Is collaborative consumption what some people think of the church?

[Team Hesse]

That's more of an anecdote than an example. In my situation, I found at least three Lutheran churches almost equidistant from my new home in Georgia, albeit in three different directions. None was truly "close", but none of the three were too far to make participating in congregational life impossible. When I moved to my prior home just outside of Pittsburgh, there were 11 Lutheran churches within a 3 mile radius!

I hope this doesn't derail the conversation, but I wonder what people think is a "reasonable" distance to go to find a church that fits--close enough to attend regularly and to be at least minimally involved in other things in the congregation? Fifteen minute drive? Thirty? An hour?

When our family relocated to eastern Washington in 1987, by a quirk in our land purchases my parents ended up in a different phone exchange and school district than Debbie and I did. Though our homes were only 2 miles apart, my parents opted for church membership in Ephrata while Debbie and I opted for Moses Lake where our children would be attending school. My Mother could not imagine going to church at a place that would be a long distance phone call for her (which it would have been at the time). The mileage was roughly equal (about 17 miles) but the thought of a long distance phone bill every month was more than she was comfortable with given her history of service to the congregation where she held her membership.


Many factors are involved.


Lou

[Coach-Rev]

That's more of an anecdote than an example. In my situation, I found at least three Lutheran churches almost equidistant from my new home in Georgia, albeit in three different directions. None was truly "close", but none of the three were too far to make participating in congregational life impossible. When I moved to my prior home just outside of Pittsburgh, there were 11 Lutheran churches within a 3 mile radius!

I hope this doesn't derail the conversation, but I wonder what people think is a "reasonable" distance to go to find a church that fits--close enough to attend regularly and to be at least minimally involved in other things in the congregation? Fifteen minute drive? Thirty? An hour?

that very topic came up with some transplants here, who were concerned that a 30 minute drive would be a bit much to be involved in the daily functions of the church. 

[Mike in Pennsylvania]

Pr. Johnson, I heard someone say once that a study showed that on the average people will not spend more than 20 minutes traveling to church.  I have no idea where that study originated or if the quote or my memory is accurate, but it does ring true in my experience.  People who live more than 20 minutes from the church who do attend have a higher level of commitment.

[Eileen Smith]

Living in the Bronx and then Queens most of my life, many people either walked or took public transportation to church.  Some of the members of my congregation in Queens did come a distance - some from Manhattan which would be two different subway lines and then a good walk.  But we had just about all of our activities on a Sunday:  congregational meetings, congregational dinners, committees, etc.