Discussion -Is a...

[M44]

church a community where people care for and take an interest, demonstrating/nurturing/growing the qualities of Christ that we are encouraged as Christians to live by.......or

a business with endless strategies to streamline and produce conveyor belt christianity.....a one size fits all mentality.

Discuss!

Will be back later to discuss - interesting question!

Most churches are a mixture of these but, some churches are more 'conveyor belt' than others. A bit like educational establishments I suppose.

do you mean what is it, or what should it be?
i agree with unpopular, i think some churches just want to get botties on seats, and some really want to make a difference

In the case of should be, I would say the first scenario. And actually, many churches are striving towards those ends, failing along the way at times but going for that. I was talking about this this morning with my seekers group, we were talking about what church is, and how it is a community of people rather than a building or a nice Sunday club. I was suggesting that any group of people wanting to follow Christ meeting together could be called a church, as the original Greek ecclesia means 'those called together' - and therefore this is what church is. The Body of Christ is a good analogy for it as well.

As for the conveyor belt, one size fits all business, I guess some denominations could be accused of looking that way, but I really don't imagine that's how they see it. The good old CofE is much too varied in it's styles to be accused of such, and doesn't look too much like a business to me. Some of the American megachurches - possibly.

Agree with the others ? the first is what it should be. The second makes it sound like a cinema or perhaps a gym ? somewhere you go individually for entertainment or perhaps because it is good for you. Maybe this happens sometimes but I think it would be missing the point.

It can be hard to maintain a sense of a functioning nurturing community able to reach out as Christians into the world, but I think it is what we should all aim for and pray for in our parishes.

Unfortunately a bit of both - without it having some plan or directive the former cannot be attained. It is just getting the right person to meld the two together and keep the congregants (?) happy.

It should be the first.

However church could learn from the positive aspects of some businesses, such as better organisation and financial planning/fundraising.

it should be option A.

Baroque found an interesting play about that concept though - I'll see if i can find the link.

If it's the second, then something's gone wrong.

here's the link

I know what you mean, Bluddy - the organised church is running as a business trying to make money, whereas you go to church to feel part of a christ-centred community.
(but that costs money)

It should be the first, but the second (minus the "conveyor belt" bit) is necessary to support the first and its works.

They do need some business aspects such as accounting so they can attempt to fund Christian work, church buildings, outreach groups and so on. But the church is unlike a business in that money is not just for its own sake or to pay salaries (although I do believe vicars deserve to be paid!), but to do God's work. I don't think the church having some businesslike aspects and being Christ-like are mutually exclusive. People complain about "organised" religion but I think "disorganised" religion would have many negative points too.