Involving the Church or Engaging the Church

A recent blog written for nonprofits addressed the difference between involving supporters or engaging supporters. Read it. It applies to faith communities.

Congregations have levels of involvement.

  1. Attendance at functions.
  2. Attendance at worship.
  3. Involvement in education.
  4. Support with offerings.
  5. Greater support with offerings.
  6. Participation in worship (reading the lessons, taking the offering, communion assistance)
  7. Participation on committees and governing boards.

And then we come to outreach, a most fundamental reason for gathering together in Christian community.

There are levels of involvement here, too. Many congregations never pass levels one and two.

  1. Attendance.
  2. Support with offerings.
  3. Active support to raise money. (Bake sales, car washes)
  4. Support of social service agencies. (Walk-a-thons, Charity runs)
  5. Assisting organized charities or social service agencies in events (helping with a building project for Habitat for Humanity, traveling to disaster areas to help with clean-up)
  6. Active involvement in a cause (running a day school, organizing a food pantry, visiting a prison, cooking and delivering meals to the homebound)

This last level reaches the highest level of commitment—hands on engagement in ministry.

In the Church, we often settle for coins in the coffer when sweat on the brow is better stewardship.

It’s the difference between involving people in ministry and engaging them. It may make the difference in the vibrancy of your congregation.

Think about it! No one talks about their offerings. People talk about the things they actually do! What a great way to tell the story!

How might your congregation engage your members in ministry?

photo credit: Plan for Opportunity via photo pin cc