This must be the new math they’ve been talking about
When my husband comes home from church council meetings, I know I’m going to either laugh or cry with him. Usually our Christian leaders are such amazing, faith-filled people that I’m proud to sit in the same sanctuary as them. Occasionally, though, the most absurd things happen.
Like the other night. There’s a member of council who tried to alarm a new crop of council members by using some very bad math. He brought in statistics to prove that over the last five years, attendance has declined, which everybody already knows. But then he told the group that we are losing an average of five thousand (yes, 5,000) individuals a year. What?? Have we become Willow Creek? Saddleback? The Crystal Cathedral?
No, here is his logic. If there are 100 LESS people attending a given weekend than last year, in a year of 52 weekends, that computes into 5000 people who are NOT here every year. 5000 worship units are missing per year. Well, I’m here to tell you that my big ol’ worship unit butt is not in church every week, either. How many weekends is he going to give me credit for?
Luckily, our new council president caught the funny math and kept replying that attendance is only one part of the picture. I’m hoping the rest of the council had the perceptiveness to take those numbers for what they’re worth. And maybe they got a little laugh in the midst of the seriousness of church business, like I did.
Published by angelawd on December 8th, 2007 tagged Daily Christianity
December 9th, 2007 at 9:26 pm
That’s some seriously bizarre logic. Wow.
December 10th, 2007 at 3:44 pm
So I am a “worship unit” now? Do I got “God units” credited to my account everytime I go? I hope the church doesn’t just become about numbers and lose sight of caring for people!
December 10th, 2007 at 9:07 pm
“God Units?” I love it, Josie.