Hi gang! Just a quick post to sound you out on some thoughts Andy and I have had.
SofaChurch:Sundays have been very minimally attended for some weeks (though it's always a treat to see you, Andrea!) We were wondering if we need a bit of a re-think. We'd appreciate your thoughts regarding the following possibilities. Thanks all.
* Keeping SC:Sundays as they are
* Changing it to a different day of the week
* Making the events monthly (ensuring they are well publicised)
* Dropping the socials for the meantime
7 comments:
It's been my perception that SofaChurch for a while has been minimally attended.
While there has been (arguable?) qualitative growth, numerical growth is as elusive as any other non-fundamentalist group.
I think folk are perhaps busy?
Personally I find the ad hoc not knowing until very late in the week what it will be makes me uncertain if I would attend (not like I can get there being 4,000 miles away, soon to increase to 6,500 miles away...)!
Just my tuppence worth.
Continuing to be grateful for SofaChurch and the good friendships it's brought my way. :o)
Thanks for your comments, Tim.
I realise that people are very busy. We've always had in mind that SofaChurch should suit people where they are, which means making a structure that works for people who cannot attend very often. This is why we have tried to create things like this blog so that people can keep in touch and talk even if not in person. However, not that many people write things on the blog very frequently. I don't know how well read it is. But the point is that we want it to be a group that you can be a part of even if you can't make it on a Thursday evening/Sunday afternoon very often, if at all.
I remember that last year around this time we had a similar discussion as the number of people coming each week seemed to be falling, so maybe it is a summer thing to some degree - lots of end of term school events, holidays, etc.
I also realise that this year has been incredibly difficult for many people in so many ways. We try to make SofaChurch challenging and edgy because I think that Jesus was challenging and edgy with his disciples, but I can see that if you are battling with severe health/job/relationship issues that even more challenge might well be the last thing you want. This is one of the reasons that we decided to try the Sunday outings as a way of strengthening the friendships by just hanging out together.
With regards to the late publicity for what is going on I agree that I should get better at posting up announcements earlier, perhaps a couple of weeks in advance. However I am a bit hesitant to do this as I quite like the next week's meeting to be at the top of the blog... I don't know how often people refer to the list of dates on the front page which goes a few months ahead. Perhaps I should email this round and put it in a blog post too.
Any more ideas anyone?
not that many people write things on the blog very frequently
The comment system is very weird to use for the neophyte, and even when familiar isn't the most efficient means of internet discussion. It does the job - but for the determined and regular.
I quite like the next week's meeting to be at the top of the blog...
You can publish posts retrospectively, so if you set a post for even just 1 minute before the main 'next week' meeting, the main meeting would still be top. I'm sure you know that anyway.
I don't know how often people refer to the list of dates on the front page which goes a few months ahead.
I have never used it. The frontpage IMO works for the accidental / first time visitor to the site, otherwise my bookmark is the blog. That's where the 'church' part of it actually happens IMO :o)
Thanks for all your time and considerations on this stuff Andy :o)
Thanks for those thoughts, Tim. We'd noticed the same thing and have been chatting about it for a while, but decided not to worry too much for the reasons Andy mentioned.
I think I'd add that if SofaChurch has taught me anything, it's that God isn't to be found in church (or at least, I should add, not exclusively, as it seems that church does scratch the itch for some folk).
So it makes sense that if God can be found outside of church and meetings and groups, then we don't need to panic when our meetings aren't well attended. I never got on with the way the church panicked when folk didn't attend for a while; in fact, I find the whole 'back-sliding' term quite offensive. Who are we to judge where anyone else is in their spiritual walk? It just can't be dependant on a good attendance record.
The 'success' of the group can't be measured in numbers. Perhaps the only thing it can hope to do, is provide a constant base of acceptance and (we hope) warmth for people to return to when they feel the need/desire.
(That said, of course, if folk do have genuine problems with the group that account for their absences recently, I do hope we're not beyond approaching for a chat about it. I'm sure it's more that folk are busy/tired/know their belonging to the group isn't dependent on attending every week.)
I think another issue that Andy alluded to, is friendships and the issues that arise when any group of people become close friends. I know personally, I'm guilty of trying to 'force' friendships (SC:Girls, SC:Sundays etc) when perhaps it's more healthy to sit back a bit and see what develops naturally. SC is over a year old now, so it makes sense that we're getting to know each other in a more real way, and that's always going to be a bit tricky at times.
Tentatively:
It is possible I may speak to North Anderson Community Church on SofaChurch at some point. It's part of the more liberal Presbyterian USA denomination, and is inclusive of all. (There's a more right wing Presbyterian ARP denomination).
This would likely be on a Sunday 11:15ish (4:15 UK time), possibly 23rd; I wonder if a webcam link up with a few SofaChurch bods back with you folk could be in order - with prearranged questions and items for a beneficial exchange?
Some of them have looked at SofaChurch and find it very exciting as a church looking to be relevant, inclusive, accessible, but authentically Christian.
Cheers,
Tim
Hi Tim - I'd be up for that if you think it would be helpful! We wouldn't have internet access at the SofaChurch room, so we would have to be at home. I think I have the necessary equipment but have never done anything like this before.
One possible hurdle is that we might be moving home around then, but we don't have a fixed date yet.
Would let you know - couldn't confirm until quite near the date. 1) Not yet confirmed a date with the church / people concerned; 2) planning things can be like trying to stick jelly to teflon, and so almost nothing is certain until it's happening!
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