(June 15, 2014 at 11:17 pm)vorlon13 Wrote: I've noted over the years that churches (except Unitarian Universalist) which start actively courting outside groups to use their facilities (like 12 Steppers) are in a serious financial/membership decline. Membership drops, expenses go up, and pretty soon having a Latino AA group on Tuesday, an abused womyns support group on Wednesdays, and a Gay AA meeting on Friday night seems like a good idea to raise a little easy money to keep the church open a few more years.
Still, it seems inevitable, the church will still close their doors, maybe merge with another franchisee across town, and the 12 Steppers will be looking for a new church basement.
The Unitarian's are a bit different, even growing, financially secure congregations like having, for example, a Gay 12 Steppers group, partly for 'status' (bragging rights in the church website) and to assuage liberal guilt.
That's the way to bring them in. Just give them what they want.
