Volley # 19

Volley # 19: ENTERING THE KINGDOM

If we want to invite people into God’s house, why do we have such solid, heavy doors to keep them out? The Victorian Gothic adopted by so many Episcopal churches during the early 20th century may look impressive, but it isn’t very inviting. We even have some buildings in which one or all of the front doors don’t even have operative knobs to open from outside! Let’s go out and look at our entrances from the perspective of the un-churched person. Do they adequately represent Christ’s open invitation to the Kingdom of God?

• Most churches lock their doors except during worship (and sometimes, even then.) Is there a way to leave the church open for private prayer, at least during weekdays when staff are present?

• Are all doors in good operating condition? Is any door handicapped-accessible (and so marked)?

• Can the doors be left open, with climate control handled by inner doors, during temperate weather, so that passers-by can see that the church can be visited? At least prior to Sunday worship?

• Andy Weeks of The Magnetic Church recommends painting the church doors red. If it is at all architecturally appropriate, why not? Attract attention to the front entrance (and the one people actually use, too), with color, and a meaningful color at that.

• But why not hang a framed explanation nearby? “The red color of church doors is an ancient promise of SANCTUARY—refuge from the harsh claims of the world and society.” You might also add a few words of welcome, the promise of a peaceful and tranquil environment inside, and the hours the church is open to the public for private devotions.

• Does the “real” entrance, the one members use that is most accessible from parking or Sunday School, have a sign on it identifying it as an entrance to the church?

These measures are simple, easy, and guaranteed to keep vestries fussing over minutiae for months—that is, unless they can be persuaded to agree to just stop it! And get on with the real business of the church, which has to do with reaching out to people, not guarding crumbling edifices. (Oops. Did I send that out to the whole diocese?)