Churches Not Good About Answering Messages

[Union With Christ]

By researching on your own, finding other trusted resources, or by simply being patient and waiting until it’s your turn to be dealt with...

Again, six emails over how long?

If he disregards my email and never answers it that is not called being patient.

 

[Union With Christ]

By researching on your own, finding other trusted resources, or by simply being patient and waiting until it’s your turn to be dealt with...

Again, six emails over how long?

The six emails were sent over a period of two weeks.

 

[Union With Christ]

I still haven’t heard from either the Orthodox Priest or the Messianic Church that I emailed.

 

[bekkilyn]

I suggest reading the book, "I Am a Church Member: Discovering the Attitude that Makes the Difference" by Thom Rainer.

It might help you to determine whether or not your expectations of these pastors and churches are reasonable or otherwise.

 

[Union With Christ]

I also emailed Ancient Faith Ministries yesterday and they did not respond.

 

[Union With Christ]

I suggest reading the book, "I Am a Church Member: Discovering the Attitude that Makes the Difference" by Thom Rainer.

It might help you to determine whether or not your expectations of these pastors and churches are reasonable or otherwise.

Is expecting someone to answer their advertised email an unrealistic expectation?

 

[Maria Billingsley]

If I wanted to call what would the point be in sending an email? I usually send emails in order to avoid phone calls.

Maybe that is why you need to call.

 

[bekkilyn]

Is expecting someone to answer their advertised email an unrealistic expectation?

Perhaps.

 

[Gregory Thompson]

I am in the process of thinking about changing churches. One thing I‘ve really noticed lately is that churches are not good about answering their emails. I have had this same problem with three different churches that I have contacted in the past couple weeks. One of them is even my home church. I understand that people get busy but this seems to be quite a disservice to me. Aren’t churches supposed to be serving Christ and the community? Then why don’t they respond to emails and in a timely manner?

I used to send bible studies through email to a large list of people.

And would rarely receive a reply regarding them, people would respond in person.

I tend to not rely on emails for communication since people in general do not reply to them.

 

[Union With Christ]

I used to send bible studies through email to a large list of people.

And would rarely receive a reply regarding them, people would respond in person.

I tend to not rely on emails for communication since people in general do not reply to them.

If they don’t respond what is the purpose?

 

[Gregory Thompson]

If they don’t respond what is the purpose?

Well, they were edified by what I sent, but it left me feeling lonely and isolated.

The many studies however did help me with something God was fixing within me.

Basically, you need your own reason to be studying the bible - people will tend to take what they can but not give thanks - it's just the way people are in the church or out. When you meet thankful people, they're one in ten like the lepers Jesus healed.

 

[Mayflower1]

My old church didn't have an email. That is awesome many do. I think maybe you should email your pastor why it is taking so long to get back to you (kidding on the email part, but if it really bothers you, maybe you should talk to him face to face. Matthew 18 is a good policy, especially if wanting to change churches.

 

[Union With Christ]

My old church didn't have an email. That is awesome many do. I think maybe you should email your pastor why it is taking so long to get back to you (kidding on the email part, but if it really bothers you, maybe you should talk to him face to face. Matthew 18 is a good policy, especially if wanting to change churches.

He did get back to me and he said that he has been extremely busy and that he will try to answer my questions as soon as possible.

That still doesn’t explain why the two other churches I am investigating haven’t answered.

 

[GraceBro]

I am in the process of thinking about changing churches. One thing I‘ve really noticed lately is that churches are not good about answering their emails. I have had this same problem with three different churches that I have contacted in the past couple weeks. One of them is even my home church. I understand that people get busy but this seems to be quite a disservice to me. Aren’t churches supposed to be serving Christ and the community? Then why don’t they respond to emails and in a timely manner?

Without knowing the question you're asking, how many times you've asked it, or the structure of the staffing at the particular churches you reached out to, it is difficult to make a judgment on them. Besides, they are under no obligation to answer every question that comes in, especially, if they have resources already in place to answer those questions. They may have hundreds of emails that come in. It takes staffing and resources to answer emails. Plus, these churches may be limited in their ability to respond, if at all, because of the lockdowns. I suggest being patient or asking your question here if you feel inclined.

 

[DamianWarS]

These are doctrine questions that I am asking. All three of these churches are small but they do have full time staff.

perhaps that's the problem. overly meaty questions require overly meaty answers where email probably isn't the best medium. While you're thinking "why can't they just email me" the pastors are probably thinking "this person is not in a crisis and there is no problem for me to fix"

Rather than present a bunch of questions perhaps it would be better to introduce yourself in an email first and state your intentions and with whom you can have a conversation about some in-depth questions pertaining to core values and beliefs (without actually asking those questions). most of these churches (especially if they are a part of a greater denomination) have lengthy documents that spell all this out and is posted on their websites where you can figure out their positions by yourself or ask for these documents in the email which is a simple request.

think of the pastors receiving these emails... probably a lot of eye rolls. telling someone their position of once saved always saved really does little to nothing in building relationships, faith communities and edifying each other and the pastors are probably quite uninterested in the conversation. if you want an answer from a pastor who is interested in building someone's faith frame questions from the perspective of a personal faith crisis allowing the pastor to speak into you, have a relationship with you and build you up (because they are generally interested in that) you can infer the answer to your doctrinal questions by how they answer you (but this would only really work with one question).

You can try it as a test, ask a meaty complicated question to 5 churches then ask the same question reframed as a personal faith crisis to 5 other churches and see who emails you first. probably the latter because churches are interested in helping people not answering checklists.

 

[Union With Christ]

perhaps that's the problem. overly meaty questions require overly meaty answers where email probably isn't the best medium. While you're thinking "why can't they just email me" the pastors are probably thinking "this person is not in a crisis and there is no problem for me to fix"

Rather than present a bunch of questions perhaps it would be better to introduce yourself in an email first and state your intentions and with whom you can have a conversation about some in-depth questions pertaining to core values and beliefs (without actually asking those questions). most of these churches (especially if they are a part of a greater denomination) have lengthy documents that spell all this out and is posted on their websites where you can figure out their positions by yourself or ask for these documents in the email which is a simple request.

think of the pastors receiving these emails... probably a lot of eye rolls. telling someone their position of once saved always saved really does little to nothing in building relationships, faith communities and edifying each other and the pastors are probably quite uninterested in the conversation. if you want an answer from a pastor who is interested in building someone's faith frame questions from the perspective of a personal faith crisis allowing the pastor to speak into you, have a relationship with you and build you up (because they are generally interested in that) you can infer the answer to your doctrinal questions by how they answer you (but this would only really work with one question).

You can try it as a test, ask a meaty complicated question to 5 churches then ask the same question reframed as a personal faith crisis to 5 other churches and see who emails you first. probably the latter because churches are interested in helping people not answering checklists.

I’m not sure what you are trying to say here.

A Pastor’s job is to be a shepherd and teach sound doctrine.

If I can’t receive answers from churches on doctrine that is unacceptable.

 

[Silly Uncle Wayne]

Yes, it is very disappointing. The answers that my Pastor did provide were very good but that still doesn’t excuse him ignoring half of my questions. That gives me further ammunition to change churches.

I thought you said you'd emailed other churches and not got responses from them either.

The fact is that you are not the sole member of the church. If it is a small church the pastor may be overworked or part-time and they haven't got the time to spend on one needy person. It has already been suggested that you arrange a face-to-face and that is the sensible option. Leaving a church just because the church doesn't jump to your every demand is a poor response and appears to say more about your lack of character than the church.

 

[Union With Christ]

I thought you said you'd emailed other churches and not got responses from them either.

The fact is that you are not the sole member of the church. If it is a small church the pastor may be overworked or part-time and they haven't got the time to spend on one needy person. It has already been suggested that you arrange a face-to-face and that is the sensible option. Leaving a church just because the church doesn't jump to your every demand is a poor response and appears to say more about your lack of character than the church.

There are two other churches that I have emailed who are not answering.

The Pastor at my church works full time.

There are other reasons I am considering leaving this church as well it’s not only the issue of not answering the email. I don’t know what that says about my character other than I am someone who is interested in finding a good church but thank you for the insult.

I’m not really interested in a face to face meeting at this point and that is the purpose of email to avoid those.

 

[Neostarwcc]

Yes, I’ve been having that same problem with one of the churches. They haven’t been answering their phone as well.

It's really stupid, it's stopped my wife and I from wanting to join several Reformed Baptist churches, I decided on joining a PCA church for my family. They're much more reliable. I called 2 or 3 churches in the area and they answered right away. Didn't have to leave a message or anything.

Only problem now is to get mobile I don't want to have to bum a ride off of my mother just to go to church like I have to bum rides off of her everywhere my wife and I go. My mom is Catholic and goes to a Catholic church who's mass starts at 10. My church's mass starts at 9 so it's problematic. In a few weeks it'll be winter here too so lots of messy roads on top of covid... meh.

 

[Silly Uncle Wayne]

There are two other churches that I have emailed who are not answering.

The Pastor at my church works full time.

There are other reasons I am considering leaving this church as well it’s not only the issue of not answering the email. I don’t know what that says about my character other than I am someone who is interested in finding a good church but thank you for the insult.

I’m not really interested in a face to face meeting at this point and that is the purpose of email to avoid those.

The insult was intended as a rebuke and it still stands. You come across as demanding - wanting things when you want them. I doubt you will ever find a church able to fulfil that need except for short periods and after a while the pastor will realise that there are greater needs than yours and with more chance of fulfilling them. Email and even things like forums are the worst way to get answers in the sense that it is way too easy for people to take offence at the way you say something.

Pastors are not necessarily teachers and so matters of doctrine may not be their forte. If you have a small church you may not find anyone who has that kind of mindset. Larger churches will usually have someone who is theologically trained or has an enquiring mind.

You also have the internet at your disposal so should be able find answers somewhere else rather than bothering an overworked pastor.