Does your church take attendance (names, not just numbers)?

[Barb D]

Wondering if this is a common/universal thing...

Also, if it makes a difference how big your church is, and if anybody would notice if you weren't there.

 

[Spinning]

we have the ritual of friendship book where you sign your name. I think they just take a count and see if anyone is new, requesting to join. I don't think they keep an attendance sheet. But maybe they do.

 

[kydisneyfans]

Our church is about 500 people-we missed last Sunday as I had a stomach bug-missed today as DS has pink eye. Already had 1 call and 1 visit after service to make sure everything was OK.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Yes and no.

They track it via the contribution envelopes and if your children attend the parochial school--those envelopes (empty or not) are what get you the parishioner rate....if you contribute at least $600 per year in offertory then you get the contributing parishioner rate (I think it would cost a lot more than the delta of $600 if you didn't contribute).

So yes they track it--but the only purpose is for documentation of donations and documentation of school parents attending.

I don't turn in envelopes. I could care less if they know I was there or not in the computer. The priest knows me and sees me and my family every week. Good enough for me .

 

[Disney Doll]

My church is large, and no one "official" would notice if you were there or not. However, often the same folks will attend the same mass week after week, become "regulars" so to speak, and if someone is missing, onne of the other "regulars" might call to check, more out of concern than actual checking up for a head count.

If your child is in the parochial school, I believe they request you use envelopes as a system of tracking Mass attendance from the perspective of supporting and practicing the catholic religion. I don't believe the amount of $$$ you put into the envelope has anything to do with anything. It's more like they want to know that the parents of the kids are fostering good religious practices.

I don't have children, but I have heard from folks in my parish who do that the parish is quite flexible in arranging payment plans etc., so that all children who want to attend can. It is not based on financial contributions, but more on participation, time contributions etc.

 

[barkley]

ours does not-but i am familiar with a couple who do solely for the purpose of parishoners meeting minimum attendance criteria to qualify for the church membership tuition discount at their affiliated church school.

 

[canwegosoon]

Large church 3,000 famlies...and they do keep track by envelopes. Priest after 8 years still has no idea who I am since 2/3 of the times I attend it is priests from the local college...not him. ALso DH is not Catholic, and many times we are traveling...so we are not there 1/4 of the time. I think this was a reason why I did not get a job at the parish school...not known enough in this parish.

 

[Miller1412]

Yep, my church does. We got a call a couple of months ago asking why we had left the church. We still were attending! Guess we need to get better about our attendance...

 

[jimmiej]

Our church has 3500 members. We take roll in every class. If you miss, the pastor may not notice, but your small group (Bible study, choir, etc.) will.

 

[bcvgal]

We sign a friendship pad each week. It's mostly used to track people attendance. We use Safety First and you have to attend for 6 months regularly to apply to work with kids plus you have to go through a background check.

 

[pearlieq]

We attend a very small church (~100 max for main Sunday worship) and there is an attendance pad you sign with your family name/#of people attending. It's been the same in any United Methodist church I've visited.

 

[Buckalew11]

Our church is small. About 400 members or so. We take roll and yes, people would notice if you weren't there. I've receive calls and notes checking to see if we were OK or if we needed anything. I think having a church family is a blessing.

 

[Dan Murphy]

No attendance here. Any time if we were not there, no calls. I would not want them bugging me, enough to make me move on.

 

[ElizK]

My church is about 1500 members. There is no roll for church, but there is for Sunday School.

Buckalew11, I'm with you on the church family comment. I love my church family, too!

 

[Lil_Tink]

We do but dont..On some days they just 'see whos there'

 

[we3disneygo]

we attend a small Methodist church, we did have a attendence pad, then went to card, then went to a tear off thing on the side of the bulletion to save money.....we got a new pastor a year ago.....if we weren't coming dd's old Sunday school teacher would proably call, send a post card....but not the pastor, we have had many nice families leave our church this year and they didn't get any phone calls which is sad....our old pastor would never let that happen.....

 

[Stacerita]

We have communication cards that we fill out. It has our names, and other pert info on them. There is also a place on there to put prayer requests or praise reports, as well as an area to mark if you want to attend an upcoming event. These are used throughout the church in different groups and areas. There is even a time during the service when everyone is reminded about the cards. During that time we are told that the cards are used to help the church minister to us and meet our needs. In the childrens studies and classes they do keep track as well. If for any reason you are missing from your small group or study, you'll get a call or a card to see how you are doing. Not if you miss service though.

 

[Linnie The Pooh]

Ours is small and takes attendance. You mark a sheet as you come in that tells whether you went to Sunday School, Worship Service and/or Communion. If you forget, someone does it for you.

People notice whether we're there or not, but no one ever comments on it. It's a very low pressure church. If you're there, great, if you're not, you're welcome to come back anytime.

When we were kids, we belonged to a church where, if you missed a day, they asked your family where you were and why you weren't there. Very uncomfortable for us. "Uh, Dad is watching football and drinking beer, that's why he's not here."

 

[Galahad]

None for us. We go to a large Methodist church (5000 members) so I think their would be no point. Went to smaller churches in the past that did have the "ritual of friendship" sheets at those. Never got calls or anything when we missed.

 

[Kimberle]

No, I never heard of such a thing until other disers started talking about it. Not now, not in the church I grew up in. If you miss, it's between you & the "big guy" upstairs..... (I'm Congregational.)