An Illinois district of the Divided Church of the Risen Son has progressed in its radical plans to merge with a regionally-based street gang, attempting to reverse a long-standing membership trend with an injection of youth.
The move, while unsanctioned by the international governing body through its General Assembly, is not technically in violation of the Christian denomination's official Book of Directions that regulates the conduct of its membership.
"The DC has seen its American membership decline each year since it last merged with another in 1961," explained District Supervisor Kenneth Ziegler. "Fifty years of momentum takes concentrated and creative effort to shift."
The Divided Church's Assembly at large has not stood still as its population has dwindled - and aged.
"Rethink Church" is the Church's newest campaign targeting 19- to 34-year-olds who may not be familiar with the church or who are seeking to make their lives more meaningful.
More than $20 million in ads are being launched over the next four years.
"Reaching new populations – which tend to be younger and more diverse than traditional constituents – needs to be a high priority," Bishop Mabel Whaley explained.
Ziegler concurred with the diagnosis but politely disagreed with the prescription.
"Young adults in these generations aren't drawn through words," he remarked about the ad campaign. "In the Internet era, there are just too many words to choose from. When it comes to attracting and retaining the nation's youth, our research shows that no organization has been more successful than gangs. Aligning with them from that perspective is sensible not only to discover and learn from their methods, but to bring an instant influx of needed youth."
Thanks to a failed burglary attempt at one of its buildings, and several subsequent hours of confined questioning, the church eventually found an executive liaison with the Preds, the area's fastest growing association.
"It's all good," said the Preds' Vicelord Antoine by untraceable cell phone. "They get to put pictures of us on their ads, we show up at some of their stuff, and they count us as members and whatnot."
Congregants responded with some unease that the Preds were given a set of master keys, but officials assuaged the concern with optimism.
"Jesus welcomed all to the table," senior pastor George Armsworthy. "Christianity is based on a foundation of trust freely given, and they have returned it in kind. Several of their members have already joined our finance committee and building maintenance committee. We were even able to form a nighttime patrol detail consisting entirely of their volunteers. That's just the kind of round-the-clock presence that youth have to offer."
Ziegler was quick to note that although the predominately African-American organization conveniently adds a stark dose of diversity into its traditionally white population, it was merely a byproduct of the youth movement. At the same time he acknowledged "God's deliberate creation of a multi-colored human race," and indicated preliminary plans to engage the Latin Swords after a phase-in period for the current operation.
Preds on local church administrative councils have generated immediate and meaningful change. Gone from some local congregations are the renowned cross-and-cloud emblem, the classic theme "Big Hearts, Big Minds, Big Buildings." Web sites and e-mail accounts have dropped the "DC" from their registers. When "Divided" was vandalized to obliteration from the church name on brick exterior facades, leadership cautioned against rush to judgment, capitalizing on the new relationship to investigate the matter.
"Nothing to see, nothing to know," Antoine summarized the committee's findings. "Things happen. So we started the Security Council."
Funding for the Security Council is collected separately from, and just prior to, the general collection plate during church services. Casually-styled "God Wantz You Protected" T-shirts channel yet another vibe of youthfulness from thicker-armed, specialized ushers. Finance committees verbally report that the new collections have been an irresistible success.
"The Gospels call us to come together," Ziegler said. "Thanks to Antoine and his brethren, we're no longer 'DCs' and 'Preds,' we're members of the body of Christ."
"They say the Bible says 'take sinners to dinner' and 'forgive seventy times.' I like that," Antoine remarked.
A summer picnic celebrating the effort will be held at dusk this Saturday in the back lot of the church grounds. Families are encouraged to bring their wallets to enjoy the many carnival games, tattoo booths and consumables that will be available for purchase.
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