Church Tourism

I read an article in the newspaper today about an interesting phenomenon going on in the New York City neighborhood of Harlem. It seems that the historic African American churches have become the Sunday destination for...tourists. For $55, you can take the "Harlem Gospel Tour-Sunday" run by tour operator Harlem Spirituals- Gospel and Jazz Tours (this is just one of several available tour operators.) You will get to attend a worship service in one of the churches in Harlem, North Harlem or the Bronx. You are asked to not bring a camera or video camera and not to wear shorts, tank tops or flip-flops and not to leave the church once the sermon starts (the visitors regularly violate the no camera and no leaving early policy.) In many cases, the tourists outnumber the congregation members. Some of the participating churches receive monetary benefits from the tour operators in addition to whatever the visitors leave in the offering plate. For many of these churches, this additional source of revenue is deemed essential.

Mother African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, the oldest church in New York State, admits that they need the financial assistance the tourists provide. "Our building is in need of repair," church member Paul Henderson said after the service. "We need assistance. They are helping to sustain us."

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The Abyssinian Baptist Church, founded in 1808 is one of the favorite tourist destinations, although their website states that it is "not aligned with any third-party Tour Companies." It also has a written policy concerning tourists [link] Tourists are not allowed to attend the 9:00 AM service, only the 11:00 service. It further states that visitors should be prepared to stay for a 2-1/2 hour worship service. There are eight Sundays, including Christmas, Palm Sunday, Easter, and Mothers Day, when no tourists are admitted.

People from many different countries participate in these tours. These Harlem churches have rich traditions and beautiful architecture so there is nothing uncommon about folks wanting to see them. I am sure the reasons for attending are just as varied as the tourist themselves.

Tourists in church. Some are there to be able to say that they have been there...another travel destination notch in the belt. Some attend for the music. Many of these churches have gospel choirs that powerfully sing the spirituals that are well known in these church traditions. Some come out of curiosity. This might be their first time in a church or at least a church that looks and sounds quite different from what they know back home. Some may want to hear a preaching style that they have heard stories about and now want to hear first hand. Some of these New York visitors may simply want to attend a church service while they are visiting and decide.. why not attend in Harlem? I'm not sure you need to join a tour group for that though...you could just call a cab.

Do we have tourist in our own churches? April in Augusta, GA certainly sees its share of visitors in churches. Thousands of people descend on this city to attend the Masters golf tournament and some will attend Sunday services while they are in town. But that's not the kind of tourist I'm talking about.

Do we have tourists in our own churches? Are there folks that attend week in and week out because they just want to watch what's going on? Do some folks attend because it is considered the place to be on Sunday morning? Are they there primarily because they want to hang out with people they enjoy and maybe only get to see that one day of the week? Are they there mainly because they love the music? If confronted with whether they would like to become a part of that church, they might give the same answer as they would give to the retail store clerk... "no thanks, I'm just looking." Are there some folks there that think, because they have "paid their fare" by being generous in the offering plate that they have earned the privilege of not only being there but offering their critical opinion as to the quality of that tourist destination? Some will say "I've seen better." They will tell you about all the other churches they've "toured" and describe all the ways that it was a better experience than what they experience in their own church. Some may be tourists because they want to hear what they perceive to be the celebrity preacher. "I go to ABC Church because of Pastor So and So. That guy preaches an awesome sermon."

All churches should openly embrace all that come...members, visitors and  yes, even tourists. But I really don't think church should be a tourist destination. What I mean is that folks that attend church should not attend as if they were only tourists. Worship is not something to observe...it is something to do. A worship service shouldn't be judged by how the people in attendance enjoyed it...only the true audience gets that privilege (and it is an audience of One.) Put the guidebook down and forget what time you are supposed to get back on the bus. Forget about where the tour is taking you for lunch. Stop gawking at the architecture and listening to the choir. Rather, be amazed at the majesty of the the One who is truly Beautiful and sing your heart out with the choir; lifting up words of praise and adoration to the King of Kings.

Ladies and gentlemen, if you will look straight ahead you will see the whole reason we are here. This is Jesus the Christ. If you look carefully, on the left you will see the scars on His right hand and the place where He was pierced. If you look to the right, you can see the nail scar on His left hand. Look into His face and you can see the love that He has for all of us, the forgiveness He purchased for you and me and the grace and mercy He hands each of us as a parting gift on our tour today. That's the tour bus to get on.