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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To wonder why there are posters outside churches

23 replies

Tidey · 29/06/2010 19:22

The church at the end of my road has a constantly changing supply of posters on its notice board. At the moment it's a picture of a tree frog saying 'Hop along this Sunday'. Can anyone explain what the posters are for? Just to fill up space on the board? If you've been brought up to believe in God and go to church, you will go. If you haven't, I just don't see how a cheerful looking frog is going to convince you.

I can't see that churches can have much in the way of passing trade. I can honestly say that I've never been returning from the shops and suddenly had the urge to go into a church with no warning.

AIBU to pass by and wonder what the point is?

OP posts:
SandyBits · 29/06/2010 19:24

I think yabu. They are tryign to show that they are welcoming to all, which tbh I would like. I have been debating going to the church at the end of my road since they have been doing similar. It's too easy to feel it's a bit of a closed group imo

Mercedes519 · 29/06/2010 19:24

We have a church near us which says "This church believes that Jesus Christ is Lord". Not disagreeing with the sentiment but rather implies that there are other churches out there who might disagree. As far as I understand the christian faith - that one is pretty much a given

Original poster
Tidey · 29/06/2010 19:29

Lol Mercedes, one would assume so. But I would also have thought that churches are welcoming too, otherwise surely they're not being very Christian? Would you really think that a church that didn't have a big ass poster of a Christmas pudding saying Happy Birthday Jesus every winter was unwelcoming?

OP posts:
KurriKurri · 29/06/2010 19:32

We have one that tries to incorporate current events in its posters. 'Vote for Jesus', or 'God scores a Penalty' type stuff. Very strange.

scurryfunge · 29/06/2010 19:35

It is the church's poor attempt to be "hip and cool, man"....just makes the church seem even more out of touch.

Northernlurker · 29/06/2010 19:35

I'm afraid some churches are very unwelcoming and as there is passing trade (you may not wander in but people do) it's really important that churches that are making a conscious effort to be welcoming display this intention. If nothing else a changing parade of posters shows that there are people attending the church - it's not just a big empty building. I wish we didi that at my church actually. Not only do we not have posters we have big iron railings seperating the church from the street. Iron railings that are listed no less so that we had to spend thousands on restoring them instead of spending a tiny amount on getting rid of them (they had become a bit wobbly)and then the rest of the cash on the work of God's Kingdom......btw that was at least 5 years ago and I still haven't got over it! Must work on forgiving English Heritage!

AKMD · 29/06/2010 19:39

I had a leaflet from our local Baptist church: "Beat the Christmas rush, come to Church this Sunday!"

Original poster
Tidey · 29/06/2010 19:40

Judging by the actual times on the notice board though, it is only open on Sundays and Tuesday afternoons for a Ladies Bible Stody group. Those are the only times I've ever seen the doors open.

OP posts:
Original poster
Tidey · 29/06/2010 19:41

*Study, obviously.

OP posts:
Snobear4000 · 29/06/2010 20:14

I agree the frog sign is weak. Churches should be reminding us we're going to hell if we don't repent, and that we are agents of Satan if we question the authority of the church.

I have linked an example of a much better sign:

Better church sign

AMumInScotland · 29/06/2010 20:25

Well, some people are "passing trade" for churches - there are people who are interested but haven't taken that step yet, and seeing that particular church is trying to be welcoming could just give them a nudge to come along.

But I'd agree most of the posters aren't very appealing, and often rely on strange puns and "topical" references that make me groan

scrappydappydoo · 29/06/2010 20:34

Well our church is on a main road and we have these posters and a lot of non-church going people say to me that they make them smile and cheers up their morning traffic jam commute. So what might be cheesy and pointless to you is not for other people.

serin · 29/06/2010 20:53

I think it is called advertising.

Original poster
Tidey · 29/06/2010 20:57

Good point scrappy, hadn't thought of that one. Never seen anything on one that cheered me up but if it helps other people fair play.

serin - Why do they need to advertise though? They are whacking great buildings, people know that they are there. You have to already want to go into one to do so, a poster in itself isn't go to make someone do it.

OP posts:
werewolf · 29/06/2010 20:59

I like them. Don't go to church, but I smile at the posters.

Longtalljosie · 29/06/2010 21:08

"They are tryign to show that they are welcoming to all, which tbh I would like"

Not one in Leeds which I saw a few years ago, which said (in the obligatory neon)

'IF THERE'S NO HELL, WHERE ARE YOU GOING?"

Freaked me out all day.

olderandwider · 29/06/2010 21:08

Wow. Frogs in need of spiritual guidance. Who knew?

BreastmilkDoesAFabLatte · 29/06/2010 21:17

I used to work for a church which got some builders to put up a permanent sign. The sign got the church's name wrong, so the church decided to change its name to fit the sign.

Pointless anecdote, I know. But speaking as an ex-church employee, there is a surprising amount of passing trade... often from people in very great need of food or companionship. And a surprising number of entities which call themselves churches and believe all sorts of weird things...

mumeeee · 29/06/2010 22:27

YABU. The posters are to show that the church is welcoming to everyone.

cat64 · 29/06/2010 22:32

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

itsatiggerday · 29/06/2010 22:37

Amazing how many people walk past our church in the city centre daily without noticing it - my dad always used to tell me I walk around with my eyes shut (he's v observant) but clearly I'm not the only one! Inviting people to stuff, explaining where it is, I get "Oh, right, I've never noticed that, which side is the entrance?" and then when they come they're gobsmacked what an enormous building they've been skimming straight over.

Oh, and re opening, ours has some kind of group or whatever most days but aside from that there are people working in the building every day (only 1 on Sat as it's staff day off generally) but some of the time the main doors are locked and the buzzer is for getting to talk to someone. So don't assume they're not open to visitors just because there's no one manning a door.

MichaelaS · 30/06/2010 01:17

Many of them are dreadfully twee, but most of them are harmless and some even amusing.

My DH is a graphic designer and got to redesign his last church's poster holder box thing. He is regularly horrified by the quality of posters and display boxes in front of many churches!

Snobear4000 · 06/07/2010 21:48

I saw a great sign today!

It said:

How are you going to spend eternity - Smoking or non-smoking?

Nice one. A direct threat of an eternity in hell, right there on the high street. How very inviting

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