The above 2005 post is from a blog by Mark Daniels. He discusses his experience of going to a friend's church - and the lack of welcoming and hospitality there. He also writes:
"Years ago, a man who traveled a lot wrote to a syndicated columnist to say that in the preceding two years, he had worshiped or attended functions at 195 churches. But in all of them, he said, “I was spoken to in only one by someone other than an official greeter--and that was to ask me to move my feet.”
Whenever I discuss inclusion with people, some able bodied people remind me that *they* have not felt welcome when going to other churches and imply that I am making this issue all about disability. Although I don't feel it dilutes concerns about spiritual inclusion for people with disabilities, I do acknowledge that churches have work to do in order to be more welcoming to strangers in general. There is no doubt that every time a person attends a church service and gets lost in a sea of strangers, leaving feeling more disconnected than when she or he arrived, that it's the result of a larger problem.
Too many people take no responsibility for being hospitable or welcoming in their church community. Maybe they think that's the usher's job or the pastor's job or the guy in the next pew's job. I don't know. But it only takes a few minutes to turn around to the people sitting near you and say a quick hello.
I make a habit of doing this myself. One time the guy I said hello to was home on leave from the war on Iraq. He cried. Another time when I did this, a mother clutched her child to her and commented on how friendly retarded people are to the person next to her. How sad.
Usually my experiences aren't that dramatic, nor exciting at all. I don't know when I say hello to others if they are "regulars" or "visitors". People don't wear labels. But we do label them, don't we? We have people who are visibly different, like people with disabilities, people of different races and cultures, people who do not have the money to dress as well as others and sometimes homeless people who may not have showered for a long time. Churches attract them all.
If I believe in the Creed I say at Mass and if I have signed on to serve others as a Christian and if I study the life of Christ, I just can't see how I would be able to justify not practicing inclusion and hospitality to all.
2 comments:
AMEN!! I'm not an extrovert at all, and it takes sheer will power for me to approach a stranger at church, or anywhere else. This post was for me.
I think that's why I enjoy blogging so much. I am able to be myself with people I don't know.
Whenever I feel shy about approaching anyone, I just remember that I'm a mouthpiece for the parish as a whole, just serving in the role of someone who is being welcoming. I know how you feel - it can be a little difficult some days to get out of myself and approach people. Blogging is easier!!
Post a Comment