Transformation: What I've Learned Sitting At Starbucks

After over 42 years of working for someone else, and having an office, I'm now working for 'myself,' without an office.

Now, I do have a home study. But often, I need a change of pace and head for either a library -- or -- Starbucks.

Recently, it occurred to me: I've learned a lot sitting at Starbucks.

Sure, I've learned a lot in libraries, especially from some of my 'best friends,' the zillions of books that surround me! But I've also learned a different, unique angle on life, sitting in Starbucks, where I'm surrounded by live voices coming 'in and out' of the store, as I pound away on my computer.

Lesson #1 - A Lot Of People Aren't Going To Church (At Least As We Know It).

I visit Starbucks regularly on Sunday morning, before I head for church, after dropping-off Robin (my wife) at her organ position in Baltimore, MD.

Frankly, Starbucks bustles, but the vast majority of folks entering the store are not exiting for morning worship. Rather, they're grabbing coffee, pastries and The New York Times -- heading out to their kid's sports game -- bee-lining with a friend for a neighborhood festival -- or not exiting at all, but choosing to linger and visit with other folks, in the store.

In sum: persons are finding community, but they're not finding it, necessarily, at church. Instead, they're finding community in social/sports activities -- festivals/event -- or at Starbucks itself.

This is inferred in a recent Pew Research Study which revealed:

"...The percentage of U.S. adults who say they regularly attend religious services has been declining...[and]...the share of Americans who attend only a few times a year, seldom or never has been growing..." http://www.pewforum.org/2018/08/01/why-americans-go-to-religious-services/

Now it used to be that people actively sought out houses of worship as a place to fellowship and congregate. As Robert Ellwood points out in his book, The Fifties Spiritual Marketplace: American Religion in a Decade of Conflict -- between 1950 and 1960...

"...Churches and schools were being greatly expanded to accommodate the growing population, and organized religion was in its heyday. On a typical Sunday morning in the period from 1955-58, almost half of all Americans were attending church – the highest percentage in U.S. history. During the 1950s, nationwide church membership grew at a faster rate than the population, from 57 percent of the U.S. population in 1950 to 63.3 percent in 1960..." https://news.usc.edu/25835/The-1950s-Powerful-Years-for-Religion/

Such growth occurred for a variety of reasons, Ellwood goes on to point out...

“...partly because of the ever-expanding spiritual marketplace...There were a lot of different options available that would appeal to different kinds of people. Before [World War II] organized religion was much more restricted...”

I would contend that we need to do the same, today: multiply a lot of different options. Just as Starbucks works to expand its inventory beyond just coffee -- we as the church need to expand our offerings beyond pews, organs, and stained glass.

At the church I served for 20 years, the Frederick Church of the Brethren, we attempted to do just that through a 'coffee' house' type church, named 'The Basement.' As the Frederick New Post reported right after the new service opened:

"...The Basement is designed to be casual, inviting and have a relaxed atmosphere...a safe place for people to worship in just a comfortable, casual way. The service [takes] place in the recently renovated multipurpose room, which has something of a theater or club atmosphere with its black curtains and couches and pillars with purple accent lighting...The church hopes that offering a less formal setting for its services will encourage more people to visit and join the congregation, particularly those who may have once been church regulars but stopped going..." https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/lifestyle/religion/frederick-church-of-the-brethren-kicks-off-new-casual-service/article_39594e7b-e57f-55df-91bd-7270fa848c13.html

I am not suggesting 'The Basement' is 'the answer.' But I am convinced some different, 'out of the ordinary,' 'out of the box' type of gathering is needed in most houses of worship.

Pray and dream what it might be for your congregation.

Lesson #2 - People Will 'Show Up" Where People Know Their Name

A striking part of the Starbuck's culture is the barista's (the folk serving customers, behind the counter) regular habit of calling customers by name.

The spiel goes like this: "Laureen. Laureen!! I was hoping you'd come in Laureen!!" "Why it's Miss Dottie!! How are you, Miss Dottie?!!" "Good Morning Tony!! Do you want your regular, double latte, Tony?"

And people love it!

No, surprise. Most love it when someone knows their name, as the vintage theme song of the TV show Cheers trumpets.

Sadly, however, many don't experience that depth of community in many churches. And so, persons show up in the coffee house, not the church house -- finding there -- a needed place of connection -- what sociologists call, 'a third place.' The Brookings Institute points out:

"...Third places is a term coined by sociologist Ray Oldenburg and refers to places where people spend time between home (‘first’ place) and work (‘second’ place). They are locations where we exchange ideas, have a good time, and build relationships. For young Americans, many third places are now virtual – from Facebook and chat rooms to group texts. But as Oldenburg notes, the most effective ones for building real community seem to be physical places where people can easily and routinely connect with each other..." https://www.brookings.edu/blog/up-front/2016/09/14/third-places-as-community-builders/

And so, how connecting is your congregation? Is there a sense of intimacy? Do people know each-others names? Does it provide a 'third place'?

The best recent research on church vitality is "The Growing Young" study from the Fuller Youth Institute. The study identified eight commitments of congregations effective in reaching young people, but the commitments really relate to all generations. Of the eight, the most influential was "relational warmth." As Kara Young, one of the prime architects of the study, notes:

"...The top phrase young people used to describe these churches was “like family.” They talked about “being real” and “being myself here.” What they didn’t talk about was how cool or hip their church may (or may not) have been. Sure, some of these churches were pretty cool, but what we learned from young people is that warm is the new cool. Experiencing a welcoming community that’s like a family turns out to matter more..." https://www.christianitytoday.com/edstetzer/2016/october/growing-young.html

Starbucks does that. Congregations can, as well!

Lesson #3 -- People Frequent Places That Impact Their Community and World

Starbucks, no doubt, makes a profit; after all, it's a business. But Starbucks also offers a purpose, as customers become aware of its efforts for social service and justice, developed around three pillars: Community Outreach, Ethical Sourcing, and the Environment.

"...[Community Outreach]...Starbucks...[partners] with local nonprofits...Starbucks...donates $0.05 to $0.15 per transaction to [a store's] nonprofit partner...The company also provides training opportunities for youth in their communities and has even developed the Starbucks Foundation, a 501c3 whose goal is to strengthen those communities further...Ethical Sourcing dictates the way that Starbucks purchases its products. The company is committed to ensuring that their coffee, tea, cocoa...are responsibly and ethically produced and purchased...[Enviroment]. Starbucks refers to the planet as their “most important business partner,” and takes a comprehensive approach to reducing their environmental impact. To do this, they build LEED certified stores, are committed to recycling and conserving water and energy, and pursue strategies that address climate change..." http://www.whywhisper.co/the-blog/2015/9/24/corporate-social-responsibility-how-starbucks-is-making-an-impact

Though Starbucks' customers have a varied awareness of these initiatives, overall, most sense they're not just drinking coffee, but are a part of a larger social enterprise that's making a difference in their world.

Churches, that are vital, are doing the same. People in such congregations are doing more than singing hymns, and eating at potlucks -- they're well aware they're a part of a social movement that's having an impact.

Again, returning to 'The Growing Young' study, churches that are attracting youth/young adults, and frankly, any age, strive to be the very best neighbors, mindful of the needs around them:

"....[they] reflect [a] selfless mercy toward those the people outside their congregations--whether those neighbors are friends, strangers or enemies. They demonstrate compassion and forgiveness, even when it is within their power to turn away or inflict harm. Churches that grow young, practice this mercy in a myriad of forms--in their service and social justice efforts, in their political engagement, in discussion about race and ethnic identify...Doing so earns these churches a hearing ina culture that often otherwise dismisses tem as judgmental or close-minded..." [from Growing Young].

Again, if Starbucks can carry-out such commitments, surely churches can. For it's only as we move from an insular mindset to an outreaching, missional mindset, that we have any hope of continued identity and witness.

It's interesting: on May 29, 2018, Starbucks closed its 8,000+ stores for racial awareness training, after a tragic incident in which two African-Americans were asked to exit the restaurant, in Philadelphia https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/15/us/starbucks-philadelphia-black-men-arrest.html

But in reality, the store closing and training were actually a revisiting of Starbuck's overall core mission/vision. Specifically, as National Public Radio reported:

"...The training [was] meant to help Starbucks navigate the challenges of being the "third place" that its leaders have often spoken about — the place where people spend time outside of work and their home..."
https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2018/05/29/615119351/starbucks-closes-more-than-8-000-stores-today-for-racial-bias-training

Perhaps we should 'close' our churches for a day (or more) to revisit our overall mission/vision; to help us navigate the challenge/s of being a third place.

For continuing 'business as usual' will result in continuing blindness to our tendency to exclude the outsider, prioritizing our needs, over welcome to the stranger.

May we welcome the stranger! Not only inspired by Starbucks -- but the Savior -- who also affirmed: