(Note: the blue horizontal menu bar directly above lists the subsections of "Your Congregation's Inner Life." Be sure to read each of these subsections before moving on to the next primary section, "Your Congregation's Public Profile.")

Your Congregation's Inner Life: An Imaginary Journey

To illustrate how to play this role, let us take an imaginary journey to Faith Lutheran Church, an 80-year-old congregation established in one of the oldest suburbs of a major midwestern city. Pause across the street from the church building and observe the Sunday morning events. First, notice the neo-Gothic architecture and the impressive limestone structure sitting on the prominent comer lot. There is a tall bell tower, but in place of real bells are speakers for an electronic carillon. The grounds are well cared for, and there are signs that the building has recently been made accessible to people with wheelchairs. The church is landlocked; there is no room for it to grow, at least architecturally.

Before the cars start streaming into the small parking lot (a sign that most of Faith's members originally lived within walking distance), glance up and down the streets to take note of the neighborhood that surrounds the church building. The carefully groomed lawns and large houses might be first clues to the aspirations and achievements of Faith's past and present members.

Now watch the members arrive. The mixture of Hondas, Volvos, and General Motors cars indicates something about the professional makeup of the congregation. But do not overlook the handful of Jaguars and BMWs and a number of cars that have seen better years. They are signs that a spectrum of economic backgrounds is present within the congregation.

What kinds of people climb the stairs into the church building? The mixture of young nuclear families with older couples and single people of various ages indicates that Faith welcomes families but that it is more than a "family" church. The vast preponderance of white faces indicates that members are primarily from European origins, although the smattering of African-American and Asian people entering the front door suggests some openness to diversity. Yet there is an apparent sameness. Everyone is well-dressed, and the people make their entrance with a certain reserve and decorum.

Follow the people into their sanctuary. The rich browns of the carved woodwork and the blues and reds of the stained glass windows meet your eye. As one of several polite ushers hands you a bulletin and greets you by name, you hear the first notes of an organ prelude by J.S. Bach. As you make your way down the center aisle, your eye drifts up to the choir loft where 25 members in choir robes are taking their places. Few pews are empty—except for the front ones—but most have room for one or two more people in them.

As you take your place, you pull the Lutheran Book of Worship from the rack and find the appropriate order of service, noted in the first page of the bulletin. Scanning the bulletin's contents, you note the long schedule, "This Week at Faith." There are other worship services on Sunday and Wednesday. Adult classes, Overeaters Anonymous, the women's organization, a young mothers group, the Social Ministry Committee, and the Council have meetings scheduled for this week. A special plea for canned goods for the food pantry and a weekly statistical report on attendance and offerings catch your eye.

As the prelude ends, Faith's pastor enters the sanctuary. You watch her reverence the altar. You note that all the candles are lit and that two beautiful bouquets of flowers stand on either side of the high altar. The pastor steps around the freestanding communion table with its veiled chalice and walks down the steps from the chancel to the nave where she greets the people. They are sitting quietly, waiting to hear her announcements of special news in the congregation's life. She informs them of the death of an elderly member, the anniversary of a middle-aged couple, and a new baby born to a single woman. A visiting medical missionary from Nepal is introduced, and the congregation is reminded that the doctor's work is supported through Faith's benevolence funds.

The pastor asks members to be certain to greet any visitors who are present and then invites the congregation to turn and face the processional cross during the singing of the opening hymn. As she makes her way to the back of the church, the gold thread in her vestments sparkles. The organ begins to roar from pipes in the transepts and the back balcony, and the congregation stands to sing "Lift High the Cross."