“It is especially odd that the “complementarians” around us - those who consider that men are the natural leaders of church and family - don’t make more room for guys to do things. The normal role for most guys at church is pretty passive. “
There is some truth in this, I think. as a general rule, men are far more comfortable doing something with others shoulder to shoulder than standing around talking. Many men, especially newcomers, find the time after church very threatening because they are expected to talk, not do something with others.
We need to rethink what we do with this time. John Sandemon suggests asking men to be treasurers, property people etc. That may be helpful, but it doesn’t address the problem sufficiently. We need to think about how we do church in both the formal and informal time so that men are not unnecessarily made to feel uncomfortable. The only thing I want to make them feel uneasy is the gospel!
A common idea is that church is feminised, with singing and a focus on relationships more attractive to women than men. But there are some male aspects to church.
Hands up if you think our all-male leadership is blokey? Thought so.
I think this is actually true. It is terribly sad, but as a generalisation, I think church has been predominantly given a feminised stigma about it.
I think this was a big factor as to why Mark Driscoll did not want to be a Christian during his early days.
Thus, I think was the basis of the event ‘Burn Your Plastic Jesus’.
Can I just say that whoever chose that photo of two ‘airhead’ looking young things to accompany the article has a distinctive ( and disturbing ) view of what’s hot - or a very limited stock photo collection !
BTW if there are indeed churches with excess Christian young ladies, could you please let the young single guys in our local churches out here know where they are congregating. That way the guys could save a lot of petrol and wouldn’t have to be always driving up to Katoomba or anywhere else that a large convention is being held ;)
Also, does Scripture Union still call their Beach Missions “CSSM” ? I think it stood for ‘Children’s Special Service Mission’ - but, in our younger days, we always knew it stood for :
lol… this thread is getting funnier every time I refresh… how come I’ve never heard of CSSM? Does it have another name now?
Today Beach Missions come under the umbrella “SUFM” - ‘Scripture Union Family Missions’. I’m not sure when the name change came about, but CSSM was the title that was used at least up until the late 70’s.
CSSM is still used in the UK including Ireland :
Born on the beach at Llandudno almost 140 years ago, the CSSM (Children’s Special Services Mission) tradition now continues annually in Greystones, Co. Wicklow. Not just a tradition, it is an event vividly remembered after each summer and eagerly looked forward to for the next summer by hundreds of children, parents and volunteers.
Kevin, what planet are you going to church on? I have NEVER been in a church with more guys than girls, and I can think of at least 20 single, professional, funny, articulate, wonderful Godly women who have no single male contacts in their life at all, let alone having some to choose from. I have been at 5 major evangelical churches in the last 16 years in Sydney and Perth, and at no time did singe men (or even men at all, for that matter) outnuber single women (or women in general if you included the married men). At present I know only 1 single (christian) male my age (late 30s) and 1 in his mid twenties and 1 in his early 40s. The older two are training for full time ministry and already in full time ministry respectively, and they are both one of those “I’m staying single for the gospel” types (good on them for the focus, but doesn’t really help any of their sisters that much!). So if you have single men in your churches, please send them to Perth post haste!
Kevin, what planet are you going to church on? ........ So if you have single men in your churches, please send them to Perth post haste!
Hi Kathryn,
Well, as you know, some think of Sydney Diocese as a separate universe all by itself.
As to your kind request about exporting our young guys to the west, I think that, in Sydney - south west anyway - we like to think globally - but act locally !
Kevin, what planet are you going to church on? I have NEVER been in a church with more guys than girls, and I can think of at least 20 single, professional, funny, articulate, wonderful Godly women who have no single male contacts in their life at all, let alone having some to choose from. I have been at 5 major evangelical churches in the last 16 years in Sydney and Perth, and at no time did singe men (or even men at all, for that matter) outnuber single women (or women in general if you included the married men).
It appears that this “man-drought” is affecting more than our churches.
The opinions expressed in this forum belong to the individual posting the message and may not represent the view of the Sydney Diocese of the Anglican Church. Click here to read the Posting Policy.
Everyone is welcome on our forums, but please keep comments on-topic and civil. Any flaming or general nastiness will be deleted. No unsolicited advertising is allowed. All comments, suggestions, bug reports, etc. related to the forums should be directed to Robert Moller. Click here to read our complete Posting Policy.
report bugs
Get the latest Sydney stories, Culture and Indepth on your mobile device. Visit sydang.mobi