The Silence of the Shepherds
Jun 15, 2020 4:48:35 GMT -5
Post by avordvet on Jun 15, 2020 4:48:35 GMT -5
The Silence of the Shepherds
By Lee Cary, June 14, 2020
Collectively, they put up little-to-no resistance to the State-ordered closure of their sanctuaries.
Technically, their congregations or denominations own the space, not them. They are merely the shepherds of those who sit in pews, entrusted with leadership over the lambs, in religious matters.
The urban dictionary defines “folded like a cheap suit” to mean: “To give in on something you felt so strongly about only a moment ago”.
Most clergy folded like cheap suits when their state government gave them the order to shut down worship
Most clergy folded like cheap suits when their state government gave them the order to shut down worship.
Now, as many re-open, it will be time to do a damage assessment.
What was the impact of closure on church finances? How many of those who could not come, will now come back? While the bricks and mortar churches were closed, how many parishioners found meaning in voyeuristic participation in remote worship on live TV, or in YouTube streaming? Or via radio broadcasts, that flood the airwaves on Sunday mornings?
Meanwhile, some advantages will have come to those who adjusted to remote worship.
No travel time to church. No worries about social distancing. No passing the collection plate. No dress codes. Attendance permitted in P.J.’s, even underwear. Breakfast during the sermon on a TV tray, or a coffee table while watching a Joel Osteen wannabee. Or, in larger churches, the regular preacher addressing a near empty room, may be perceived as only pretending to be speaking to a live audience.
canadafreepress.com/article/the-silence-of-the-shepherds
By Lee Cary, June 14, 2020
Collectively, they put up little-to-no resistance to the State-ordered closure of their sanctuaries.
Technically, their congregations or denominations own the space, not them. They are merely the shepherds of those who sit in pews, entrusted with leadership over the lambs, in religious matters.
The urban dictionary defines “folded like a cheap suit” to mean: “To give in on something you felt so strongly about only a moment ago”.
Most clergy folded like cheap suits when their state government gave them the order to shut down worship
Most clergy folded like cheap suits when their state government gave them the order to shut down worship.
Now, as many re-open, it will be time to do a damage assessment.
What was the impact of closure on church finances? How many of those who could not come, will now come back? While the bricks and mortar churches were closed, how many parishioners found meaning in voyeuristic participation in remote worship on live TV, or in YouTube streaming? Or via radio broadcasts, that flood the airwaves on Sunday mornings?
Meanwhile, some advantages will have come to those who adjusted to remote worship.
No travel time to church. No worries about social distancing. No passing the collection plate. No dress codes. Attendance permitted in P.J.’s, even underwear. Breakfast during the sermon on a TV tray, or a coffee table while watching a Joel Osteen wannabee. Or, in larger churches, the regular preacher addressing a near empty room, may be perceived as only pretending to be speaking to a live audience.
canadafreepress.com/article/the-silence-of-the-shepherds