Finding Common Ground in Church Attendance

Published August 19, 2005

IN THEORY

Finding Common Ground in Church Attendance

Q: In his book, "Why Men Hate Going to Church," author David Murrow says that though 90% of American men say they believe in God, only two out of six attend church. His theory is that even though some could argue religious leadership is dominated by men, attending services is seen as a feminine endeavor -- with services and messages that cater to feminine values. Ultimately, Murrow calls for leaders to seek more men, or reap the consequences of religious institutions losing a generation of boys -- which will lead to the downfall of churches. Is there a dearth of men in your church? Do you agree with Murrow?

A: I haven't noticed a lack of men in our particular church, neither on a given
Sunday morning nor in the active administrative life of the church. Quite honestly, though, we haven't studied this dimension of our congregation make-up in our church.

However, I won't hesitate to say that Murrow's on target with his observations, mostly due to the manner in which religion is understood these days. The strength of religion is found in terms of its calming and pacifying ability, rather than as a vehicle to effectuate change in our lives and in society.

In the Christian tradition, Jesus Christ is in fact a revolutionary who bucks the system and taps into an inner power to overcome the greatest of difficulties. His message, "Courage, I have overcome the world" (John 16) is a victory declaration. He is a masculine role model who can be very attractive to males in their quest for power.

Many times these days, however, he's presented as a victim of circumstance, with very little control over what the fates would dish out to him. You're more inclined to pity him than mimic. This is hardly a masculine role model: a male giving up control? The Christian church has fallen lax in its presentation of Jesus.

Think of the anti-war and civil rights movements of the 60's, where the Church was at the forefront of the challenge to bring peace. Yet today, sadly, the Church is staying silent, not really defining itself as an institution with the ability to bring about true and lasting peace. More than blaming its inability to attract a male audience, its loss of relevance in the lives of people, is the greater downfall for the institution.

Let people understand that religion taps into the deepest and most sensitive parts of human consciousness and watch the pews fill with men and women, because you've offered something that goes beyond gender.

Fr. Vazken Movsesian
Armenian Church Youth Ministries