Churches and Ministers Not Friendly?

Group Publishing recently conducted a survey that reveals less than 18% of Americans say the church is the friendliest place in town. Among self-declared Christians, less than 25% believe the church is the friendliest place.

Most people who were surveyed defined "friendly" as "making me feel like I belong." They also listed "making me feel comfortable and at ease," as well as conversations, smiles and being non-judgmental.

On a more personal level (ouch!) ministers (hey, that's me!) were ranked behind neighbors and co-workers in terms of being friendly.

Interestingly enough, one of the core values of United Methodist congregations is to offer "radical hospitality." If the survey is any indication, we have a long way to go before we get to basic hospitality, not to mention, "radical" hospitality.

What can we do to change perceptions people have of the church and its leaders? I have always believed that good behavior tends to follow good theology. And a good theology includes an understanding that God's grace is extended to all people (not just to the people I like to hang around with and who think like me) and that we as Christ's followers are to see ourselves as servants who are to pour our time and attention into the lives of the people around us.

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I hope that the majority of Americans who do not feel that the church or ministers are friendly, have the opportunity to see what I often get to see Sunday after Sunday - members bringing a new couple to worship and introducing them to several of their church friends between worship services, a church staff member inviting a hesitant young man to offer his musical gift for an upcoming musical piece in church, a church volunteer giving a teddy bear to a child in the hospital letting the child and the family know that the church is praying for them regardless of any church affiliation.

Churches and ministers not friendly? Don't say it's so!