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Since about 15 years ago, I noticed the Church seems to be de-emphasizing social activities for adults. I’ve noticed paltry budgets for the social activities committees I’ve worked with, and now, with the new handbook, there is no formal social activities person or committee. Responsibility for social activities has fallen on the Ward leaders or by assignment. While I like the fact that this opens up opportunities for more project-oriented work (and the quelling of monotony it brings), I’ve felt for some time that social activities seem to be less important to the higher-ups than in the past. For me, they are very important, as they reach people who may not have full-fledged faith, but enjoy Church for social reasons. Often these social reasons pave the way for more spiritual connections and higher levels of commitment.
Fading responsibility for social activities into the porfolios of Ward leaders seems to be a bit of a hit to the importance of social activities, and I think this will lead to fewer activities.
Do you see the removal of Social Activities Chairpeople and committees as a de-emphasis of social activities? And do you think fading those responsibilities onto the Ward leaders as having a positive or negative impact on the quality and presence of social activities at Church?
I agree with you SD. My husband and I were Ward Activity Committee leaders for about two years a long time ago. We put our heart and soul into it and it was darn hard work and exhausting. Our youngest son who was 13 at the time was such a huge help to us. The ward Christmas Parties were the hardest, but we wanted to make them special. Our biggest success was called, “Christmas around the World” where we had food, decorations, and entertainment from the various nationalities in our ward. It brought our ward together like nothing else had. We also put on a mock “Marriage Encounter” night for Valentines Day one year with skits, dinner, and educational stuff on improving your marriage with a video. Again, it was hard work, but loved. We had game nights, learn how to dance nights. One bishop always had an after church dinner potluck on Fast Sundays. We are social beings and so much of church is serious and you need that fun together. Recently, we have attended a 7 week course at Christ Community church with a question and answer night once a week about religious questions. Before the meeting, a fantastic and elegant dinner was served to our various groups. It made people relaxed and get to know each other as we discussed religious questions about God, Christ and the church. This Sunday, the Nazerene church is having a Thanksgiving Dinner Potluck and Pumpkin pie contest right after church this Sunday and does activities like this often as it create fellowship and friendship among members. LDS Sunday’s don’t allow for that and so I think it is very important to make the church family feel close. Just as regular families need that.
I actually like the change – since it should help focus activities on things that are not only social but service-oriented. I understand that we are social beings, but we don’t have to be insulated, isolated beings who only socialize with “our own”. Hopefully, this change will help us start looking at social activities that aren’t just sitting around and eating sugar-laden food. Of course, that’s the optimist in me. Things won’t change at all in some units, I’m sure.
I think there should be more social activity in our ward. We need to get to know one another outside the confines of the chapel/classroom. I agree with the service comments, but think that there needs to be some social bonding. If you get that, then you can get people to work together more happily and comfortable in other areas such as service.
We could do with less sugary food, and more sitting down to dinner with each other (rather than standing up with pizza etc). It would be fun to go ten pin bowling, go down to the beach, that type of thing, but it doesn’t happen often.
Our ward leaders have been complaining about attendance at some events, but they don’t have a proper email list going!!!
The majority of my socializing, by the way, is with non-members.
I realize that I am probably considered an ornery curmudgeon for saying so, but I would prefer that there be fewer church-organized social activities. Personally, I have no need for them — I’d rather spend time with my family, my own particular friends, or alone — and find that I am usually very uncomfortable when I do attend. I see church social activities as one more thing to feel guilty about not wanting to support. But I realize that I am part of a tiny minority, and that for most church members, organized social events are a big plus. It’s a balancing act, and you can’t satisfy everyone. Talking to the BP this week, I found out that the SP had called him and told him we WILL NOT be having potlucks on HC sundays anymore. We do potlucks when they come because it is a two hour drive minimum and feel like they should get some lunch before 4 PM. Anyway – no more. We also have a guy/gal team who are called as activity chairman or whatever. They do a good job and will take a real hit when they get told their position has been eliminated from the CHI. I expressed my opinion to the BP that we need to keep them in that calling permanently “by assignment” if must be.
Personally, I am happy to see more de-emphasis on social activities. I don’t like potlucks (don’t like knowing where my food comes from or how it is prepared), plus, I am so stressed out at church, I just want to get out of there as fast as I can. I don’t like church social activities in general. They have become just another distraction for me and they feel more like “callings” that take me away from my family and the things I really want to be doing with them rather than insane church members.
I’m like Sam – most of my social activities are with non-members, and even though I am not really doing anything to build up the church, I think I am doing a TON of good work and building up the school and community. Which, regardless of the three-fold mission of the church, in my world, is what it is all about. I guess that is my secular humanism bleeding through, eh?
Anyway, FWIW, my vote is hurray for the new regs and I see it as a positive (on my planet).
doug wrote:I realize that I am probably considered an ornery curmudgeon for saying so, but I would prefer that there be fewer church-organized social activities. Personally, I have no need for them — I’d rather spend time with my family, my own particular friends, or alone — and find that I am usually very uncomfortable when I do attend. I see church social activities as one more thing to feel guilty about not wanting to support. But I realize that I am part of a tiny minority, and that for most church members, organized social events are a big plus. It’s a balancing act, and you can’t satisfy everyone.
Okay, THIS. Much better said than my post.
My reaction probably is influenced by the fact that geography and money keep us from anttending the vast majority of ward activities right now. Ya’ think? For me, the real social benefits of being a Church member come from close relationships with people in the Ward that have inspiring characteristics (they lead their family well, have integrity, aren’t judgmental, and are intelligent). I don’t enjoy activities when I have nothing in common with the people, or when I start conversations and they die immediately. The benefits also come from my kids having something to do in a positive atmoshere with other kids in the Church.
Even more important are naturally occuring friendships with members that lead to extra-curricular activities, outside of Church, like pool-parties, hikes, camping and other things.
It sounds like no one thinks the social activities are really being de-emphasized in the new CHI — or is it just that we have achieved levels of dissatisfaction that the social experience isn’t important anymore some of us?
SilentDawning wrote:It sounds like no one thinks the social activities are really being de-emphasized in the new CHI — or is it just that we have achieved levels of dissatisfaction that the social experience isn’t important anymore some of us?
Both. To me, it seems like the church IS de-emphasizing the social activities, AND I don’t personally believe they are important or beneficial to me at this time.
Our ward has many social function a year. The cool thing is they have never been considered ward parties, but neighborhood events. Everyone… members and non-members alike are always invited, and the non-member turnout has always been good. This is one of the most impressive thing about our ward and I would hate to see it end. I have to admit I don’t see it here, but maybe I’m not getting the bigger picture. I have tried to help to make things work. We had Friday night volleyball, but some nights only one or two people would turn up – so in that case it was actually the members’ own doing. I liked it, because if I go out on the town, I don’t do it on Friday and Saturday night, because it’s too rough, so volleyball was a nice alternative.
That sounds wonderful, flowerdrops – and shouldn’t change in the slightest with the new structure. So my question is, does each ward and branch HAVE TO do away with the activities committee? Is this a commandment from god, or merely a suggestion? Serious question. I mean, there will certainly be things that the leadership will choose to ignore in the CHI that will get me shaking my head. Could this be one of those paragraphs that gets buried?
cwald wrote:So my question is, does each ward and branch HAVE TO do away with the activities committee? Is this a commandment from god, or merely a suggestion? Serious question.
I mean, there will certainly be things that the leadership will choose to ignore in the CHI that will get me shaking my head. Could this be one of those paragraphs that gets buried?
I doubt it because it’s structural and not controversial and easy to implement. I don’t think it’s going to shake anyone’s testimony or cause any conflict.
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