Orginally published on Tuesday, July 28, 2009 at 7:35 AM
by Todd Rhoades
According to The Telegraph, a Church of England book published this week says they should be regarded as worshipers with "special needs" alongside the blind, the deaf, breast-feeding mothers, very short people and readers of tabloid newspapers. The advice is part of an initiative launched this week to make churches more friendly and less intimidating to newcomers in an attempt to increase attendance at services.
Among those considered to warrant particular attention are people who are blind, deaf or in wheelchairs.
However, it also warns that bald people could be "in trouble from those overhead radiant heaters some churches have unwittingly installed" and that special arrangements may need to be made for people who are overweight...
“Some pew spaces and chairs are embarrassingly inadequate for what is known in church circles as ‘the wider community’,” the book says.
Consideration should be given to recovering alcoholics who want to receive communion wine, it suggests, and for those who “find loud noises from organs or music groups distressing”.
The book, called Everybody Welcome, claims that only one in ten church visitors return because existing worshippers tend to be so unwelcoming.
It urges churches to become more professional in their attitude to attracting newcomers and suggests they follow the example of department stores in appointing customer-care managers.
Here’s a link to the full article...
What do you think?
Todd
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There are 8 Comments:
“Some pew spaces and chairs are embarrassingly inadequate for what is known in church circles as ‘the wider community’,” the book says.
OK, now that’s very politically correct. Unfortunately, I fit into at least three of the ‘Special Needs’ worshipers categories . . . I won’t say which three. And I didn’t even know I had ‘Special Needs’.
Actually, I think we all fit into the ‘Special Needs’ category. We all come with some sort of extra baggage. Perhaps it should be left at we should try to make everyone welcome, no matter what their circumstances.
I’m all about making people comfortable. The overweight, the alcoholics, the disabled, etc. But somewhere it seems you have to draw the line. People getting distressed from the music? That’s kind of half of what church is. I can give you some earmuffs if you prefer to only see church and not hear it. Or they could go to a deaf church. Seems like that would be peaceful enough for them.
I’m pretty bald, and if I gain a little more weight… hey… I might be able to demand special treatment?!?!?
Yes, as an individual who is exceptionally large, I fully expect a church to cater to my needs. After all, I’m not really tall and big, but I’m in a protected class of citizens. I’m a Maximum American.
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CS
“wider community” “Maximum American”!!
Twitter GOLD! Can’t wait to use these in my next serman!
I know men who have shaved their heads for years and consider people with hair as “special needs.”
funny,i got ur “special needs” means what..haha
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I think if you try to please everyone you’ll fail. Every church needs a ‘target demographic’.
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