tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12009297.post5196536542681438506..comments2023-11-02T02:58:53.594-07:00Comments on From the Pew: Re-Thinking Church Membership (Part 5)Steve Scotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10297044571819912511noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12009297.post-14881221023954671202007-09-17T10:50:00.000-07:002007-09-17T10:50:00.000-07:00"many churches are actually creating the drifting,..."many churches are actually creating the drifting, non-participating "pew-sitters" that their "formal" memberships are designed to prevent." (Steve)<BR/><BR/>Couldn't sgree more - I have also seen this problem in the churches - they tend to make the scenario problematic with what I would call 'class divisions' (ex: people in power vs. people under them - that old tug o' war). A pastor's power actually depends on the people under him - and not on equality of all in God's kingdom (some have to be leaders and thusly, more important). <BR/><BR/>The congregation suffers in all of this - they become a 'ruled people' who need the guidance and jurisdictional approval of the laity and powers that be for any action they undertake. Little do they know - they have Jesus as a mediator - and someone else on top of that regulating the whole thing. In the end, the congregation becomes a less used base of people - who if they just organized themselves - could do so much with they give in time and money.SocietyVshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10892870801259282254noreply@blogger.com