Episcopal Church Foundation Vestry Papers - for leading congregations

I recently spent some time in Los Angeles with a bilingual congregation. The group I was with wanted to hear and talk with members of this congregation about the types of resources they want – and need. It was a good day, with conversations in the church kitchen and fellowship hall, in people’s homes, over lunch, and with the youth group. 

We heard lots of wonderful ideas and some concrete suggestions about how organizations of the church can support the Latino communities. Two questions were posed to every individual: What brought you to The Episcopal Church? What keeps you in The Episcopal Church?

As you might expect, the answers varied about why people first visited The Episcopal Church: baptism and first communion, marriages, and invitations by friends. Interestingly though, the answer to the second question was nearly universal: relationships – and especially with the priest -- connected people to the church. 

Not once did we hear that people stayed with their local Episcopal Church because of a great sermon or transformational Christian formation program. That’s not to say sermons don’t matter or that we should ditch Christian ed. Clearly, these teaching components are critical to strengthening disciples. 

But relationships were top of the list. Time and again, we heard how the congregation – and specifically the priest – was present in times of need and celebration. We heard how much it mattered when the priest knew their names. The people spoke of the importance of visits – at the hospital, over a meal, in the home. This relationship connected them in a deep and lasting way to the church. 

I’ve been thinking a lot about these conversations. I wonder if the answers would be the same in an Anglo congregation: Would relationship be the priority for every person, from young to old? Is relationship a higher value in the Latino culture? Could that be a factor in the rapid growth of Latino congregations and the steady decline in most Anglo ones? 

I’m anxious to hear your thoughts. What priority does relationship have for you in the church? How could it change the congregation if relationships were more highly valued? How would you be changed?