So… I want to ask…. What comes to mind when you think of church? Come on, you are all artists and creators in some way… therefore I KNOW you have opinions and have probably had an encounter with a church or church person at some point in your life. Here is a list that I came up with. Haha. Choir robes, sheet music, bad breath, sweat, stale air, no energy, the same thing all the time, hypocrites, judgement, know-it-alls, no creativity, cheesy, over produced services, bad acting/drama, weird, boring, annoying, to long, nagging, inward focused, no place for art, cliques and not accepting. That is a terrible list.
Not all churches are like that… but haven’t we all experienced that at some point or another? And it’s sad… but that experience was probably embedded in our minds giving us OUR definition of church. Ha. YUCK!
I grew up in church. In fact I think I was born in the pews. All of my life my dad has been a Pastor in the Seattle area and my husband is a worship leader at a large church in Arizona. Let’s just say that I have seen my fair share of churches through conferences, visiting other churches, and being connected in the world of church. There is one thing that I have seen to be consistent in most churches. There is not very much room for artists, out-of-the-box thinkers, dreamers, culture shapers, perfectionists, or creators. For many people… art as seen a luxury; meaning: not practical and not needed.
This has been an issue that I have thought about a lot when it comes to art and the church. You see… I have to be honest and say that it’s hard for me to connect and volunteer in the church when I am not gifted at hospitality, holding babies, making people feel welcome, singing, playing instruments, counseling, coaching, speaking, or cleaning. But I can make stuff… Hmm… Well, I guess that could be a tough fit. What could the church do with those people who are willing to contribute to the church and society with their art?
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