“Exit polls of those leaving the church have found that the major reasons that bring about this decrease in numbers is not because of theological or belief issues. Rather it is about how people are being asked to belong to and participate in the community that is the deciding factor for them. So much of what we DO in church is so foreign to such a large part of our society. How many of our non churched friends would regularly gather with a group of people to sing for 30 minutes and listen to someone give a 20minute (plus) monologue?!? Many of us who have been brought up in this environment have come to love singing and listening, but not too many of the young people I work with in the warehouse at wishlist would get off on it! “

Another reason to be a bit more intentional about seeking out multiple points of dialogue.  The Church service format, in its typical form (described above) is becoming increasingly irrelevant,  and alternate points of engagement are taking place,  almost despite ourselves.  People will find engaging modes of dialogue, and these will become the major paradigm for theological and spirtual engagement,  not the “Church service” model.  The exchange of a wide range of ideas, concerns,  and issues is taking place much more rapidly,  easily,  and freely,  in the online world than in the traditional “Church Worship Service”.  If this is so,  what does this say about “Worship”?  If it is not engaging the theological imagination,  and “alternative” means such as Online Theological Community are becoming much more successful in engaging the seeker,  then the “Worship Service” as it exists should decrease, so that true worship might increase.