RADICAL HOSPITALITY

Trinity is a friendly church.  No doubt about it.  But are we radically hospitable?  Friendly Trinity member, Ava, says, “Hi, Ben.  How’re things going for you?  How’s the car – the cat – the kids? Well, I’ve got to be going.  It was great talking to you.  See ya!”  The radically hospitable Trinity member, Caitlyn, says, “Damien, come into my life!  Let’s do something together – come over to my house – go to the symphony with me – have a cup of coffee.”  Radical hospitality means extending ourselves beyond our own social groups.  Radical hospitality asks more from us than friendliness.

Session has adopted “Radical Hospitality” as Trinity’s theme for 2008.  Session has begun wrestling with the implications of radical hospitality.  One of the many issues of transforming Trinity into a radically hospitable church is the question of adequate staffing for the growth that we anticipate as we invite people into our lives.  Roy Oswald, church growth expert with the Alban Institute, writes, “If you staff for growth, you need one full time program person on your staff for every 100 active members.  This does not include support staff.  Active members are the average number of people who attend worship.  You staff for maintenance if you are just slightly under this figure…The addition of a paid professional, (ie. youth worker, religious education specialist) usually pays for itself within 12 to 18 months.  For example, a congregation with 225 active members that hires a third full time staff member to provide better quality ministry will most likely grow to 300 members.” (Making Your Church More Inviting)

Using worship attendance statistics, Trinity has 203 active members according to Oswald’s criteria.  Trinity has one full time pastor (Shelley) and three part-time program staff (Karen, Kathy, Pat), who are hired to work 20 hours per week – less than halftime according to our presbytery standards (50 hours/week is fulltime).  Karen’s ministry is directed primarily at children and their families.  Pat focuses on our youth.  Kathy reaches out primarily to seniors – some of whom aren’t able to be in worship.  If we add the numbers who receive her pastoral care, our numbers members receiving ministry swell beyond 203.  Oswald does not address the issue of multiple part-time staff.  Recognizing that our staff are hard workers who offer more than 20 hours each week, there still remains a qualitative difference between part-time and fulltime staff.

My assessment:  Trinity is staffed for maintenance – staffed adequately to take care of our members and encourage our strong emphasis on mission.  No staff person has evangelism or radical hospitality as part of their job description, although all of us warmly welcome visitors once they come through our doors.  As we contemplate the challenges of radical hospitality, we begin with inadequate staffing to grow Trinity.

Please pray for our elders as they wrestle with this assessment.  Consider how you might invite others to Trinity with integrity, authenticity, and ease.  What natural gifts of hospitality can you add to our mix?

Grace and Peace,

Shelley