Chris Yaw is an Episcopal priest and the founder of ChurchNext, which creates online Christian learning experiences to invigorate lives and congregations. Recently he wore Google Glass during mass in the congregation he serves: St. David's Episcopal Church (Southfield, MI). For the benefit of those of us who have never had such an experience he shared parts of his experience via a blog post and also shared video. So What? When Google Glass becomes available to the masses at Read More …
Trends
Attracting Millennials (#1423)
Aaron Earls recently shared six reasons why many congregations fail to reach Millennials: not online, too inward focused, not trustworthy, not diverse, too institutional, and don't offer real community. So What? Overall, I think Earls' list is helpful but incomplete. The number one reason I find congregations don't reach Millennials is because they don't make reaching this generation a priority. In fact, I have been a part of conversations this year in which Read More …
1 in 4 = Anti-Semitic (#1422)
A recent research project involving over 50,000 respondents from over 100 countries and territories representing nearly 90% of the world’s adult population finds that 1 in 4 (26%) adults are anti-Semitic. Currently rates of anti-Semitism vary widely. Rates are highest in the West Bank and Gaza (93 %), Iraq (92%), Yemen (88%), and Algeria (87%). Rates are lowest in Laos (0.2%), Philippines (3%), Sweden (4%), and the Netherlands (5%). Here in the United States, Read More …
Passionate Misunderstanding (#1418)
The following is a reminder that Christian religious language isn't as widely known as many Christians assume: The City Council in Oxford (England) canceled this year's passion play because they didn't understand it was a religious event. It has even been suggested that some of those tasked with rendering the decision believed the passion play was a reference to a live sex show. So What? Churches often rely on religious insider speak (aka Christianese) more often than most Read More …
Latinos Leaving Catholicism (#1417)
The longstanding cultural expectation that Latinos are overwhelmingly Catholic is shifting. New data from Pew Research finds that "a majority (55%) of the nation’s estimated 35.4 million Latino adults – or about 19.6 million Latinos – identify as Catholic today." To put this in perspective, one must understand that the percentage of Latinos self-identifying as Catholic has been declining for two decades, and the rate of decline is accelerating. Over the last four years alone, Read More …
Changes in Worship Services (#1414)
Thom Rainer, president and CEO of LifeWay Christian Resources, recently shared a list of rapid changes in church worship services. His list includes the disappearance of choirs (down 10% in just 10 years), the emergence of screens as normative in worship, a shift toward more casual dress for worship, and longer sermons. So What? Worship services have changed dramatically in recent years. Rainer's use of the word rapid to describe several shifts is significant. As religious Read More …
Print Media Costs How Much? (#1412)
Without giving away my age, I will admit that when I started out in ministry print media was at the center of the church communications world. Nearly everything deemed worth communicating was printed. Anything of real significance was communicated through a variety of print pieces usually including a specialty piece (brochure, postcard, etc.) and mentions in the big two (weekly worship bulletin and monthly newsletter). While websites did exist, they certainly were not a central Read More …
Religious Profiles (#1404)
Since the American religious landscape is always changing, it is important to note current demographic data. The following image is from the Public Religion Research Institute and Brookings based on data captured last summer. So What? According to this survey of just over 2,000 people religious progressives are more racially diverse than any other group, and are more than twice as successful in attracting the affiliation of America's youngest adults: the Millennials. On the other end Read More …
Bring Your Gun to Church (#1402)
Georgia has a new law -- the Safe Carry Protection Act of 2014 -- that includes provisions allowing "residents who have concealed carry permits to take guns into some bars, churches, school zones, government buildings and certain parts of airports." So What? Intentionally naming churches in a law expanding the places people can carry concealed weapons is troubling on many levels. The law does, however, still allow churches and other houses of worship to opt out by banning them. Read More …
Proper Clothing for Church (#1401)
John Blake's recent "Stop Dressing So Tacky for Church" piece explores the shift toward worshippers opting for more casual attire, and some of the possible reasons for this shift. He notes some suggest that we dress up for that which we have gratitude for while others look to the example of Jesus and the words of the Bible for guidance. Additionally, he correctly notes a trend toward more casual dress in the culture in general, which has an impact on how people dress for a wide Read More …