The Middle Doors

According to Robert Schnase, Bishop of the Missouri Conference of The United Methodist Church, names five fundamental practices critical to congregations that fulfill their mission to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. In his book, Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations, he entitles them as radical hospitality, passionate worship, intentional faith development, risk-taking mission and service, and extravagant generosity. Each one of these generates thought and reflection. However, it is his comments about “The Middle Doors” that especially interest me.

“The pastor and staff soon realized that “the front door” was working well as people felt invited and welcomed. But they were slipping out “the back door” because they were discovering too many of “the middle doors” were closed tight.” p. 66-67

Schnase goes on to say that after being warmly welcomed, new members found the classes, organizations, choirs, studies and groups within the church to be cliquish and uninterested in welcoming new members. They didn’t feel needed. New members need to find meaningful connections in small groups beyond the worship experience.

Are our church’s “middle doors” open?