ST. CLOUD, Minn. (AP) — Clergy in the St. Cloud area are asking coaches and school activity directors to maintain the longtime tradition of keeping Wednesday nights free for church.
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(Photo: AP Images / Luis M. Alvarez)In this file photo, members of the congregation at the Foundry United Methodist Church attend a service Nov. 16, 2008, in Washington.
That's the night traditionally reserved for confirmation, youth group and other religious programs. But some clergy say sports and other activities have recently been causing a conflict.
Nearly 50 religious leaders, including St. Cloud Roman Catholic Bishop John Kinney of the Diocese of St. Cloud, signed a letter reminding schools of church events on Wednesday nights.
"It puts our children in a bad spot," said Ginny Duschner, faith formation director at the Roman Catholic Church of the Holy Spirit in St. Cloud. "They have to choose between two things that are important."
Duschner said many church leaders are running into more competition for Wednesday programs, which she said have "always been a high priority around here."
Andrea Swanberg, activities director at Technical High School, said that last spring bad weather that postponed games led to more Wednesday scheduling. Playoffs have also been scheduled on Wednesdays, she said.
"We still try to keep Wednesday open. We don't want the students and parents to feel this conflict," Swanberg said.
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ShaneDN
It still sounds like the local community is changing.
Perhaps there was a time when even the secular educational institutions honored church attendance by families on Wednesday nights. But this is no longer the case.
Whatever social influences there were have been influenced in a different direction.
These influences come from witin the family unit.
aaron, plus I'll bet you have a core group of believers who are as passionate about the cause of Christ as your Pastor. I'll do my best to check out that website, believer
Believer, I thought this might interest you, although you may have already seen it. I've posted the video on my blog:
http://aaronthesaint.typepad.com/my_weblog/2008/11/what-do-you-think-about-the-state-of-todays-church.html
Feel free to comment if you'd like.
In Christ,
Aaron
I hope I didn't come across as though I was saying anything negative about Youth Pastors. I would like to clarify my point by adding that I believe it is an important and valid ministry if done reverentially, and that sadly, we see a lot of this ministry being run irreverently in the Church today. One of the reason the youth are living Godly lives and staying organized in our Church is because God has used our pastor in a mighty way: exegetical preaching, teaching and love for his flock. If God did send a Youth Pastor our way, it would be a blessing nevertheless, and that would be a sign that there is a need for it.
aaron, being a former Youth Pastor I can say that a majority of Youth Pastors get it, but a majority of churches don't, they want someone to keep their teens out of trouble and out of the way and often times they are looking for a Youth Activities Director and not a Youth Pastor. We not only need good solid leadership in Youth and Childrens Ministry but we need to educate the adult members as to what true Youth and Childrens Ministry is all about. It appears your church has done both and I pray they will continue to do so and many more evangelical churches will join them.
Believer:
I agree with you. The body of believers is the body of Christ - an organic unit that follows its Head. Our love for one another, which is the hallmark of the unity of the body, must be extended to each part; each member. When we relegate the youth to some unqualified "Youth Pastor" who is primarily there to provide them with entertainment, to relate to them, an/or to meet their felt needs, we are not demonstrating Godly love. We are becoming pragmatic. In EVERY area of the Church, the ends DO NOT justify the means, because pragmatism inevitably becomes man-centered and not God centered.
The answer has always been this: Worship God in spirit and truth.
aaron, it sounds like you have a true youth ministry as opposed to a youth activity going on in your church. Too many churches see youth as excess baggage as opposed to a real and vital part of the church and what ever view they take dictates their approach to working with youth. Your church appears to see youth as the latter of the two views. I wish more churches would take that view as well in their approach to working with youth. It's time we stopped entertaining youth but rather began to equip and empower them to join us in joining God in making a difference for Christ in our world.
I would like to boast about what God has done for the Church that I belong to. We are a very small Church (60-75 members, around 80 in attendance on average) with a large body of 16-24 year old Christians. Our youth constitutes the third largest demographic in our Church membership. Given our size and budget, we have never had a "Youth Pastor." As well, our Pastor has been given little opportunity to shepherd them on a Friday night due to other priorities in the ministry. However, God has really blessed them and others in the Church with a strong commitment to serving Him. They pray together, they organize their own activities, and they seem to always put Church before anything else, be it school, sports or socializing. They help out around the Church, and they server their elders. I am not boasting about them, but about our God, who has strengthened them, and caused them to "purpose in their hearts" (Daniel 1:8) to be obedient to the Word of God. He has worked through our pastor to inculcate them in the Word. They still have their ups and downs, but nevertheless remain faithful. We look forward to what God might do with them if He ever does provides us with a "Youth Pastor." God willing we will avoid the pragmatism of settling for one who "just wants to be their buddy" over wanting to put God absolutely FIRST in that ministry. I thank God for directing me to a part of His Body wherein God is glorified in the pulpit and in prayer.
wrhalver, you misunderstood the point I was making. What if a Christian youth is trying to talk his/her (non-Christian) friend into showing up to youth group and that friend is part of sports that happens on Wednesday? The friend most likely will pass on the opportunity as they have sports and it is an easy out if they are already slightly uncomfortable showing up to youth group.
rev, your post was right on target with the condition of many "Christian" families today, it's no longer a matter of commitment for many but rather what are the perks and will this help my child to be popular and famous, when needless to say the more important concern should be, which activity will help my child to come to know Christ in a very real and personal way and become the Christ-like person God desires them to be.
revtheophilus
Thank you for your feedback and comments.
It is not my desire for anyone to take offense, only to present the proper biblical perspective.
It is getting tougher and I pray that all Christians, especially those in leadership roles like yourself, will continue to let the light of Christ shine as the best example to all families.
God bless.
As a youth pastor, I loved reading your comments wrhalver and bristled at the comments of Tallguy000. I don't know how many mission trips, outreach meetings, etc. have been criticized by parents for conflicting with sports practices - even on Sundays), or even more appalling that their youth can't make it because of an "open gym." Youth today are being increasingly taught more and more that church commitment is a convenienceand a choice. The team work and dedication they learn in sports is good, but when will it be applied to the body of Christ? And is it no wonder so many kids leave church when they graduate when they are barely around when they are in high school?!
Tallguy1000
You have said....
"Yes, Christ must be a priority in their lives, but loyalty to a team and loyality to their individual training is very important too."
So what tone is being set here? I'm confused.
The article is not suggesting that parents should live with two different priorities, one for them and one for their children.
It suggests that famililies are supposed to be together in church on Wednesday nights and other schedules are conflicting with this.
The statement you have made does not make it clear what the real priority is.
If parents believe that school activites and extra-educational interests are just as important or perhaps more important than church, then the tone has been set.
I'm sorry, but resolving this priority is not the responsibility of the church or school.
wrhalver, your comments are mean and make no real sense. Why would you suggest a bottom up approach? Please explain why you think it makes sense that each family should have to tackle this on their own? My daughter loves gymnastics, does really well at it, and works hard to excell in it. So now your saying that everytime something comes up at church on Wendnesday evenings I'll have to drive over to the gymnsastics club and negotiate with the instructor to rearrange the gym's schedule? Just for me? Just for Christians on a one to one basis. Do you think all parents have the time to do this? Do you really think the gym will drop everything every time? What about our children who enjoy both? Should they have to feel guilty about neglecting their duty to the team so they can attend church? Yes, Christ must be a priority in their lives, but loyalty to a team and loyality to their individual training is very important too. What about the cases of a broken home. Maybe the children and one of the parents are strong in their Christian faith, the other parent isin't. Do you think the unsupportive parent will support Church activites over hockey?
Wouldn't a better approach be from the top down? If gyms, schools, hockey teams, etc already kept Wednesday evenings free out of respect, wouldn't that be a much better approach?
While it is a shame parents have to make this decision as at one time in most areas of our nation schools did show respect for Sundays and Wednesdays with regards to scheduling school activites, those days are gone as America becomes more secular, but for those of us in the Christian community this issue will soon become the least of our concerns as human secularism takes over our nation to include our schools where they have a stronghold already.
ShaneDN
Unless I am misunderstanding something, this article does not suggest that children are looking for an easy way out of attending church.
It suggests that school activity schedules are conflicting with the church schedule.
It is the parents responsibility to recognize this conflict and work this out with their children and the schools.
These priorities are set within the family.
wrhalver. While I can see your point view for strong Christians, it makes it rather difficult for Christian children to invite their friends to these gatherings when they are most likely already uncomfortable with the setting. This gives them a much too easy of an out.
"We still try to keep Wednesday open. We don't want the students and parents to feel this conflict," Swanberg said."
Why not. It's about time students and parents decide what their own priorities are. This should not be based upon traditions.