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06/10/2002 Entry: "Attendance sheets"
Here's a thing.People at church here fill in an attendance sheet. When someone is missing for more than 2 weeks one of a number of 'callers' gets in touch to make sure they're OK. It seems to be an accepted part of this church's life but I wonder if the folk at home would take to it?
Replies:
I thought so - but it turns out that in the usual way it's a group of volunteers who handle this. It just happened that this week it was one of the paid folk who dealt with the paperwork.
Posted by Richard @ 06/13/2002 03:00 AM CST
aaaaah. That's probably why it works over there - people are paid to do it.
Posted by Wood @ 06/13/2002 12:56 AM CST
Intersting reactions. I've got no intention of trying an identical system when I get home - apart from anything else, there are paid staff here to administer it, and at home there's just me. But I think something similar might be done. I know that in theory it's better for "someone" to notice when "someone else" is missing for a bit and contacts them spontaneously - but when it's anybody's job nobody does it. (Can I get the prize for the messiest sentence of the week?) I'm probably the last person in the world who should say this, but good administration and pastoral care can go hand in hand.
Posted by Richard @ 06/11/2002 07:26 PM CST
Thing is, people *have* really been upset and one or two may have left partly because of the roll. If it's done in the right spirit, it can be brilliant... but the support just isn't there, and you get the classic Baptist "didn't see you at the meeting this morning, brother" thing that we do so well...
Posted by Wood @ 06/11/2002 11:48 AM CST
I thought it was part of the elders' oversight duties to be doing this sort of thing anyway. Giving folks who haven't showed up a call. I suggest the Richard Baxter-"Reformed Pastor"--model.
Posted by joel w @ 06/11/2002 02:58 AM CST
Richard, I think it's a great idea. Damn the torpedoes and JUST DO IT!
What's the worst that could happen? I've never heard of anyone leaving a church because they had to sign a roll. But I've heard of several who've left because they've gone MIA and no-one seems to have noticed or cared.
Posted by Craig @ 06/11/2002 02:45 AM CST
isn't it rather like having a register taken, like being back at school? it's a lovely idea that people will spring into action and worry over your unexplained absences, but like Joshua said, it'd be better if people noticed without the list. In a perfick world I suppose...
Posted by alice @ 06/10/2002 10:47 PM CST
It's a thought... however, the number of times I'm missing from a morning service, my phone line would be jammed... and I wouldn't be pleased at that time of a Sunday morning! :o)
Posted by Gizz @ 06/10/2002 10:24 PM CST
I agree, it makes it not that personal. I would rather someone noticed that I personally was not there and called rather than noticed I didn't sign my name.
Posted by Joshua @ 06/10/2002 09:15 PM CST
A former pastor of our church instituted a similar thing a few years back. They still do it, sort of, but give it more than a few weeks and call to see if the person's OK, or something.
It doesn't run smoothly, and I don't consider it to be particularly successful, frankly.
Posted by Wood @ 06/10/2002 08:52 PM CST
