A Magnet not a Mandate

It is no surprise to those currently serving in the Church in 2023 that we are facing a challenging reality. In a post-Covid, post-Christendom society, the number of people celebrating the sacraments and participating in the life of the Church is decreasing. Many Families of Parishes are seeing an increase in disengaged parishioners. 

This is all said not to cause discouragement, but to help us learn and grow. We, as a Church, are not alone in facing disengagement and drastic changes since the start of the pandemic. In a Forbes article, published in July of this year, titled "The Magnet, Not the Mandate, A new approach to hybrid work", author Dr. Gleb Tsipursky addresses the challenge of disengagement in the corporate world, especially when it comes to remote work. There are lessons that reflect the reality of our Church as well.

In light of the irrevocable change in the wake of the pandemic, Dr. Tsipursky believes “we should be creating environments that attract employees.” How true is this for our parishes as well? In this current landscape, “mandates don’t work as well as magnets.”

In both the church and corporate world, the things we desire to mandate are not wrong or bad, but before we turn to the rules and laws, we must draw people into the Church and into a relationship with Jesus Christ.

Dr. Tsipursky wrote of the importance of connection in the office, and suggested “creating guidelines and venues that encourage people to come in at the same time, fostering a network effect without forcing it.” We need to create magnetic environments, not just in our offices, but in all areas of our Families of Parishes. By doing this, we can foster a joyful spirit that cannot be forced.

If we turn to scripture, we see Jesus as the great magnet. Jesus did not mandate people to be with Him. At the beginning of His public ministry, Jesus drew people to Him and it was when he saw the crowd around Him that He began preaching the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:1).

There are many ways for us to draw people in, for the Church to be a magnet:

1. Be relevant: Most people in ministry will have heard challenges of relevance like “The Church is outdated” or “I’m too busy.” We cannot dismiss the realities that people experience and without a connection to Jesus and the Church, people believe them to be true. We must find places to discuss and reflect on those areas where life meets faith. This may mean a connection with someone’s family or work life or the areas they are struggling with. It may mean options to accommodate people’s busy schedules. In your ministry, how can you draw people to see how a relationship with God can impact them and their current reality?
2. Foster authentic community: Another reality of 2023 is that people are longing for belonging. After years of isolation, people want to find others they can connect with, not in a contrived way, but one that is truly a reciprocal and authentic relationship. But it is intimidating for someone to put themselves out there to meet new people. In your ministry, how can you draw people into community and create opportunities for conversation and connection?
3. Lead with beauty: In February 2022, Pope Francis spoke to a group of artists. He told them, “Beauty can touch in everyone what is universal - especially the thirst for God.” He went on to say, “If there is beauty, it is because God is good and he gives it to us… Contact with beauty lifts us up, always, beauty makes us look beyond.” In your ministry, how can you draw people in through beauty, perhaps through music, art, or nature?
4. Be joyful: Like beauty, joy draws people in. Our churches must filled with people who makes joy visible and contagious. This begins on the pastoral and support team. With a pastor and team full of joy, the culture of the Family of Parishes will adopt that spirit. How can you and your team emphasize joy in your ministry?

These four principles can be applied far and wide in ministry. They are especially relevant at weekend Mass, evangelization efforts, sacramental preparation, and outreach ministry. As you journey through ministry this year, seek to be a magnet for people to be drawn in.