Day 9

First let me finish up a thought relating to the book Congregations in America. As I noted, the author argues that the main influence congregations have in our society rest in the areas of arts and culture. This is based on the observation that in the average congregation, the bulk of resource (time, talent, finance) is directed toward the service of worship which is, if you think about it, at least 1/3 an experience of the arts.

Nowhere, the book argues, is the average American more likely to experience music than in a congregation (or, for that matter, drama or dance). More people see such events in churches than anywhere else--including public venues like the PAC, or educational institutions like Lawrence. Bottom line, the church is the entryway to cultural experiences for the average American.

So, the style of arts used in church (now it's me thinking, not the book) shapes the way in which most folk participate in the arts. The book does not look at casual exposure, like what radio stations people listen to, but what we sit together and listen to. Another implication, in my mind, is that cultural organizations need to take congregations seriously if they want to build their audience for the future.

Bottom line: How are we called to be the church of Jesus Christ in the world in the 21st century? The use of arts and our place in culture cannot be ignored. If social service or political action are important, they will most likely be in circumscribed ways by a limited number of people within the congregation.