Editorial: The Itinerant laity

An average of one out of five meals consumed by Americans, 4.2 meals per week, is prepared in a commercial setting, according to a new National Restaurant Association report.* Undoubtedly, many of those meals are consumed in a wide variety of eateries. And it may be that persons who frequent many different restaurants for their physical nourishment may want their spiritual nourishment served up the same way. A good friend helped us identify those persons as itinerant laity.

Itinerant is a word we have assigned to clergy; but clergy may be asked to share the identity with a new kind of churchgoer.

We have been labeling persons who float in and out of churches as “spiritual consumers.” That may be simplistic and not completely fair to some who are taking control of their personal spiritual diet in much the same way some persons take control of their own health care. The physician becomes a vendor.

Pollsters are pointing to a growing number who are less willing to commit to any organization for an indefinite period of time. And it may make some churches feel compelled to program so as to offer “menu items” to persons who are looking to fill a specific spiritual need, or even a spiritual diversion, for a pre-determined period of time. It brings pressure on the creative ability to structure unique programs for a marketplace of some very mobile church-goers.Decision-making for itinerant laity about church attendance may include such dialogue as these:

“I saw an ad about a Bible study at ABC Church that looks interesting. It lasts six weeks; let’s join it.”

“We haven’t sung in a choir for a long time. There is a good choir at XYZ Church; let’s join it for a year.”

“QRS Church has advertised a six-Sunday sermon series by Pastor Jones. Let’s go hear those.”

“Our teen children need a youth group. There is a very good one at LMN Church. Let’s go there ‘til they graduate.”

“We haven’t gone on a mission trip for a long time. DEF Church is going to Haiti; let’s go along.”

The idea of an itinerant church-goer brings up all sorts of issues relating to loyalty and community in the body of Christ, but every new age has driven the church to examine its mission in context, and itinerancy on the part of some churchgoers is a new context to ponder.

JW

*See http://www.restaurant.org/rusa/magArticle.cfm?ArticleID=138

The gift of Tom
And speaking of itinerancy – the appointment of Tom Salsgiver to the office of Superintendent of the Lewisburg District means that we swallow hard and look to God’s next chapter. If this editor may speak for the staff and the CPC, we prepare for God’s next chapter with a lump in our throats and with gratitude for the gift of Tom. His heart was shared with all of us and we, and the world, are better for it.