I don’t get it.
Maybe it is the fact I spent 23 of my almost 30 years of life in Texas (and most of that in West Texas, where we spent Christmas in shorts chasing the tumbleweeds outside. Hey, we were poor. That’s how we had fun. Okay?) but even after working in several churches over the last six years, I still do not understand why churches would have services during inclement weather.
I’m not a very logical person. I really am not. But something logical inside me asks,
“Why would you have people driving to church when there’s an 18 car pile up on the interstate because of the ice?”
Why not provide resources for families or neighborhoods or community groups to “have church” without having to really travel in the weather? Use the internet to distribute material prepared ahead of time.
Something.
Anything.
Since many of you work or serve in churches, and by reading my Twitter stream today I can see most churches are choosing to stay open regardless of how inclement the weather…may I be so bold to simply ask…
Why?
I really don’t understand and this is not a criticism at all…Please help me not feel like such a heathen for wanting to keep people off the roads when the weather outside is frightful.
Related posts:
I live in Phoenix, so we don’t have too many “snow days”. We shut down shop a few weeks ago because of some intense rain though. Didn’t make sense to have people on the road, just like you’re saying. Someone will comment after me about how dedicated we should be. Then someone will point out we are the church, wherever we are. Can’t wait :)
ryan guard´s last blog ..How Many You Got?
I don’t mean to be harsh….but I think that you will have to ask to the leaders of those churches….I can try & guess…but, is really difficult to get into the mind of people without common sense…Well, that maybe it! Some people have reached a spiritual level so high that common sense is no common any more…just saying…
Because people will use anything for an excuse. I personally am tired of weather whining. Ice? No one can drive on that. But it’s usually snow on the roads and if they’re salted and scraped, well, I’ve been told to take it like a Canadian by some lovely Canucks I know. I’ve seen several inches of snow around at a time but usually the roads are fine. I’ve also seen my parents get out at 5AM to scrape and salt a huge church parking lot before service. After that, I think people darn well better show up.
What they say – “We are a refuge! We’ve got to keep the church doors open! People look to churches in times of crisis! Remember Noah’s Ark!” (wait. what?)
What they mean – “We can’t afford not to take an offering this Sunday, no matter what the weather or current infections strain of swine/bird/genetic engineering flu.”
Actually, I was truly blessed to hear that a close friend cancelled his church’s Sat. evening services two weekends ago when the New Orleans’ Saints were in a playoff game. I think they all realized that healing in their community that night was outside their walls than within. I salute them for that. It was a saintly decision!
we never cancel services. we do ask people to be safe and use their judgment. we don’t make the decision for them.
there are lots of places around the world where it’s very dangerous for Christians to meet. seems like those of us in the south can endure some weather.
Our church does shut down for inclement weather. The pastor makes the call and usually makes the calls as well .. of course, we’re a fairly small church.
But we also open for inclement weather .. this Christmas Eve, more than 150 stranded travelers slept on pews and in our fellowship hall, served by our pastor and his family when he realized there was a need for a shelter in our small town. The 16″ of snow was new for our Texas town! A couple of we parishoners took over Christmas morning.. it was an unexpected, but blessed Christmas!
Now that is awesome!
Maybe in case people show up like that poor British woman who died outside a church? Okay, I don’t think she was actually heading to church, but I can picture people waiting.
Seriously, I think it’s a great idea to offer an alternative, but I think the church should also be open. You never know who will show up and those more intimate / informal gatherings can be the best.
We canceled services about a month ago because of historic snow fall in the DC area, and we encouraged people to check out our Internet Campus…about half our church attended via the Internet Campus even though all the physical services were shut down.
I think you should contextualize it a little bit though…what may be hazardous in Virginia might not be as bad in New England.
Ryan´s last blog ..Avatar and Fantastic Mr. Fox
So true Ryan! I live in Virginia, where when snow hits in ANY measure “we” don’t know how to act. My pastor is from NY though…….so church services are almost never cancelled. (Unless we’re talking hurricanes and tornadoes. He don’t play with those.)
I pastor a house church. It is not a protest or a statement. It is just how things turned out after twenty-something years as a Baptist, nearly fifteen years in a charismatic church and fifteen years in an Anglican church.
Our weekly worship has evolved after four years into kind of a blue jean PB&J version of the seasonal Festival of Lessons and Carols. After an opening song or two, we hear four different folk read the appointed scriptures from the three year lectionary cycle (which is pretty much what happened in the ancient synagogue.) After each reading we sing an appropriate song in response.
I prepare a few brief comments on the readings (as much as a discussion starter as anything.) Then we discuss what we hear the scriptures “saying” to us. Prayers follow, as well as the sharing of the bread and cup of the Lord’s table.
On a week when travel may prove difficult, everyone has the scripture readings and songs in advance. It is easy to print out the service leaflet and worship wherever one find one’s self. I’ll send this week’s to you if you send me your e-address.
It’s just not that hard~
Many blessings and thanks for your musings!
Where else do you collect the offering? (oops, can I say that?)
there is some truth there for some… not all but some.
T.J. Dreyer´s last blog ..Repentance Unto Life Message
I lived in Iowa for about 6 years and served on staff at a church there for some time. If you ask anyone who lives that far north or further north, they’d tell you that inclement weather in the form of massive snow is just a part of life. So there are times that you keep a regular schedule whether that be work/church/social activities despite the weather, or all life would cease for about 3-4 months of the year. There still has to be some common sense in the peak worst weather and when that is ignored, I’d say sadly money may be at the root cause.
Just my thoughts.
T.J. Dreyer´s last blog ..Repentance Unto Life Message
We don’t cancel. Living in Michigan, along the lakeshore to boot, weather can get pretty crazy, but we have never cancelled an adult gathering. We have cancelled for youth, although teens might actually drive better if there car was on ice, sheesh.
We are very clear with people that if they think the weather is too bad to venture out, then don’t go out. There are no grades given out, we won’t be having a test later. This is church, so you’re not going to get fired. I’m one of the pastors and if the weather was really bad, our lead pastor would have no problem with me not coming in. It’s up to people to make a decision for themselves, right?
Wally´s last blog ..More or less Patient?
My dad was a pastor and I NEVER understood it either…….still don’t!!!
Here are my thoughts:
1. You’re “spiritual” (what I call a martyr) if you weather the storms to make it to church.
2. They’ve studied, are prepared, and all fired up to preach their message. My thoughts……….SAVE IT, then you don’t have to study so much next week.
3. Here’s the biggie………..THE OFFERING. Many churches can’t afford to miss a week of contributions. After all, the bills and salaries still have to be paid, regardless of the receipts or lack thereof.
4. The loss of momentum
5. People do what they want to do……….i.e., “I’ll bet they get up and go to work on Monday morning.” I’ll bet they will find a way to the airport” if they’re planning a vacation………..etc.
6. The difficulty of communicating that church is cancelled and people getting out to come and no one being there…….
I’ve heard all of the above over the course of my life………..just sayin’……….don’t agree with ANY OF THE LOGIC.
I’ve done the ministry thing for years (in various climates), and I’d say this is spot-on.
Also, the vast majority of churches do not have the time, staff, or money to provide online options–even if they wanted to.
may i be so bold as to offer one idea… no church service = no offering. i am sure this is not the prominent reason for remaining open, but sadly i have heard it discussed amongst staff before.
JuliaKate´s last blog ..on loose living…
Anyone who would show up at church on a snow day is probably going to find a way to give. Internet, mail or bring it the next week.
I don’t think churches are staying open out of greed.
And I don’t think they’re closing out of laziness or because they’re uncommitted.
And if they are opening because they can’t miss a Sunday’s offering then they’re doing what it takes to keep their ministry running and I don’t find fault with that. If they’re making it week to week they’re not in it for the money. (Although I don’t advocate pushing anyone to come to church who doesn’t want to–ever for any reason–that’s manipulation. Except my toddler. I make him come.)
The flip side is: if they’re bringing home the really big paycheck then a snow day is a great day to earn it. The message sent is “I’m here when there are 5,000 of you and I’m here when there are 50 of you.” Because if you’re looking at the money angle couldn’t you say that the pastor doesn’t want to show up because he knows there won’t be many people there and that means not a lot in the offering and he just doesn’t think it’s worth his time?
It’s probably best to resist the temptation to assume what motivates others and instead focus on why we personally do or don’t (or would or wouldn’t) cancel church.
A few years ago, my church cancelled services during a really bad snowstorm. But a few people didn’t get the word, wanted to go to church, and showed up to find the doors locked.
After that, our minister said he would never cancel the service again. Worship would be led by whoever could make it, and it would be up to the individual whether to venture out or not.
It wasn’t about the offering, it was about being there for whoever needed it. But when the roads are really bad, I stay home!
We usually cancel our midweek services for weather issues. Never on Sunday though. I think it helps keep priorities straight. I don’t care what the weather is like. I’m out sledding or doing some other crazy activity. If I can do that, I can go to church on Sunday. If I’d paid $1,000 for a concert, I’d be there. How important is fellowship to me?
When the weather’s crazy, though, we usually switch things up because undoubtedly many people won’t show up. I don’t think we make them feel bad for this, though perhaps I’m not the one to ask. Even if no one shows up, we just don’t like “closing” church.
-Marshall Jones Jr.
bondChristian´s last blog ..How to expose someone’s goodness
Most churches still have services since people do not make up the lost offerings on the next week….
Why? Why not? If people want to come we’ll be open. If they don’t want to come then they can stay home.
You’ve been in the church world long enough to know people are going to criticize you either way. Churches we’ll be drilled for staying open or for closing.
At Cross Point we’re trying to give people both options. Today we set up a page where people can watch the service live (we don’t normally stream our services)at home if the roads are too bad in their area to get out.
So stay at home, fix a cup of hot chocolate, and worship away… http://www.crosspoint.tv/live/
But what about staff safety? Volunteers that feel like they should be there…sure, they can use judgment but what if the weight of responsibility is too much for them to make a wise choice. I know that’s not on your head – other peoples’ decisions…just hypothetically speaking (because I’ve been there…when I first moved to Kansas and felt obligated to be there for a youth service even though it would be terrible for me to drive my little Mustang in the snow!)
can’t the same thing apply to staff? they can use good judgement. i know most of my staff wouldn’t miss church, but if they lived in a dangerous area or the roads were slick, i’d trust them to make the right call.
michael´s last blog ..Road Signs
I wish it did apply to staff, but most of the church staff I know feel the pressure to sacrifice their lives for the ministry, including showing up for services that really aren’t that life or death.
I wanted the church role I had so bad that I let them program me that I had to be there at all costs. I thought God was happier with me if I showed up to his building. I left for an evening service one night while the water from a flash flood was rushing under our back door and down our stairs into the basement. I left my wife and four kids trying to bail out two inches of water while I went down to the church to greet people, take my place, and sign them up for education classes after the service.
Yes, it is wonderful to serve each other, during storms, but this whole “sacrifice” thing for the Kingdom needs to be carefully looked at. Jesus did all the real sacrificing necessary. Now we are just called to love.
Sigh… guess this one hit a nerve.
Chad Estes´s last blog ..The Gospel According to LOST
You really can’t have church, in most modern formats, without having certain STAFF show up. The weather issue could certainly be a challenge but hopefully people will make proper choices either way.
I love your last paragraph, Chad. Thanks for the comforting thought:
“Yes, it is wonderful to serve each other, during storms, but this whole “sacrifice” thing for the Kingdom needs to be carefully looked at. Jesus did all the real sacrificing necessary. Now we are just called to love”
Maybe, if church member’s were doing their job in “loving the least” church leadership wouldn’t feel obligated to open the physical door’s of the church when weather happens. [the statement is not speaking of ALL churches, just SOME]
I never actually thought of this. Thanks for bringing it up, Anne.
Jeff Goins´s last blog ..The Kind of Person You Want to Be
Pete, you clearly don’t understand the pressure that a post such as this puts on your staff. Obviously, the PASTOR is gonna be there, come hell or high water, so everybody else should step out on faith and risk their families lives, the value of the car, and the potential of broken bones, or whatever, just so the PASTOR can have church.
Like Anne says – we need to exercise some good sense here. The very fact that the doors of the church are open implies that it’s safe to be on the road. It implies that the staff are going to be there, and that the members should pony up and be there to support the effort. That’s all the wrong messages. Pastors should love their church enough to tell them to stay home rather than being driven by trying to please everybody. No church member should ever feel that they HAVE to attend church, especially when the roads are not clear or it’s snowing some unpredictable amount. Likewise the staff. We’re dealing with CHURCH here, folks, not medical emergencies.
I hope to goodness it’s not about the offering, although I KNOW that contributions for a month drop WAY off when a service or two is missed.
Wow…you clearly don’t know Pete if you’re making a post like this directed at him.
Honestly, your post makes it sound like most Christians don’t have enough common sense to know if it’s too dangerous to drive.
“The very fact that the doors of the church are open implies that it’s safe to be on the road.” No, it doesn’t. It means that it was safe for some staff members to make it and it might be safe for some others to make it. Perhaps some people are better at driving in snowy conditions than others. So if someone has the ability to drive on snowy roads a full day after a snowfall ends, they shouldn’t have the chance to go to church because you might not be able to drive in it?
If a church was implying “the members should pony up and be there to support the effort” then they wouldn’t be streaming the service live…or telling people they can stay home and worship.
Jason´s last blog ..The loss of a child
Yes, good grief. Of course the same applies to them. We’ve had to cut down a few ministries since a couple of them can’t make it tomorrow.
However, about half of us met in town today to go sledding and did just fine.
I think the general rule here should be common sense.
pete wilson´s last blog ..Plan B Video Promo Released
Can I just say preach on, Anne! I’m the son of a pastor and have been on church staffs for years, and I think Pastor’s lose touch with the “real world.” Their world so revolves around church life (in the not so healthy kind of way) that they totally don’t think it through.
Pastors are the “voice of God” for many people, and I think they forget the influence the exert. They put “their sheep” at risk. Volunteers and staff DO feel major pressure to be there – and we abandon common sense b/c our pastor’s say we’re going through with it.
And yes, I do think collecting tithes is a large part of the reason they do. (I gave online from home this morning during our online service).
We usually never cancel experiences here at Lifechurch.tv. Mainly, because we direct people to Church Online if they don’t feel comfortable. Plus, we value our volunteers and certainly don’t expect them to put their lives at risk to show up (just call us and say you can’t come-no big deal). That being said, we got slammed with a blizzard (in Oklahoma that’s unheard of) Christmas Eve. Some campuses were ahead of the curve and cancelled them early. Others… they waited. And one experience into it, they realized that it was time to call it day. But…crazy of all crazy…as they were cancelling the rest of the experiences, people actually showed up and wanted to go to church. They had to tell them that the rest of the experiences were cancelled. I think we learned a lesson that day. If you’re going to call it, call it early :)
I think it really depends on where you live and what kind of weather you are dealing with. I live in the Northern Illinois area, so what shuts down Nashville is probably not going to shut us down. I go to a large mega church in the northern suburbs (you can probably figure out where) and the church has a 20/20 rule. The church will not be open for services if either 20 inches of snow falls in one batch the day of services, or actual air tempurature is 20 below zero. And, use your own best judgement.
But ice is another serious situation. I won’t go out in ice. Too dangerous. And most places around here will cancel if an ice storm hits. But, we don’t really get a lot of ice storms.
I get a kick out of listening to the facebook/twitter conversations from Nashville. I think Pete mentioned about a month ago that schools were closed on the forecast of 1 inch of snow. Around here, it needs to be in the neighborhood of 6-8 inches of actual snowfall before it will get any consideration.
I think in any weather situation, common sense needs to prevail, and just because my church is open, if I feel it is too dangerous, I am not going.
I feel the exact same way when I’m walking into church on Sunday mornings. It’s pretty much always beautiful and warm here, and I can’t help but wonder WHY we are walking into a stuffy, humid building when, obviously, we should be surfing. It’s like some people just don’t get it, ya know? We should be resourcing these good folks with surfboards and rash guards… ;)
I’m sorry. That was really insensitive.
Hope everyone stays safe this weekend in your part of the world!
Jamie, the Very Worst Missionary´s last blog ..What’s wrong with this picture?
I grew up in Upper Michigan, where the average annual snowfall (not all at once) was about 100 inches, and where there was ALWAYS snow on the ground from about Thanksgiving to about Easter. T. J. Dreyer, Susan Brown, and Pete Wilson all summed up our attitude pretty well. That was just life where we lived. If we didn’t think we could drive to church safely, we just didn’t go (and everyone accepted that). But we knew the church would be open. I never heard anyone question that.
Strangely, places with milder climates (Seattle, Nashville, etc) may have more of a problem. Snow is unfamiliar, and streets may get much more slippery than where it’s colder and snow is dry. (Where we live now, in Wyoming, we can rarely make snowballs. The snow is so dry it just falls apart when you try to press it together.)
So, to me, each church, each town, knows what’s normal and what’s safely “doable” there – and I think it’s ok for them to make decisions based on that.
When we lived in the NW, Hubs was on staff at a church and we did close for inclement weather on Sundays. Church closings were announced on a scroll across the TV the same way as school closings were. In fact, during the week the policy was that if schools were closed, church activities would be cancelled too. But yeah, sometimes it is about the offering. It’s true that if a week is missed, it isn’t made up for the next week.
My complaint was when I worked for the Unemployment Office and our county was flooding but we were required to stay open ‘in case people wanted to come in.’ I mean, there were government officials on TV all over the place saying “unless it’s an emergency, STAY HOME.” My thinking was that if non-essential services closed, there’d be no reason for people to leave, right?
That would apply to churches too. Pastors can be reached by cell phone or pager for cases of emergency, but staff shouldn’t have to risk their lives and the congregation shouldn’t be encouraged to put themselves at risk either. Get online and listen to a sermon you missed, etc. One of the benefits of worshipping an omnipresent God is that we don’t have to show up at a certain place at a certain time for Him to meet us.
Could it be because our identity is wrapped up in the Sunday event that we’d have an identity crisis without it? Perhaps people would wonder why the staff collected a pay check that week? Maybe if we were sure we were serving God and growing disciples the other 6 days a week we’d hold the Sunday event loosely?
…oh and yeah I’ve heard the offering comment straight from pastor’s mouths.
i’m sure the offering is an issue for some (but not all). but playing along with this line of thinking…is it a good thing or a bad thing.
i mean…if the church staff doesn’t get paid because there’s no offering…doesn’t that negatively affect people?
michael´s last blog ..Road Signs
your treading on dangerous waters, but truth is truth. well put. why do you think churches use phrases like “main service” and some even have staff/volunteer slogans like “it’s all about the weekend!”…hmmm. and i have also heard the offering comment straight from a pastor’s mouth also. Boo! =/
JuliaKate´s last blog ..on loose living…
the offering.
Anne, I think I have to admit that part of my answer (above) was conditioned by the fact that our church HAD no staff except the pianist, who only lived 3 or 4 blocks away. I can see you’d want to consider the answer more carefully if your church has a “normal” staff, and especially if you live where snow is hard to handle safely.
Congratulations to all! You’ve frustrated me. No, that’s disingenuous. I’m flat out irritated. My associate pastor sent me a text an hour ago with a link to this and we’ve been in binary corespondents since. And here’s where the frustration begins. At least for me… those of you in the alleged pile-up have more pressing matters.
1. Your young. Enjoy it. A lot. However the juvenile premiss you position yourself in is pretty shallow. And I say this respectfully with hat-in-hand; in-climate weather, for people from Texas, always ends in an 18 car pile-up. But that’s not what frustrated me… that’s just funny.
2. Here’s what got me. Your probably right. That does put a bur in my saddle. Not because I mind being wrong… I hate being wrong. When scripture does not outline something specific, man (me) inevitably fills in the blanks. The only idea so foolish as to conceptualize that “church” must somehow be internet-package-ready for the tweeting, tweens, twenty-something crowd is the idea that it shouldn’t. Now I’m grinding teeth.
3. And this one I do get PO”d over as a pastor. PO, btw, meaning “purposefully offended”… Here, I’ll say it. I need to change things. CR@P that hurts. Even though we have a website at our church that’s visited thousands of times every month from every corner of the globe, I want to do more. ALOT MORE! And the hold up hasn’t been anyone but me. You’ve given me… no, make that the associate pastor who sent this to me to begin with, a ton of extra work (Pastor Mark, just remember you started it :-)
Thanks (and I am being sincere) – for being a bur under my saddle. Don’t quit. Don’t let crotchidies wound your creativity, don’t stop asking questions, and don’t forget to listen to others, including those in authority, and most important listen to God. After all He made the internet right? Or was it Al Gore… I digress.
I live in Atlanta, Georgia where it rarely snows. When it does, our entire city freaks out and stocks up on bread and milk as if preparing for an apocalypse.
I have served as a leader in my church for several years. I served as an Elder for the last three years. During my time in leadership I learned how a snow day can affect a church’s budget. We have a somewhat large church of 6000 members. It is never easy to decide whether to close on a Sunday because on one hand you have people’s safety to consider. On the other hand, you have bills that need to be paid to keep the church open the other 364 days of the year.
The fact is, when people do not tithe one Sunday for missing a service they almost never make it up the following Sunday. So, when we close an entire service down there is a huge percentage of our 6000 people’s tithe money that will never be recovered. If you have ever looked at how much your church makes each Sunday you will realize its a significant chunk of cheese.
Hopefully, with many churches getting their members accustomed to giving online, this will become less and less of an issue. But, for now many of us still collect the majority of our operational income during those 52 days of the year.
Why don’t churches do what they tell their people to do with their money? That is, live with margin and put some in the bank. Maybe if we weren’t spending more dollars than we bring in or screaming right up to being in the red then we wouldn’t have to do things that endanger our people just to keep the doors open?
Thats a good point Tim. I think this is probably less of an issue for churches that build large margin into their finances. However, even with that margin it is a serious issue to close the doors of a church on a Sunday. The same reason churches wrestle with this issue is the same reason any other business does. I worked in my family’s business for most of my life. Whenever there was inclement weather we had the same struggle. We had fixed expenses and when you close the business for a day it had its affects. Its not a moral issue, its just a dollars and cents issue. If the church doesn’t work it doesn’t eat:-)
We usually end up canceling services at least a couple of times a year. We live in the mountains of Virginia and the roads can get bad in a hurry. The forecast for this weekend is over a foot of snow, so it’s not looking good for this Sunday. There are a lot of things that we should take into consideration in making a decision. I hate to cancel, but as a pastor, I’m not putting my volunteers and attenders in danger.
Even if you warn people to stay safe, many will come simply because you are having church. Some will feel obligated because they need to come early and clear the parking lot, shovel the walkways, and prepare the facilities. Are visitors really going to show up when it is that bad outside?
Some locations are better equipped to handle snow and ice and clear the roads, so that definitely plays into the decision. But we haven’t even talked about liability. I don’t want to know that my decision contributed to someone being seriously injured. I do think it is a great idea to utilize online tools to communicate and have services online. It’s something we want to consider doing in the future.
Mike´s last blog ..Two Questions to Think About
Another view from Proverbs 27:12 – The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and suffer for it. (As Andy Stanley talks about in his book “The Principle of the Path” http://tinyurl.com/yzrxee7)
Robbie´s last blog ..robbiewendt: Looks like a winter type weekend in CLT NC….. http://tinyurl.com/4ahm83
We cancel in inclement weather. Our folks don’t take a week off giving thou. The offering doubles the next week. We try to use common sense and don’t put money over safety. I think people appreciate that.
To those making the money comment, I understand what you are saying. But isn’t it bad if staff don’t get paid because there was no offering and no money to pay them? Honest question…what is wrong with receiving the offering being a reason not to cancel services?
michael´s last blog ..Road Signs
if a church has agreed to pay their staff then they should do so, whether or not services are canceled. perhaps these days should be considered when the church is figuring its annual budget. much like schools do when setting their yearly calendars– emergency days.
and as far as your honest question goes… i believe the point of Anne’s question was in concern for the safety of staff, volunteers, and church goers. if it is a question of safety vs. offering, safety should be the clear decision. at least in my humble opinion;-)
JuliaKate´s last blog ..on loose living…
Of course it is okay if a congregation opts to financially support a pastor or staff, but its also good to recognize when decision making is significantly affected by that relationship.
I know that the last staff I served on made decisions based on doing what was best to keep the institution afloat, and that wasn’t always what was best for the people, who attended.
Chad Estes´s last blog ..The Gospel According to LOST
If you are in a position where one week’s offering makes or breaks the budget, then are you wisely managing the finances? I’m not saying that’s your situation, but it’s something to think about. That is why we must operate with at least one months of operating expenses (or more) in the bank to pay the bills in case of emergency. That’s definitely a biblical principle.
Mike´s last blog ..Two Questions to Think About
There’s a LOT wrong with it, brother. Sorry.
Bernard Shuford´s last blog ..Prepared
@Mike G – Your honesty is wonderful! I hope more pastors humbly receive input and new ideas.
I was raised in snow country and my dad was the pastor. The church seemed to always be open, but the schools in my town were also always open and rarely even started late. It was life, but it was also a small town and before the Internet. We went to church because it was family and we wanted to see everyone instead of being locked up at home. We wanted something to do. Many of us lived close enough to the church that we could walk. What I am trying to say is I think part of this practice is a hold over from older traditions with smaller neighborhood churches. Also, as Pete brought up, if people decided it was unsafe to come and didn’t come I think churches would close, but people do come and there is a heart of not wanting to turn people away, even if a full service doesn’t occur.
I work in the technology field and in ministry. Most churches do not know how to implement online solutions yet. It will come. Over the next few years I believe it will become much, much easier and more acceptable. However, churches have to overcome the concern that if they provide online resources people might stop coming even in good weather.
As a leader I hope the message I give to others is to make wise decisions, and if they feel they can’t make it on any given week whether it is due to weather, stress, health, etc. then don’t come. To me it doesn’t matter if they are the ministry leader or even the head pastor. Each person is so important that I want to support them where they are at. A ministry or church that is healthy will not fall apart if someone isn’t there for a week, and if we care for and support each other as whole person instead of just wanting them to do (like you brought up in your last post) then we will take a huge step toward real community and love.
Sherie´s last blog ..People aren’t expendable
As I tell my dear wife Lisa, who spent a number of years in NT, snow in the South (where I’m from) is an event. In NY and other places north, snow is a way of life. So I do not hesitate to cancel services due to winter weather. I’ve heard that it actually happens in places where they are used to snow and ice. I close for one reason: safety. It makes no sense to expect or ask people to try to come and slip slide away.
I think the biggest reasons churches will have church when it is so bad is simple: BUDGET!
Hope it keeps snowing as I am traveling 25 hours in a plane soon to become a snow missionary or do snow evangelism?
Ok so it may be an expensive indulgent holiday.
Can you just ship the snow to where it is meant to be snowing instead of going to church?
(my vote is with the money principle as to why churches would stay open)
Anne, I don’t think I have ever commented on here before but oh how I heart you!
I am on the staff of a church in SC and am praying that we cancel on Sunday if we get the ice they are predicting! Is it wrong to pray church is closed, especially if you are on staff?!
Anyway I think most North American churches have a hard time grasping church can be done outside the walls of the actual building. But I think it does really boil down to money and what people will say or do if God forbid we shut down for one Sunday!
Amen, sister…”I think most North American churches have a hard time grasping church can be done outside the walls of the actual building.”
I have a very naive question. I was taught to tithe and have faithfully since the day I got my first job. If money is the issue and people don’t just make it up the next week, could churches take an opportunity to teach about spiritual disciplines and building them into life regularly? I had to be taught that I should read my bible and pray daily, maybe some people just need to learn that tithing shouldn’t be tied to attending church. What I am I missing here?
Sherie´s last blog ..People aren’t expendable
If safety is an issue, close ‘em amigos.
What’s so hard, here?
dh
I here your concern. I think if a person can get up and go to work then they can get up and go to church. “Would you go to work?” is the test in our church family. This allows for some times to stay home but not every time things are a little inconvenient. Thanks for the post.
Dr. Baines´s last blog ..Jan 26, Healthy Recipes: Six Delicious Meals
I remember years ago in East Tn we use to say we would see each other, “Good Lord willing and the creek don’t rise.” Well our little church was right by a creek.
Wouldn’t you know it, one day it rained and rained and rained and the creek rose…all the way to the church doors….
Needless to say we didn’t think the Lord wanted us to do church there that Sunday!
Seriously though, I think people (especially Pastors and Leaders) don’t know how to handle a disruption of routine. We always meet in a building so we should do so no matter the weather…dedication and all!
It’s sad. We are creatures of habit. I think it takes a fresh visioning of what church is to shake people from this mindset.
Rick Apperson´s last blog ..Held In His Arms
I love this conversation…maybe this has been said, maybe not:
1. There would be no discussion on the money thing if people were simply obedient to what God asked them to give. We could solve world crisis overnight. And by obedient I don’t mean just to tithe…Jesus wants all of us in obedience.
2. Seriously? A sold out football game in a blizzard would never close and there would be very few empty seats. Priorities…all priorities.
3. That being said…common sense does need to rule. Live stream it, cancel it, don’t cancel it, lay led, scaled back, send stuff on the web for home study…yep, all are legit…
But if someone died on the way to a football game…they would be called a WARRIOR who died passionately living their heart for the game and the love and honor of their team. If they died on the way to church, the Pastor would be criticized for a poor decision and no common sense. PRIORITIES! PRIORITIES! PRIORITIES!
It’s all about the heart.
Charles Hill´s last blog ..The Latest Gossip. It’s Good Too.
good words… just a pet peeve though when church is compared to a sporting event. urggh…gets me every time;-) the football game wouldn’t be canceled because it is a business and it would have to return money to ticket holders and compensate the inconvenience. Church is not a business, though we are told over and over that it is, and perhaps there lies the huge evidence of out identity crisis. anyway, i’m not crazy about the “church” these days, so my opinion is probably lacking objectivity;-)
JuliaKate´s last blog ..on loose living…
I wonder if it’s perhaps different in an area where you don’t get snow regularly, and don’t drive in it often?
I live in Canada, where we’re pretty much driving in snowy, semi icy road conditions for about 6 months of the year, so it wouldn’t be practical to close down everytime the roads were a bit slick.
But, I think that the church I’ve been a part of (that my dad pastors) would indeed close down if there was a “stay home” warning out – it doesn’t happen often, but if it did, I can’t imagine that anyone would think twice about creating safety by staying home.
Lisa´s last blog ..Overwhelmed and Discouraged
one word: Offering
Well, coming from a ministry-heavy family there are several reasons that pop into my head.
1. Many parsonages are within walking distance, if not on an adjoining property.
2. Many demographics don’t have internet or wouldn’t think to check it.
3. In many rural communities, Sunday is a “town day” and they would come anyway because it may be their only trip in that week.
4. If the pastor can make it, and if there’s a good chance people will show up, you might as well be available for them. You never know when someone was desperate for worship or community.
5. Most people assume that as autonomous adults with common sense, you will be able to decide whether you should take the risk to drive to church, even if it is being held without you.
The real question to me is, why does it bother people so much? If you don’t feel safe, don’t go. What do you care if someone else has decided to go to church on a day when you have decided to stay home?
I grew up in a small town (well, many) so this reminds me of my childhood a bit. Since working in larger churches, most don’t offer parsonages…and I think it’s like 95% of people have internet access…for a smaller town though, you’re right.
And, having internet, and thinking to check it for church closings are two different things.
The last church I went to had over 7,000 members, and the pastor still lived adjoining.
I think what it really boils down to is that we’re mad at ourselves for caving to peer pressure and internal pressure rather than common sense. We’re more worried about what someone else will think of us if we don’t go about making a confident, practical decision. We’d rather have someone else validate it externally.
there is an underlined issue here in this chat on the pressure to achieve & please those that are above us and around us in the church. putting aside sound judgment out of devotion to church and duty to a man or institution. anyway, i know that sort of thing goes pretty deep, but for many people serving in a church and not just attending it isn’t a simple decision of whether or not driving to church is safe… its about a whole host of other things.
JuliaKate´s last blog ..on loose living…
I’ve experienced the issue from both sides. While I was growing up, my parents made the decision about whether we’d go to church or stay home in inclement weather. Then I became an adult and married a pastor. I remember being so mad one Sunday that we and the other staff families had to risk our lives in severe winter weather. There was no choice given; we had to be there.
When my husband and I decided to leave full-time ministry, one of the first things I said was, “We can now stay home when the weather is bad.”
On another note, thanks for writing Mad Church Disease, Anne. You put into words what we were feeling about what ministry life had turned into.
I’m from NH. We have snow 6-7 months out of the year here. People know how to drive in the snow. If we cancelled every time there was a storm we’d shut down for half the year. We don’t cancel. We DO tell people to use common sense. We do the same with our staff. There has been one Sunday when the plow hadn’t come thru and I was unable to make it there. Our team pulls together and we have services – if worship goes from full production to an acoustic mix, oh well. If the preaching turns from a well prepared message to a testimony service, awesome!
The bottom line is, around here, if it’s snowing people still go out. If we cancel services they just find somewhere else to go…
But y’all in TN (that’s how you say it right? “Y’all”) if you’ve got even a threat of snow the state shuts down… Maybe instead of buying up all the batteries and water in your local Piggly-Wiggly to stock up for the snow that will melt a day later you should stay home. It sounds really dangerous down there.
btw – our offering, we give over 30% of everything we take in annually. It’s got NOTHING to do with ensuring our offerings happen. That’s just an ugly accusation…
Kevin Twombly´s last blog ..Scouting The Divine
Kevin-
Awesome for you guys that it’s not about offering, but having been on staff before, I’ve heard 2 pastors in staff meetings cite the offering as the breaking point as to why we should have church.
:(
Here’s a little post on the topic about how we handled a recent snow storm:
http://churchcrunch.com/snow-storms-and-church-service-online/
We don’t have snow down here in Mobile, Al but we have a lot of rain and bad weather. I think the main reason churches stay open is because there is no easy way to get word out to everyone. It would be bad for someone to travel through the bad weather and get to church only to find out the services were canceled. Also, for some people, church is the only fellowship and encouragement they get all week. Sad but true. For some people getting to go to Sunday School or a mid-week bible study is the only time they get a hug or a ‘how have you been’ etc. For those people, I believe its worth keeping services going even in bad weather. Of course this depends on the severity of the weather. We have hurricanes and things like that where I agree things should be canceled and people asked to stay safe and at home.
Anyway, those are my two-cents’. :)
Rebecca Wattier´s last blog ..Dare To….Dare?
Anne, didn’t you know that Jesus increases our eternal rewards stock by 5%? J/K
I complained about the same thing and living in NY, snow storms and blizzards are reality.
Yes, there are people who will claim they can’t attend church because of rain when in fact is was just drizzle.
But…
when you have inclement weather and law enforcement and government officials are saying, “Stay off the roads” what are we proving?
missional girl´s last blog ..Words Worth Listening To: Featured Sermons
I’m sure it depends on the area in which you live. Here in Ontario, we never close for snow. If we did, we’d be closed most of the winter :)
Seriously though, our drivers know how to drive in the snow, our transit is reliable, and most people don’t let the weather stop them from doing things.
I do like your idea of having resources so people can worship at home, especially via the internet.
Allison Lynn´s last blog ..Music for Haiti Fundraising Campaign extended ’til Friday!!
I should also add that I just moved home after living in Nashville for three years. The first time it snowed, I was shocked at how everyone reacted to the snow. Even tonight, I’m giggling as I read everyone’s facebook posts! I love the South!
Allison Lynn´s last blog ..Music for Haiti Fundraising Campaign extended ’til Friday!!
So true.
It really tells your volunteers how much you love them. Folks like me who are first in and last out… I love adding deicing and salt throwing to my list of serving opportunities.
Actually, I’m in Atlanta, so we have this maybe one time a year. Makes even less sense if you think about it.
Andy Darnell´s last blog ..Yokes: Revisited
As far as internet things – I don’t necessarily mean a “service” online.
Does your church have access to your attender’s email addresses? Could you send a devotional, or recommend another online church experience if you don’t have one?
Just some thoughts on the “online” side of this. Nothing fancy. Simple.
Most TV stations and radio stations welcome cancelation and delay notifications from houses of worship regardless of faith. That was a way we would get the word out in a church I used to work for.
You heathen ;)
I know that we’ll be open this weekend, and we’ll be having the roads plowed that lead to the church…but that still won’t make it safe for people to get to those roads.
And we do serve a fair amount of rural areas as well, so it’ll be VERY light this weekend…maybe.
I’d say we do it because we haven’t thought of better options. And that having worship every weekend (in the building) is very high on the priority list.
Danny Bixby´s last blog ..Why You Should Start a Blog (part 1)
I’ve wondered this myself many times when I see various churches post statements, boldly declaring that they will be open regardless of weather. Regardless? Really? I don’t want to judge as I am sure there are real and legit reasons why they make that choice but I do question where that choice comes from, the root. Some of the statements I’ve seen proclaim it so boldly that it’s almost like it’s trying to prove something. Like, “We’re super Christians and will hold church no matter what.” I know that’s not how many intend it but it comes across that way to me sometimes. I’d rather see churches close and side on caution. Yes, people can choose but what about critical staff that are really needed to even do church service? Certainly they’d feel the weight to push through and come, even if conditions were less than safe.
Living in Minnesota, we have our fair share of inclement weather, believe me. Being a California girl, I often huff at how we never shut anything down around here, church included.
My husband and I work at our church and our pastor’s philosophy is that there isn’t a way to get the word out to EVERYONE…so he’ll be there, just in case someone makes the effort to get out in it and come. But he also says if it’s too dangerous where you’re coming from, don’t do it!
If it were up to me, I’d close church if the temps were anywhere in the single digits and there was ice and snow…but around here, it would mean we wouldn’t have church for a LONG time.
Lori Sabin´s last blog ..Good Vs. Evil
I got here late anne so it is possible this may have already been said but will post it just in case. Don’t you know Anne that you have to go to church to be saved? And don’t you know that we can’t close because someone may go to hell because we did (as if they are going to try to get out themselves)? Yep, you can see the sarcasm dripping from my lips.
Bill (cycleguy)´s last blog ..A Little Fun
Why do so many Christians feel that they need a holy place, holy man/woman, holy event to connect with God? If law enforcemant is saying the roads are dangerous, stay home, make some hot cocoa and have a good time with God!
I live in Michigan so it’s fairly common in the Winter for church’s to cancel services due to icy roads or bad weather conditions. Most people here come to expect it and churches have their own “closing” list on the local news channels. So I’m with you on this Anne. I don’t understand why a church would put people at risk. Messages can be recorded and uploaded to the internet. People can listen to praise music. I think Christians need to get out of the idea that church is a PLACE or building. Where ever you are (and as a Christian God’s Holy Spirit dwells within you)you can have a meaningful worship. Stay home and enjoy worship/fellowship with other Christians (the CHURCH) another day.
Kristine McGuire´s last blog ..We Are His Church
Anne,
I really think it depends on the church. I know several churches in Tulsa that cancel worship during nasty snow days. Mine included. Some churches have a pared down service which is intended for those who live in the neighborhood.
When I was a kid people belonged to the church in their neighborhood — you know, the one we could walk to. So weather wasn’t an issue. That’s changed. Now we pick and choose and drive across town if we want.
I believe that church open is fine for people who live closeby and the ones who don’t are the people who need to use common sense.
people are more important than money. just felt the need to point that out.
i went to a church years ago that never closed the doors for any reason. my family felt obligated to go even though we lived 30 minutes away, and it was dangerous at times. the pastor’s family always told people that they needed to use judgment about getting out in inclement weather, but it never failed, they’d make a comment during the service about those present being the really spiritually mature and dedicated of the church. never liked that manipulation.
now, we do use sound judgment. and if someone wants to judge me for using it, then so be it. i don’t care anymore.
i’m very bothered that some churches would stay open to get the offering. are they really losing much money? seriously? perhaps these churches should work into their budgets a couple of non-offering weeks, in the event of no services.
i just believe that GOD honors us for valuing people over money.
hope hammond´s last blog ..ai inspiration…my worst nightmare
When my husband Pastored in Massachusetts and in the winters of ’80’s, yes, church was closed. The drive-way to the church was down a steep hill and it was a sizable church and we got in touch with everyone; still some came and then had to pay for a tow truck to get them out. There was some anger over closing, but we were always wondering if it was because some didn’t want their choice decided for them. Safety and thoughtfulness supercedes, because we cared enough to make a great leadership decision!
Carol´s last blog ..More on Gratitude!
A few years ago stores out here in the PNW were open on Christmas Eve until late. Now most are closed by 6PM. There has been some of the same sentiment….people don’t want the decision made for them, they feel controlled if things change. I never thought of that in regards to why we don’t close church, but often I find even mid-week programs are not cancelled. Hmmmm.
Sherie´s last blog ..People aren’t expendable
Anne, Great Question, I think mostly is because of Money. While the church continues to teach on stewardship and responsibility, big buildings and all the fancy perks have to be paid. Of course this is not for all churches, but you know in the progressive church world it is.
One week of financial loss can really hurt a church over 1000. But that is the consumeristic world we live in, the church has to have what culture has and we can’t do it without it, right?
But you bring up a good point about church within our homes. Pretty sad that we are in a bait and be fed ministry world, or at least here in the United States. Ministry should be capable to happen within in our homes, beyond the prefabrication of small groups.
Some interesting points have been raised.
Here in the UK we had 8 – 10 inches of snow a few weeks back which caused some problems. We kept our building open and our meetings on Sunday happened. People were advised to consider the safety of travelling and make their own choice about coming to the meetings or not. The ‘church’ i.e. the people worked together through the inclement weather to see that the vulnerable members of our community were looked after. Inclement weather should never stop ‘church’ being ‘church’. The church is people not buildings. Each person has to make their own choice about attending a meeting or not.
We have become so reliant on the convenience of our cars that we forget that (for a greater number of us) we are healthy and have the ability to walk. What did our ancestors do? Of course when people travel from miles away to go to a Sunday meeting then they have to think carefully about travelling but for those within a reasonable distance and with good health then going to a Sunday meeting is not out of the question.
As Christians we have to be careful that we’re not solely reliant on our Sunday meetings for our spiritual nourishment. We need to be feeding ourselves every day of the week and what happens on Sundays is a bonus to all that goes on through the week. There is something great & powerful that happens when we meet together on Sundays but it shouldn’t be the ‘be all & end all’.
Just a few of my thoughts.
Ruthie´s last blog ..Titus 2 Woman – Part 1
Snow in North Carolina can make for some crazy drivers. I say cancel services if it is unsafe to drive. Our church did just that- 2 campuses, 6 services over Saturday and Sunday. I would have tried to drive in it because I serve every Sunday, but I’m sure glad we don’t have to now and what a treat for the staff who work so hard each and every Sunday to have an unexpected snow day.
What a great idea to have church in our homes. I think inviting a couple neighbors over for a little church tomorrow and maybe some chili sounds like a perfect opportunity to love on them!
Janel´s last blog ..Hubby On YouTube
I find it interesting to read people’s responses to the money issue. I have the privilidge of collaborating with many leadership teams of churches and have shared this discussion with other churches in Atlanta. I have not found one church that would intentionally put their people in danger for money. To say that money is a contributing factor in whether or not to close on a Sunday is not the same thing as putting money over people. I personally don’t understand why people get so emotional whenever money is added to an equation. Its simply a contributing factor, and a very important one, when considering whether or not to close.
I have found this to be an issue for many small churches as well as big churches. The smaller the congregation the smaller the annual budget. A church has fixed expenses regardless how big it is. I am sure that there are churches where giving isn’t affected when a church closes. From my experience though, many churches do experience a significant dip in giving for the month a church closes.
Why don’t we get upset with the local Publix, gas station, etc when they dont close during inclement weather? Those businesses have the same struggle as churches. They have to consider the safety of their employees and the financial ramifications of closing. Its not an issue of whether or not churches care about money more than people. I have not personally run into many churches who are that way even if their decisions from the outside could seem that way for some.
We live in a small town in the panhandle area of Texas. My husband is the pastor & our oldest son, Austin, is the sound/tech guy. All 3 of us & our other 2 sons – Travis & Parker would be capable of teaching Bible study classes if need be. Our home (the parsonage) is right across the street. We had 8 plus inches of snow & lots of ice. We’re just now starting to thaw out. We will have church tomorrow whether it’s at the pcb (physical church building) or at our home. “Church” should never be about the building. “Church” = people. Wherever ppl can gather… there can be church.. and should be.
I think we’ve made church into something God never meant for it to be.
Just my .02cents.
Much love & dangerous prayers!
Cameyg´s last blog ..Dreams: Expecting the Unexpected
Oh… and for the record.. we came from large churches in big cities before we moved here back during Labor Day.. and were on staff at the last one.
Cameyg´s last blog ..Dreams: Expecting the Unexpected
I grew up in a parsonage ,and, Thankfully the church was not a Money Monger. We were poor, but I didn’t even know. So, Frankly, all of this money chatter [cop-out] pisses me off. Money+Power=Evilness (in some Churches)
Give me a break, so your tithe is late by one week!?! Or, wait I have an idea, If you are really in tune with your church and it’s needs, then you could drop it off immediately when weather permits….one week is not going to break the budget; it may alter the forecast, but recovery is imminent. [I am a banker]
xo
Anne, As a former church youth pastor and now a graphic designer, I see both sides of the equation: people who think it’s stupid to put your life in danger to get to church and people who think that’s honorable.
I personally think we should use these opportunities to encourage people to get out and meet their neighbors, invite them over for a chili supper or ultimately partaking in ‘house church.’
But in light of your overall post, I think it comes down to what the motivation of churches/staff/pastors are for keeping doors open. If their true motivation is to get money then I think they will be judged on that. If it’s to keep the door open to be a literal sanctuary for those that are hurting spiritually, are cold physically, or that really need fellowship with other believers after a rough week, then awesome.
If the motivation is a pastor saying, “well I’ll be there and I’ll be having church even if no one shows up!” then I would question if this is honorable before God or prideful.
So the roundabout answer to your question of Why? should really be another question: What’s your motivation? Is it humility? Is it pride? Is it because you serve God? Or is it because you serve money?
Love your post and the honesty behind it. I think we need to ask these questions constantly so we hold ourselves and our churches accountable!
We don’t close church for snow days. Here’s why. We tell people, to use their own judgement and to never feel obligated to be here on a day of bad weather. We only have one weekend worship experience instead of three. We also encourage our older congregation to stay home and watch online. However, many people in our area look for opportunities to get out of the house if they have been snowed in for a couple of days. While many churches close due to weather, ours is open just in case people do want to go. WE use this opportunity to meet new people. Also, many people in our area own 4X4s and bad weather has little effect. In fact many of our people enjoy getting out in it. We enjoy it, that’s why we do it.
Hopefully, this answers your question.
just saw a closed listing flash below the g-town/duke game with my church on it :) i think it’s a smart decision. thinking of my high school girls with little to no experience driving in these conditions; it’s just not worth the risk. great discussion!
By the way, just got word today that our church service was canceled. Not sure how I feel about this. Being a volunteer who usually spends about five hours at church on Sunday, I’m a little relieved. Is that bad?
Jeff Goins´s last blog ..The Kind of Person You Want to Be
Having been part of the team that decided if or when to cancel church (in MA), let me start by saying its never an easy decision. For my church, it has never been about the money. Its hard to weigh how much snow is enough to cancel and how much is reasonable to ask people to drive in – we have a fair amount of “inclement weather” so canceling church every time it snows is not reasonable. If the weather forecasters could get it exactly right, it would also be easier :) Last winter we canceled several times and regretted it because the roads were fine. This year, we have yet to cancel – but we always encourage people to use their judgment based on where they live and their car.
To me this is REALLY simple. We forget there are DOT sites to consult, local police/officials etc. that are more than happy to help the church decide whether or not to cancel. A church official needs to listen for/consult state and local road conditions and consult with the local police officials. Around here in Iowa, when it gets real bad, at a certain point, the DOT website and police information will label certain roads “Travel Not Recommended” if they get too bad. They may also make special statements such as “travel only in an emergency” and also enlist towing bans, where if you go in a ditch, they will not pull you out until the next day or when the storm has cleared. So basically, if the officials within the cities and area the church is are saying DO NOT DRIVE then the church is only causing problems for the local officials in endangering people’s lives by sending them out on the road in the name of church. The officials don’t want you out there – don’t go out. It’s that simple. If it’s just bad conditions but not severe enough to warrant those warnings from public officials, then it’s up to the church leadership to decide how much liability it wants to assume for it’s staff, volunteers, and attenders on the property. As well as how much risk they want to put their staff and volunteers in.
I had a friend in college that was from Maine where you didn’t go to church for one of 2 reasons: 1. you’re sick or 2. it’s so cold your car won’t start. One of the good things about being Catholic, I would think, is that you know what scripture is going to be read on a certain day. Now with the internet there’s little excuse not to have church in some way even if you can’t make it to the building. I’ve heard of churches canceling activities due to weather but not actual services. It really doesn’t make sense.
Sarah´s last blog ..Thursday Thirteen
It certainly is a judgment call. I am from Massachusetts originally where you only cancel if there is a bona fide blizzard. I now live here in Tennessee where 2 inches qualifies as a blizzard.
I think that for some people, the gathering of believers is a crucial part of their week. They may be going into a battleground all week and knowing that they can go into the house of God on Sunday and actually be with fellow believers- even if it is only 2 or 3 (which of course, the Bible says, God is in their midst) will give them the empowerment they need to get through the week.
Also, if we look at the church like a hospital, than it should be open. Places like the Dream Center in LA are open 24/7 because it is a “hospital” meeting people’s needs.
I think people should exercise common sense and if they can’t drive in bad weather don’t go, but I will also say that my generation (the 20-30 somethings) often look for reasons to justify the forsaking of the assembly of believers. In some parts of the world, believers are dying to meet. Here we sometimes seem to be looking for reasons to not- it’s too cold, it’s raining, I have another obligation, etc.
It certainly is a judgment call. I am from Massachusetts originally where you only cancel if there is a bona fide blizzard. I now live here in Tennessee where 2 inches qualifies as a blizzard.
I think that for some people, the gathering of believers is a crucial part of their week. They may be going into a battleground all week and knowing that they can go into the house of God on Sunday and actually be with fellow believers- even if it is only 2 or 3 (which of course, the Bible says, God is in their midst) will give them the empowerment they need to get through the week.
Also, if we look at the church like a hospital, than it should be open. Places like the Dream Center in LA are open 24/7 because it is a “hospital” meeting people’s spiritual needs. Yes, it could be done from home but maybe there is something to be said for being in an environment with other believers saturated in the presence of God.
I think people should exercise common sense and if they can’t drive in bad weather don’t go, but I will also say that my generation (the 20-30 somethings) often look for reasons to justify the forsaking of the assembly of believers. In some parts of the world, believers are dying to meet. Here we sometimes seem to be looking for reasons to not- it’s too cold, it’s raining, I have another obligation, etc.
I’ve been toiling over these decisions this weekend. We have opted to hold services regardless of weather. This is our communication to attendees and I believe the consistency is important. In the life of our church, this weekend is the only weekend where this has really been a challenge.
As for the pressure on the staff or volunteers, I have spent a good part of my weekend on the phone with our staff and leaders talking through options and making adjustments that allow for their safety and for them to do only what they are comfortable with. I believe that we have done our best to protect the safety of everyone involved and yet create a way for people to worship together.
Jenni Catron´s last blog ..Cross Point Sunday Plan
We cancelled services tomorrow, but we had no choice. The school system closed their buildings for the weekend, so since we meet in a school, we lost our location. I’m not really sure what call we would have made for tomorrow…glad we don’t have to.
We did, however, choose to provide a way to worship at home. I decided to collect feedback on my blog with this post:
http://www.ronedmondson.com/2010/01/an-important-experiment-this-sunday-at-grace-community-church.html
And, we provided some “best of” past sermons for people to listen to:
http://www.bestofgrace.com/
It’s an option, but my son wants us to go to Crosspoint tomorrow. We’ll see.
Ron Edmondson´s last blog ..7 Reasons I Choose My Kindle Over an iPad
Our church no longer cancels services. The last time we did, a few families showed up anyway, and all called us wondering where we were…haha.
The last really big snowstorm we had, Gerry (senior pastor) sent out an email early Saturday afternoon (we have a Saturday evening service, and two Sunday morning services) telling staff and volunteers to please stay home. However, he wasn’t “canceling” service. He and his son spent most of the evening in the parking lot, trying to work on some plowing so that the next morning wouldn’t be too atrocious. One man showed up. He walked…yes, walked…in the middle of the snow storm, from the rescue mission that’s about a mile down the road. So Gerry handed him a shovel, and they “had church”.
As for staff and volunteer safety, I think he’s done very well at building a culture where people will stay home (and not feel bad) if it’s legitimately not safe.
Charity Landis´s last blog ..2010, the year.
Well…we live in Michigan and are used to getting winter snow blasts. I worked in our church office for years and can only ever remember church being cancelled once. Two reasons:
1) The decision would usually be made the day of and it would be too difficult to get a hold of everyone (People would still show up)
AND
2) We are located downtown and many people are able to walk (including us).
Either way, no one should be made to feel guilty for not showing. Not everyone is willing to strap on the snowshoes!!! :)
I haven’t read the comment thread… but I just wanted to say that I think our church (in the Chicago area) will close when it’s -22 or we have 22 inches of snow.
That’s crazy.
My first thought was that there would be a fear that if Online Church services were on offer for such scenarios that they would have to be up and running just in case – and when they are up and running then people might take the easier route of staying at home even when the weather aint that bad.
Obviously this assumes that the Church measures success by the number of physical seats fulled.
Phillip Gibb´s last blog ..Competition: 1000th Comment – Stuff Christians Like Book
Anne, you never fail to come up with the perfect conversation-starter!
I am also in the Nashville area, and my church kept the “late” service open and Sunday School, with the option for people to have Sunday School in the sanctuary if the teachers could not make it (so they would not feel pressured to be there).
Personally, I am sitting on the couch in my sweatpants and I’m leaving the family in bed.
I’m glad Pete from Crosspoint posted here, though, because I might just try out their online service.
Everyone is right about the part of the country making a difference, but it not just because “people aren’t used to it like they are in the north” or “southerners don’t know how to drive in snow.” (common things we northerners like to say)
I grew up in a northern state and was one of those kids who sat by the radio at 6am during a foot of snow praying to hear my school had a 1-hour delay. So I know what people are talking about. However, on a day like what we are having in Nashville, the roads would be clear in every neighborhood, because the salt trucks would have been by every half hour.
In my TN neighborhood this weekend, the roads are a sled-riding track. There’s not much difference between the pile of snow in my yard and the pile of snow on the road, except that it is packed and slicker from the whole neigborhood bringing out their sleds.
In Middle TN, the cost of treating the roads like they did in my hometown is not justified. The last time I remember having a snow even close to this here was about 6 years ago.
So the weather is a bigger deal because it is a bigger deal. I don’t know what the right answer or decision is for a church, and I’m glad I didn’t have to make that decision. I do know that we are not feeling guilty at all about staying in this morning.
Kelly@Tabitha’s Team´s last blog ..Have you ever attacked "Lillian Miller?"
Cood call Anne!
Most churched in Charlotte canceled. The last time we had bad snow I did not cancel and a family got in a wreck on the way. No one was injured, but I felt responsible. Wonder if those that did not cancel would accept the liability for property damage or injury to those trying to get to their service?
I suspect it’s really about the tithes and offerings. And I can say that because I’m a pastor who canceled all 3 of our services. Trusting God is more fun!
http://www.branchpastor.com/2010/01/snow-day.html
Derek Turner´s last blog ..Snow Day
Hey were not Christians unless we let the elderly break a hip on the ice trying to get to the building called church ;-)
David Knapp´s last blog ..God First And Last; God, God, God.
Hey we are not Christians unless we let the elderly break a hip on the ice trying to get to the building called church ;-)
David Knapp´s last blog ..God First And Last; God, God, God.
Sorry for duplicate comment.
We live in Charlotte and did not cancel our services today. It was NOT due to tithes and offerings, it was due to the fact that we gave people a choice.
Not everyone is from the South and sees snow as a big deal. Many of us are used to driving in it and dont much care. People who wanted to come did, and those who did not, stayed home and watched Joel Osteen. It is simple as that!
My daughter still had cheerleading practice today (by the way, they did not receive and offering there either) and lots of people were on the road. They chose to be. Oh and not one girl on her team was absent.
If the Super Bowl was today instead of next week, would you all give up your tickets because of the snow or would you have gone anyway? I dare say most would have gone anyway, and that would be your choice.
I personally dont think some of the judgmental comments are appropriate. Do what you want to do but dont assume other people’s motives just because it is different from what you think.
Penny Maxwell´s last blog ..What A Great Night!
Criticism is not a fruit of the spirit!
This season the weather was too cold and many areas were covered with ice. And people face many difficulties to go to the churches. Being a christian, it is necessary to go to church.But due to weather people can’t.
Shah´s last blog ..Pakistan Education: Problems And Solutions Of Pakistan Education
Anne -
Thanks for your notes and your heart. Always thought provoking and strong. Keep on.
As I began to close my computer Saturday night after putting the finishing touches on my sermon for Sunday, I read your post about canceling church. It is our policy to not cancel but always to advise our people to be safe and stay home if there are any questions.
Yesterday was no different. In fact some of our staff were not able to get out, and as I talked with them, they knew that missing the service was not a problem at all. Their safety was far more important.
I really appreciate Michael Lukaszewski’s thoughts as they echo much of what I think and how we do church.
BUT … I was so miffed or hit by the thoughts of just having church so that we can take an offering that I decided that we would not take an offering. It wasn’t until after the service that some of our folks asked why. Some of them wanted to give, and we provided a way at that time. Praise God for the few that came and for several visitors that made their way for the first time to The Community Fellowship.
I never want to miss an opportunity to share Jesus and serve people in need. Yesterday by not canceling our services, that is what we were able to do.
There will always be tension with such a decision, and I support the decision that many of my pastor friend’s made in not having services. Be encouraged, my friends, to lead the way God tells you to lead and stand firm. Why? Because the world is watching on to see how God’s people will make a difference in the world we live in.
@michaelharrison´s last blog ..shut down our city
It’s a good question.
We’ve had more than one person saved on a snow day when other churches were closed and when we considered closing. So we stopped considering closing.
Our inclement weather policy is the church will be open and the Pastor will be here on Sunday, period. Come if you can. Stay home if you need to. This past weekend we knew we were in for some bad weather so we upped the maximum user limit on our video streaming service for anyone who preferred that option. (We had around 225 unique online viewers on Sunday quite a bit more than usual for us).
We don’t push our congregation to take unnecessary risk, but the church staff was here to do what we’re called to do. My two year old spent Saturday night and all day Sunday with my parents.
When you think about it there are missionaries and pastors risking their lives right now for the chance to tell one more person about THE MOST IMPORTANT THING EVER. They risk it and we can’t because there’s a chance we could have an accident? They could be stoned to death or or shot in front of their family. Their daughters and wives may be assaulted in front of them because they refuse to renounce the name of Christ and but our church leaders are supposed to stay home because there is ice on the road?
Walmart is open. Walgreens is open. Is their mission more important than mine?
I hope this doesn’t sound harsh. I understand not wanting to be the reason someone is hurt or killed. I don’t think people who stay home are less committed. And I don’t think it is right to push anyone into coming if they don’t feel safe doing to. But I think leaders who cancel may miss an opportunity without realizing it (I think we all miss opportunities from time to time for one reason or another).
I will also say that church on a snow day is fun (especially the first service–for us anyway). It’s one of the most fun Sundays you can have because everyone there really wants to be there. They’ve conquered the storm together. They’re engaged and they’re excited. So if you’re leading them you had better be too! :-)
Plus it’s a great excuse to wear jeans and a sweatshirt on a Sunday morning. :-)
Our leadership did a great job with this issue this week!
They prepared a 20-minute video in advance and had it ready on the website.
When the announcement came that all services were canceled, they pointed us to the video, which was basically a quick recap of the recent study through Ephesians, and then the pastor leading individual families in prayer for each other, our church, and our communities!
Zack´s last blog ..Snow Day!
I so agree Anne… and I don’t get it either. Some church leaders think its a sin to cancel services.
—Terrace Crawford
http://www.terracecrawford.com
http://www.twitter.com/terracecrawford
@TerraceCrawford´s last blog ..Manic Monday Minute
Money. The offering is never doubled the next week to compensate for the missed snow sunday. And…even if you get the word out by website, tv scroll, radio, there are always people that make it to the church.
With a congregation of 500 if 10% make it why can’t they do a service. If only a guitarist, simple music, no powerpoints, no fancy lights, Word of God can be preached. Children can sit in service if volunteers (that live farther away) don’t make it in.
And speaking of…. children actually can sit with you in service. Pack them a “quiet bag” to keep them occupied if they are of a noisy age.
Just my two cents…