December , 2014
Writing on The God Article blog on Patheos, Mark Sandlin, a PC(USA) minister, discusses the “Dones,” people who used to be actively involved in a church, but no longer are.
Like the “Nones” these people describe themselves as “sprititual but not religious.” Unlike the “Nones” many of them participated in organized religion but became dissatisfied with the type of spiritual community they found in churches.
The church is missing an important opportunity, says Sandlin, by not being willing to learn from the people who are leaving, instead refusing to listen, and simply writing them off as unwilling to do the “hard work” of community.
“The Dones are done – walking away from Church, never to come back. They were once considered essential, valuable members of the community right up until the moment they left. Now they are big dummies that just don’t get it.”
Read this thought provoking article here.
