Christian hospitality refers to the active desire to invite,welcome, receive, and care for those who are strangers so that they find a spiritual home and discover for themselves the unending richness of life in Christ.
It describes a genuine love for others who are not yet a part of the faith community; and outward focus, a reaching out to those not yet known, a love that motivates church members to openness and adaptability, willingness to change behaviors in order to accommodate the needs and receive the talents of newcomers. Beyond intention, hospitality practices the gracious love of Christ, respects the dignity of others, and expresses God’s invitation to others, not our own.
Radical means “drastically different from the ordinary practice, outside the normal,” and so it provokes practices that exceed expectations, that go the second mile, that take welcoming the stranger to the max. It means people offering the absolute utmost of themselves, their creativity, their abilities, and their energy to offer the gracious invitation and reception of Christ to others. (Excerpt from Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations, Robert Schnase,
Abingdon Press 2007)
Goals
- Identify, nurture and celebrate the current aspects of our Church culture and practices that we believe reflect “Radical Hospitality”
Preliminary Strategies (Prioritization implementation and evaluation to be developed the Ministries Council)- Develop a year-long focus in worship and education that deepens our understanding and practice of Radical Hospitality.
- Improve our communication resources and strategies to tell the story of Radical Hospitality as currently practiced and share these stories with those outside the congregation’s membership.
- Create more small group opportunities so that all may share their experiences and dreams, find support, and serve within the larger community of North Church.
- Identify and implement concrete ways to make our Church “radically hospitable” and “welcoming” to persons marginally connected or currently unconnected to North ChurchPreliminary Strategies (Prioritization, implementation and evaluation to be developed by Ministries Council):
- Actively invite and welcome young adults more fully and creatively in all aspects of the life of North Church
- Respond more quickly and deeply to persons who may feel marginalized by job loss, financial challenges, aging, or health-related challenges.
- Insure our building and grounds are hospitable for all by repairing or replacing any health and safety hazards.
- Actively and publicly invite and welcome persons outside the church who are gay or lesbian.
- Actively and publicly invite and welcome persons with disabilities and or mental illnesses.
- Further develop ministries to those incarcerated as well as those re-entering society after being imprisoned.
- Widely communicate and integrate the implementation principles of Radical Hospitality.
Preliminary principles to explore, expand, and develop:- We are intentionally inviting of strangers and newcomers because God first reached out to us and our ancestors when we were strangers.
- In our reaching out, we also must be willing to be transformed and renewed.
- Inviting and welcoming others requires a personal commitment as well as a congregational commitment.
- Radical Hospitality is often deepened in small groups, around shared meals, and in places where the “guest” is more comfortable than the “host.”
- Everyone responds to an invitation. Sometimes the response is “yes” and sometimes “no.” Do not be discouraged.
- Embrace the naysayers, listen to the skeptical, share our uncertainties.