Tonguetwisted Ink #2: Church-Shopping

I think the term “church-shopping” is amusing but I try not to use it too often because I can see how its usage could be considered tactless or offensive.  Having said ALL of that, it could be said that I’m church-shopping here in Nashville.

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It’s difficult to attend a new church as a person who stutters.  Granted, it’s difficult to attend a new church, period – with all of the wondering where to park, what to wear, where to sit, and whether that cute girl beside me is single or taken  - but there are added challenges for those of us with a zipper across our mouths.

I know a lot of pastors and other staffers at churches who have whole job descriptions allotted to figuring out how to make their services inviting for first-time attendees.  These are the people who decide whether his/her church should have parking attendants, how parents register their kids with child care, and the manner in which the greeter greets you when you walk in the front door.  While a part of me thinks this job is a little campy, another part of me acknowledges that that kind of thing probably needs to be thought through by somebody – and I’m glad it’s not me.

I’ve been going to this nifty church in Franklin, TN called JOURNEY.  It’s a great place and they’ve put a lot of thought into stuff like that.  I encountered one of those well-meaning greeter type people at the door.

Greeter: “Hi, come on in.  What’s your name?”

Me: “Uh … Hmm … Um …”  Francy takes pamphlet, nods apologetically after a long awkward silence and finds a seat.  Sigh.

Poor guy had no idea what he was getting himself into.

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This guy is probably really good at his job!  But he was unable (or maybe unequipped) to welcome me to that church effectively.

It’s funny that all of the planning and thinking and reading and studying can’t prepare a church for who walks through its doors.  Some people are conservative, some people are liberal, some people are straight, some people are gay, some people can speak easily and some, not so much.  The same techniques aren’t going to work for everybody.

But then, after the service, some random dude invited me out to lunch.  An all-you-can-eat buffet of glorious, glorious Mexican lunch

And I was sold.

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I’m a cynical and cautious guy when it comes to church, especially when attending a new church, because I’ve got deep-rooted issues with lots of annoying things that lots of annoying churches do.  But time and time again, people and God remind me that the real church is the people.  The flawed, stupid, weak, fragile people (like me).  And the God who loves them.

Lunch was delicious.  And I’ll be going back to Journey.

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francy