Monday, August 31, 2009

A Volley from the Canon, number 60

“I WAS IN PRISON, AND YOU VISITED ME”

Not.

This may be a tad preachy, but it has been weighing on my mind now for some time. I work with congregations who are considering what their mission in their community might be. They talk about all manner of service projects and activities. None has ever mentioned a ministry to the incarcerated or recently released. With few laudable exceptions (thank you, Betsy!), we Episcopalians, especially in West Virginia, are a washout in following Jesus’ express command to visit the imprisoned. We will clothe the naked; after all, we have plenty of clothes to get rid of so we can buy new, more fashionable clothes. We will feed the hungry; our tables groan with excess. We almost have a specialization in ministry to the sick; we can see ourselves in that kind of need someday. But the imprisoned are another species of creature to us. We want nothing to do with them.

We are even worse when it comes to a natural outgrowth of prison ministry, advocating for prison reform. After a century of evolution, fomented by Christian activists, including Episcopalians, toward a more compassionate, rehabilitative system of justice-- long before we had time to develop processes that would actually work effectively—our nation lapsed, a generation ago, back into a penal system that grows harsher, meaner, more punitive and less restorative (also vastly more expensive!) annually. The Episcopal Church has had nothing to say about these deeply grieving developments, because we are too busy thinking about what might or might not go on in one another’s bedrooms even to notice.

Yes, there are other Christians who do visit the jails and prisons—of the brands that preach judgment, guilt, and condemnation, to remind inmates, in case they need reminding, how deeply flawed, unworthy, and unlovable they are. Surely, if there is any Christian community prepared to reach out to men and women in desperate trouble with good news about God’s unfathomable love, grace, and redemption, we ought to be the one. Yet, when congregations are going through lists of possible ministries and special callings for themselves, this one never comes up.

It isn’t easy. Government and bureaucratic regulations, entrenched interests, and deep cultural attitudes can make for daunting hurdles. Yet no obstacle is so large, or so in need of confronting, as our own prejudice, fear, judgment, and denial. I believe we suffer from Respectability Syndrome, also known as Pharaseeism. Those locked up for crimes may not be the only ones imprisoned.

Thinking of a good scripture-based theme to build an adult forum series around? How about ministry to the imprisoned and formerly imprisoned, and their families? Seems to me there is a lot for us to learn and to share in that area.

Saturday, August 8, 2009

A Volley from the Canon, #58

A VOLLEY FROM THE CANON

#58 ADVERTISING AND CHURCH

Lobbyists and elected officials would have us believe that there is no quid pro quo attached to the hefty campaign contributions of special interest groups. Sometimes advertisers, when they come under criticism for it, even claim that their ads, blatantly directed at children or other groups, aren’t really expected to have any effect on consumers’ buying habits. Yeah, right. The fact is that those people choose to spend money in those ways because it works: they get far more out of their investments than they put into them (and we’re talking substantial sums, here).

Churches, as denominations and as congregations, need to heed the example of the world around us. We tend to rely on word of mouth, and indeed, word of mouth is a very effective form of communication, albeit a small-scale one. (What a shame so many of us are too restrained even to use word-of-mouth!) We have eschewed advertising, except those notices on the religion page, which only reach already-religious people, as being somehow beneath our dignity, much like the attitude of medical and legal professionals, who populate our vestries. Have you noticed—even dentists and lawyers often have ads on radio and TV today, and formerly staid medical offices may have huge, brightly lit signs announcing their whereabouts. Dignity, schmignity. Advertising works.

Churches must go about it somewhat differently, however. A customer can drop in on McDonald’s any day of the year, and maybe even any hour of the day. Not so with churches. We welcome guests only during those times we are holding worship or other events. Our advertising is mostly of the public relations sort, reminding people that we are still here, still active in their community, and open, despite what they might have heard from our detractors, to welcoming even them, no matter what category of human being that might be. Some people may not even realize that there is help for their own condition, though, unless we tell them—much like some don’t fathom that they would really like a slice of delicious pizza until they see one illustrated on a billboard or a TV ad.

Does your congregation have a budget line item for advertising? What would happen to a business in your community that did not advertise? Advertising is evangelism. Smart advertising is effective evangelism. We have good news to share, and there is a variety of ways in which to share it. Letting people know who we are, what we stand for, what we have to offer is not an option for a church that is serious about its mission. It is a gospel imperative.