missional reorientation.
So What?
In my experience, membership language is more problematic for Gen X and Gen Y than for Boomers or older adults. As these younger generations become more involved in church life and in church leadership, careful consideration must be given to what it means to belong to a church (as a member or as a partner).
- What do you see as the limitations of referring to joining a church as a “member?”
- Do you believe that partnership is an appropriate (biblically and culturally) replacement? Why or why not?