Strategy for BBC

Memo to the Senior Pastor:

I could tell from your (excellent) sermon on Easter
Sunday that the subject of appropriate music for the
Sunday services is a topic of discussion. I have also
heard that the timing of services is another topic.
Herewith are some random observations from
a management consultant, and soon-to-be member:

In the Protestant churches that I have belonged to,
the clerical head of the church had absolute
authority over the content, music, timing, etc.
of the worship services. That said, advice could be
proffered by laymen, usually a committee; based on
data, observation, and feedback from parishioners.

There is no question that the traditional late Sunday
service is populated primarily by old-timers.
Do away with it, and you might as well do away
with them. Attendance at the late service may be
affected by the changing demographics of Cape
Cod, especially the purchase of second-home
owners from retirees. The music for the late service
is superb, viz., the Purcell pieces with cornet
accompaniment. Some outsiders have the impression
that BBC is either pentecostal or fundamentalist.
I tell them that our church is about as main-line as
you could get, with a well-founded theology.
The late service proves it.

The contemporary service is kind of fun, especially
in the summer. The songs are out of the"Michael
Row the Boat Ashore" genre which is okay, except
that they are completely unmemorable. However, if
the early service is drawing a crowd, so be it. "If it
ain't broke, don't fix it." BBC is fortunate in having
attracted a large number of younger families from
what is a shrinking base. The strategy for BBC should
be to define and build on strengths in the face of a
changing market. I attempted to highlight these strengths,
in a blog posting on November 19, 2007."