Volley from the Canon, #49

FRESH LEAVEN FOR THE LOAF:
WORKING IN NEW MEMBERS

It is a simple truth that new church members beget new church members.

The long-time members largely have already worn out their family, friends, neighbors, and acquaintances with invitations to the church. It saddens one to see them hide when they espy us approaching. Chances are, if they haven’t showed up by now, they aren’t interested. At any rate, they know they are welcome.

The new member, however, knows and is related to (we hope) a different set of people, including many who have not yet been introduced to the local Episcopal congregation. While they are fresh and excited about their experience of attending the church, it’s a great time for them to be the evangelists of the congregation, talking up their interest and enthusiasm to their friends and relations. In my own experience, one new member to our original congregation (that we hardly knew) set off a chain reaction of friends and friends-of-friends that brought a double-handful of young adults into that congregation.

The existing members owe a huge debt of gratitude to those new members, who refresh the community life and stir the pot, fending off congregational torpor. It is essential that they be carefully drawn into the group. Remember: within six months of joining a church, every member needs to know at least seven people there that he or she considers friends, inside and outside of the church, in order for them to continue attending.

No matter how small the congregation, it is a good idea to have a new member incorporation group of some kind, whose job it is to work the new leaven into the loaf. Newcomers need to be invited to take part in various activities and events, and specifically not just the drudge jobs. Perhaps most important of all is to ask them what their ministry interests are, and to help them find ways to develop those in the congregation.

Should a new member serve on the vestry right away? That depends on the congregation, the vestry, and the new member. As a rule, it is wise not to hit them up with too large a commitment all at once. Many of us know of vestries whose meetings could be terminal to a fragile faith, either through boredom or through conflict. There can be situations though, in a small and well-functioning congregation, when participation in the leadership of the church could be an excellent orientation and commitment experience.

New members are a special gift to a congregation. Let us rejoice and be glad in them. Let us also not neglect to ask them to invite their friends and connections, as well. We’d be glad in them, too!