Fairfield is
a town strong on faith. There has always been a sense of obligation to be in
the pews on Sunday mornings. That sense of belonging to a church home is at
risk as the virus continues its assault.
The
attendance issue is in no way scientifically arrived at…I have been merely
asking around. The stay-at-home order disrupted the practice of church
attendance…and the best I can determine….it has affected many of our houses of
worship.
So why is
that important?
Many have
been re-trained to watch live streaming of church services. That’s fine but
when there is no way to “pass the plate,” there’s no way to pay the bills. Many
denominations already face budget shortages and program cancellations due to
emptying pews.
There was
already a generational pull away from church. Younger families now have an
excuse not to scrub and dress the kiddos for church. They could honestly feel
they are protecting their kids by not taking them.
Beyond
shrinking congregations, pandemic-linked defections could also signal a broader
decline in Christian behavior. Some ministers fear the lack of a sense of
community could prompt spiritual amnesia. Christians simply not reminded each
week to live a life filled with generosity, love, respect, hope and peace.
This is no
small issue in a town like Fairfield. I fear it could have an equally harmful
impact on our local culture.
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