Is there pressure in your house of worship to increase in attendance?

[Anonymous]

Attendance in congregations is down across the U.S.
Does your clergy or leadership apply pressure to those that are active, to contribute to increasing the congregation in size?
I am getting this from my house of worship (in which I am a teacher in the school, but not active with the particular faith). The pressure from the clergy is a huge turn-off, to add to my existing disagreement with the particulars of this faith.
Of course I understand houses of worship are a business (meaning, require funding, operate on good reputations, etc). And I also understand that a business leader wants their business to grow, as any clergy would want to witness and provide a place for people to worship.
Just curious what others are experiencing.

[Anonymous]

In the Catholic faith “proselytizing” is prohibited. It is a sin against justice (giving individuals their proper due) and charity (acting with authentic love toward one's neighbor). Lead by your example, live your faith through your actions in life, but people must be left free to choose on their own.

“The Church does not grow by proselytizing; she grows by attracting others.”

--Pope Francis

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In the Catholic faith “proselytizing” is prohibited. It is a sin against justice (giving individuals their proper due) and charity (acting with authentic love toward one's neighbor). Lead by your example, live your faith through your actions in life, but people must be left free to choose on their own.

“The Church does not grow by proselytizing; she grows by attracting others.”

--Pope Francis

This is why evangelicals are going strong and Catholicism is struggling...

[Anonymous]

At our church you have to show up at least 10 minutes early to get a seat in the sanctuary and closer to 20 minutes early if you want a good one.

So no.

[Anonymous]

Our church is growing without this pressure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In the Catholic faith “proselytizing” is prohibited. It is a sin against justice (giving individuals their proper due) and charity (acting with authentic love toward one's neighbor). Lead by your example, live your faith through your actions in life, but people must be left free to choose on their own.

“The Church does not grow by proselytizing; she grows by attracting others.”

--Pope Francis

This is why evangelicals are going strong and Catholicism is struggling...

You really think that? Might want to check your data.

[Anonymous]

Absolutely not. Jewish people don't do that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In the Catholic faith “proselytizing” is prohibited. It is a sin against justice (giving individuals their proper due) and charity (acting with authentic love toward one's neighbor). Lead by your example, live your faith through your actions in life, but people must be left free to choose on their own.

“The Church does not grow by proselytizing; she grows by attracting others.”

--Pope Francis

This is why evangelicals are going strong and Catholicism is struggling...

You really think that? Might want to check your data.

This is the age of Trumpism. Facts are irrelevant.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In the Catholic faith “proselytizing” is prohibited. It is a sin against justice (giving individuals their proper due) and charity (acting with authentic love toward one's neighbor). Lead by your example, live your faith through your actions in life, but people must be left free to choose on their own.

“The Church does not grow by proselytizing; she grows by attracting others.”

--Pope Francis

I definitely know, unfortunately, that evangelicals have a different definition of "love thy neighbor" lol. There's no hate like christian love is all to true, at least with regards to that group.

[Anonymous]

What's with these dumb, supposedly provocative but clearly leading, questions every week?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What's with these dumb, supposedly provocative but clearly leading, questions every week?

There are some very bitter exvangelicals who hang around here looking for theologically conservative Christians to bait and blame.

It would be lovely if they'd spend that time on therapy or even just calming walks outside.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What's with these dumb, supposedly provocative but clearly leading, questions every week?

There are some very bitter exvangelicals who hang around here looking for theologically conservative Christians to bait and blame.

It would be lovely if they'd spend that time on therapy or even just calming walks outside.

Or prayer

[Anonymous]

It doesn't matter if you attend a church, temple or mosque, enrollment numbers and donation amounts always matter.

[Anonymous]

How are you being pressured?
Our Church ( Episcopalian) talked about being welcoming to new members and if we see someone new to reach out and say hi during coffee hour,
I don’t feel pressured though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In the Catholic faith “proselytizing” is prohibited. It is a sin against justice (giving individuals their proper due) and charity (acting with authentic love toward one's neighbor). Lead by your example, live your faith through your actions in life, but people must be left free to choose on their own.

“The Church does not grow by proselytizing; she grows by attracting others.”

--Pope Francis

If you're going to quote an article without attribution, you should at least not cherry pick.
https://www.wordonfire.org/articles/proselytizing-is-a-red-herring-failing-to-evangelize-is-the-real-danger/

"The same article also says this:
To be sure, it’s one thing to recognize the Catholic’s unambiguous duty to evangelize for the sake of converting others to Christ and his Church. It is quite another to specify how best to carry out this mandate. Marking this distinction between the goal of evangelization (which is nonnegotiable) and the means of evangelization (which is open to interpretation and debate) is crucial to reframing the central issue at stake. The question is not “Should we invite others to conversion?” but rather “How do we lead others to conversion most effectively in a way that respects their freedom of conscience?”

The “how” of evangelization is not simple, however. One may be tempted to say, for example, that speaking about damnation is a surefire way to close hearts and minds to the Gospel. However, there may be contexts in which addressing the reality of hell is precisely what a potential convert longs to hear. (Though I grew up Catholic, I drifted from the faith in early adulthood, and the Church’s doctrine on hell was, in my case, essential to my reversion.) It also may be easy to snicker at the guy on the corner of Hollywood and Vine donning a billboard that says “Repent, and believe in the Gospel” (Mark 1:15). But would St. Paul find fault with this approach? Recall Acts 17:16–17"