Top 10 Questions that Church Members Would Like to See Addressed
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What are these top 10 questions?
It would be interesting to see a list created by church leaders as to what they perceive their members would like to see addressed in their congregation. It might be even more interesting to see this listed next to another list that has been created by everyday church members.
What are questions that church members wish their minister/preacher/pastor/elders etc. would address?
What do you think? I would love to hear your thoughts.
When I was an elder, one question that was commonly asked was, “Where are we going?” In the previous 27 years, the senior pastor was a very authoritarian leader and the church had a lot of orchestrated type of programming. When he left, the two leaders after him had a different leadership style and while we had a mission statement, the focus was more outside of the church than in and it was just a real adjustment for people. So much so, that I think many people felt like they were floundering and thus the question, “Where are we going?”
Another common question was usually around why we didn’t do certain things like in the past. I’m sure that’s a common question that is asked in most, if not all churches at one point or another.
Another might be why the pastor doesn’t preach on a certain topic. I think sometimes people have their pet issues that they feel the pastor should be addressing and would probably want to know why he or she does not preach on those issues.
There might also be serious life questions that maybe people have not felt the freedom to ask. But if given the opportunity and a safe environment they might just ask them. Things like what will happen to their unsaved loved one, or questions on homosexuality, etc.
Good comment Pat. As I read your comment I thought about how our experiences in the congregation have a way of shaping the kinds of questions that we ask. I might consider why certain questions seem to be emerging while other possible questions are not being asked.
I think the suffering/theodicy questions are often there, both the “Why?” and how to respond appropriately.
I often hear questions of calling from my students. What does the Lord have in mind for me?
Finally, is God still active in our world, and if so how?
I’ll probably think of others.
These are good Phillip. I hear these same questions. Your second question is one that I’ve heard a great deal from students and young adults (in particular) who are wrestling with their calling, future, God’s will, etc.