You are here: Home > News >United Church News > Attacks impact churches at core
Attacks impact churches at core
November, 2001
In attempting to determine the effect on churches of the terrorist attacks and the conflict in Afghanistan, it is simplest to look at the numbers: good attendance, more people in Bible study, higher church school enrollment.
And while those numbers paint part of the picture, pastors say the impact is something that cannot be so easily quantified.
Like many Massachusetts Conference churches, South Church in Andover, UCC, recently had a large turnout for a forum on Islam. Above, Magid Mazen (standing, at right) takes a question during the session. Mazen, a practicing Muslim, lives in Andover and teaches at Suffolk University Business School. “I feel as though things have changed at their very core,” said Kelly Gallagher, associate pastor at the First Churches of Northampton. “Questions seem to be coming from a very deep place. People seem to be wrestling with huge issues. Our Bible studies, theological discussion groups – although lively before, seem to have taken on a new seriousness unlike before September 11th.”
Susan Butler, pastor of the Union Church in Stow, explains that “the impact has been on ongoing programs: what we pray about at our regular prayer meetings, what I talk about in my sermons, what the youth group is talking about ... all of those things.”
Still the numbers also do tell a story.
Sam Agulian, pastor of the Armenian Memorial Church in Watertown, has seen the average Bible study attendance grow from 8 to 10 each week to 20 to 25, which means about one-fourth of the church’s 100 members are attending.
“The numbers are bigger, the interest is bigger,” he said. “People are more serious and want to come together and talk and raise questions.”
Some clergy say that parishioners are seeking out more private counseling as well.
“There is a lot of general angst. Our ongoing one-to-one pastoral care has increased,” said David Stryker, associate pastor at Wellesley Hills Congregational Church. Stryker said the church’s weekly bereavement support group, which serves 13 communities, has also seen attendance rise as the grief surrounding September 11th has triggered thoughts of other losses for many people.
Many pastors say they are also addressing current events in their sermons at a level they have not in the past.
“I threw out my sermon plan for the fall,” said Reed Baer, pastor of the West Parish Church in Barnstable. “This has been a time of incredible growth and challenge for me.”
Churches have also been responding with education: dozens of churches have been holding forums with Muslim speakers, and they have reported very good turnout for these events.
The Topsfield Congregational Church, for example, had a forum with four speakers from the Islamic Center of Boston. The event attracted 150 people, including their entire confirmation class.
