I have seen a church ALIVE

[one love]

approachable, not aloof.

Response: Huggable!

That was a good scooter! very funny.


Gerald I just want to say that it is soooooo GOOD to hear you talk like this and what you are experiencing there where Scooter is pastor!

Scooter: I was only able to watch a very little part of your videos on youtube I will try to watch the rest tonight but I liked how you were doing it. It looked very good and the sound was great. I will comment more on the content when I get to hear the whole message. Either way Good JOB!!!

[RaceRunner]

Honest, open, putting up no fronts, but relating to one another as-is, flaws, faults, struggles, temptations, sins and all.

Instead of being about putting on a show, showing only good example, hiding faults and struggles, and giving the appearance of perfection.

Life is about relationships, Christ was all about relating to people and ministering to them where they were through love, and you can't love someone if you can't relate to them, or don't honestly know them. THIS is why the church is seen as all hypocrits, because too many aren't being really themselves, but putting up a front.

Approachable, not aloof

Huggable

Thanks! I know lots of people that are "real" and I attend a great local church also. I probaby use different descriptive terms, but I understand what ya'll mean.

More questions. (really, I'm not debating.

Pretend I'm a person sitting in on your newly established seminar. I am not in the ministry, and consider myself to be a pretty low-maintenance member, so I was just wondering.....

What are the expectations of a minister/church in terms of "transparency" or "realness"? What specific actions do you expect of them?

Do ya'll believe that a requirement of being "transparent" is revealing all about one's past(s)?

[Pastor Bill]

I guess the "low maintenance" part may seem like a good thing, but what do we really mean by that?

I have "low maintenance" members who I don't have to do alot for them, but they come in, fill a pew, leave and that's about it. It's no extra work or maintenance, but how well do they fit the "real" part? How are they relating to others in the church?

Actually if low maintenance is our goal, a dead church is the best! Relationships are more difficult, and they take work, but they are required to reach people. In fact those that are low maintenance probably need reached out to just as much as those outside the church.

Now that may not be what you MEANT by low maintenance, but that is something to think about. I'm sure what you meant is someone who didn't need a lot of attention or special treatment, but actually if you are thinking relationally, this still makes you question if they aren't someone you're spending time with, are you relating to them? My wife is probably my highest maintenance member, I spend more time on our relationship than anyone elses in the church, BUT I like that!

[RaceRunner]

I guess the "low maintenance" part may seem like a good thing, but what do we really mean by that?

I have "low maintenance" members who I don't have to do alot for them, but they come in, fill a pew, leave and that's about it. It's no extra work or maintenance, but how well do they fit the "real" part? How are they relating to others in the church?

Actually if low maintenance is our goal, a dead church is the best! Relationships are more difficult, and they take work, but they are required to reach people. In fact those that are low maintenance probably need reached out to just as much as those outside the church.

Now that may not be what you MEANT by low maintenance, but that is something to think about. I'm sure what you meant is someone who didn't need a lot of attention or special treatment, but actually if you are thinking relationally, this still makes you question if they aren't someone you're spending time with, are you relating to them? My wife is probably my highest maintenance member, I spend more time on our relationship than anyone elses in the church, BUT I like that!

Boy you sure do read a lot in two words! Hahahahaha!

I am low maintenance in the fact that....I'm don't get "offended" about "stuff"...and I don't call the pastor over every little thing that doesn't go the way I think it should. I don't have to have "my way."

[Pastor Bill]

I knew that's more what you meant, but many would describe themselves this way when they really just aren't involved, or just because they don't cause a fuss, but actually being active in relationships with others gets messy sometimes, being real isn't always pretty, but personally I'd rather someone that is active and relating than someone that just isn't any trouble, by not relating.