A Sense of Community?

As the numbers of church attendance hits an all time low: 3% of the UK poplutation & 18% of the US population,the question needs to be asked whether you can regard the "Body of Christ" in a local setting as Community anymore.
The community was very distinctive in Victorian society where education came under the leadership of the local Anglican Priest, and Sunday schools were a result of a baptist structure to help increase a child's Christian Education to a reasonable level. Within the communities where these churches were located, the church former part of the local environment. They were as much as part of that community as the local Doctor,the Postanceman & the Milkman. Services that were needed for the very existance of the village concerned.
The prequestite of it being a legal requirement to be seen in church, forced the issue, but even a 100 years later, the church had established itself among its people. They had achieved hey felythis by being very proactive in the community they felt they were part of. A Priest or minister was oncall 24/7. The thought of not being able to knock on their door regardless of the hour was unthinkable! They were heard & seen by all, they preached the gospel with power and put themselves among the most disadvantaged of society. Their working days were long & a full day off was rare!s
How things have changed! The Clergy of today, spend very little time conducting services, the majority which are short in length, there pastyoral care is limited to Hospital Visits with many sending laity of their congregation instead.The role of the clergy has become a job, rather than a calling, that is operated as a part-time duty on full time wages. Meetings is what most of the time is spent doing, r ather making themselves available. Focus on their own congregation is limited to the "Inner Circle" and as for the those who live locally but do not attend their church,they are completely dismissed!
The opportunity for mission & Evangelism is missed on alot of occasions, especially the youth & seniors to hear the Gospel.Sometimes it is not preaching that they need, but understanding & help from their social or cultural environment, but while the cls not mattergy continue to keep the doors closed, then progress will not take place, a feeling of twenty-first century anti-clericalism will continue to grow as well as a severe decline in actual church attendance.
Many people are open to evangelism in a practical format, but the name over the door doe treat!s not matter, what matters is how you treat those in your community & are you a good neighbour & a good samaritan; if not, then why not, for ministry is not always on a sunday morning from the pulpit!

You have been warned!