Last Thursday we started the first of four weekly sessions on being a “Welcoming Church”. About 60 people from across Adelaide are meeting at “The Corner” UC.
Week One was opening up the whole topic and looking at what people might expect from church and what we might have to offer them. I used a few video clips – “Bad Vicar”, “Me Church” and a couple from thechurchyouknow.com (”tithing” and “church”. Head over to my “Wired Church” Youtubechannel where I link to these things.
Shannon Short presented some findings from the research commissioned by the UCA SA into what people think about the UCA.
The Search to Belong
The key ‘input’ from me was some stuff from Joseph Myers excellent book, “The Search to Belong”. Myers quotes sociologist Edward T. Hall (I studied him once!) on four types of space – Public, Social, Personal and Intimate.
Public Space is where we can belong but feel anonymous – like going to a football match. We come and go as individuals or groups. We may feel deeply connected because of what is happening, but we don’t necessarily share deeply with anyone. We ‘belong’ among a bunch of strangers. In a public space there are varying levels of identificatio, commitment and belonging. You’re not asked to sign up for anything, and there may be no connection with the other people beyond the event itself.
Some larger worship services can be ‘public space’, but most churches are too small for this. A ‘Carols by Candlelight’ event is a good example. The thing about public events is that people attend them because they want to go – they are interest-based, or some attends at the invitation of a friend.
Often the events that church people see as ‘public’ are based around our interests and schedules, or they’re on our premises, or they are too small for people to be able to remain anonymous. But public events are essential for belonging. It may be that the church needs to collaborate with others on public events, or be a serving presence at others’ events.
Of course, it’s not essential that the church sponsor ‘public space’. The point is that people live in public spaces. If the church doesn’t operate in big public spaces, then we will have to work harder on social spaces.
What public spaces are you part of occasionally or regularly?
What public spaces does your church sponsor or participate in?
Uniting College is shortly hosting a visit by Rev Mark Pierson on creating public sacred spaces using art and interactive media. Details here.
Next post: Social Space