From the New York Time-By rearranging furniture, wearing name tags and warmly greeting visitors, the members of St. Bart’s are on the right track, said the Rev. Nicholas Lang, the rector at St. Paul’s on the Green in Norwalk, Conn., whose congregation has grown to 450 members from 50 in 15 years.
“The Episcopal Church is facing problems nationally, but changes have to be made on a local level, because that’s where people connect to a church,” he said of his advisory visits last year to St. Bart’s and six similarly struggling churches in Connecticut and New Jersey.
Those sticking it out at St. Bart’s say Mr. de Leeuw’s initiatives have begun to attract some younger families, bringing the weekly Sunday school and nursery program attendance up to a dozen this year. At their annual meeting last week, church members listened attentively to the rector’s requests for creative ideas to raise the church’s profile, ranging from potluck suppers to starting a motorcycle gang.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/01/nyregion/westchester/01pewswe.html
1 comment:
All Saints, Chicago was dying. They moved their pews from their traditional positions and put them in a diamond shape around the table. I don't know how long ago they did that, maybe 15 years, but they have outgrown their facilities and need to expand. They have more than 100 kids. Their food pantry provides a hot meal and groceries to 250 or so people every Tuesday night. They are an inclusive community celebrating all important events in people's lives, some of which would offend those who would judge others. I loved the beach towels on the old pews the hot summer day I visited. I wish our parish could/would get creative.
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