"If you lead a group that allows anyone to join, for free, your group might be large, but it's not tight, it's not organized to make important change. Commitment slows things down in the short run, but ultimately aligns interests.", Seth Godin
Exactly what I've been thinking! In church, we cannot count on everyone who comes our way to have the same level of commitment to the mission and to the group, especially if we are a faith family who is attracting people from outside our group. So, how do we get new people to "buy-in"? By keeping the barriers low, we can pad our numbers, but isn't our mission larger than that?
I'm looking for answers here, or at least decent ideas full of compassion. The world is watching!
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5 comments:
I agree. Does the cost have to be financial? Could it be time or something else? What?
Tim
Agreed; we don't want to be "one of those" who seem to be reaching into people's pockets for money from Day One.
Would some kind of "Covenant" enhance the commitment level in today's culture? I know people seem to run backward from that, but if it were introduced well, included commitments "both ways", and extended beyond money to a lifestyle commitment, it seems it would enhance the long-term nature of the relationship.
Other ideas?
We have new members sign a covenant with the elders making commitments to the new members. The interesting thing is existing members have the strongest negative reaction.
I'm also thinking of our "mission church" setting downtown. What steps do we need to take to help this very loose, but growing, group transition into a "body", a "faith family"?
More thought:
Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your neighbor fairly.
- Lev. 19:15
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