I need your help before the next Sabbath School Council meeting.

There are many in my church who habitually occupy the last pews in our Sanctuary.

It's not too bad a problem during the divine service where the pews are pretty much filled, but in Sabbath School (where low attendance is already a problem) the few that come like to stay scattered. When asked to come forward, most come--but they soon go back to old habits.

I, myself, am just happy that people are coming to church. However, comments like "those who sit near the back are just not interested (or part of the way out of the church already)" are floating around.

Can someone come up with a tactful method of 1. Making people come near the front or
2. Getting others focused on more important matters than where other worshipers are sitting.

Is this a problem in other churches?

If I sit near the back it is to get a full view of the fellowship and experience "everything"--not to be disrespectful to the minister or to spend my time chatting.

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Be glad for all God is planning for you. Be patient in trouble, and always be prayerful. Rom. 12:12 NLT

We solved that problem by having our Sabbath School class at the back of the church, therefore, after the Sabbath School Superintendent's program, we are asked to move to the back of the sanctuary for the Adult Sabbath School Lesson Study.

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In His Love, Mercy & Grace

Daryl

I sit at the back because it causes less disturbance when I have to get up and leave the sanctuary.

Also, as part of my Deacon's duties, I take up the offering, so, it is easier to sit in the back so as not to disturb others when I get up.

In our SS time, we break up into small groups and meet in different places, that takes care of scattered participants.

We put a SS class in the back, which helped some. But it is still a problem that I've pretty much given up on. It's the ones who sit in the back and compete with the superintendent that are the real problems. Last Sabbath while I was doing the program, two people in the very back were talking loud enough for me to hear them at the podium. It crossed my mind to stop for a moment and ask them to please step out of the sanctuary and continue their conversation there.

As long as they are quiet, probably paying attention, let them sit where they want, unless of course, you want to rope off the last several rows of pews. You can always place a sign on them saying "Reserved."

Maybe Sabbath School should be changed so that it is as well attended as church. That may be impossible, so I guess you let them sit where they want, or chance offending them and find them outside the church building, and probably not even close to the parking lot, more likely close to or at home.If you served snacks in SS, you could serve the best tasting ones up front!

Thanks for your suggestions so far. I'm going to bring them to our next Sabbath School meeting.

I remember learning that each person is either tacitile, aural or visual.

Those who are "touchy feely" tacitile types like to sit at the front. Those who like to see the service sit near the middle (best view of the worship experience--like the middle seats of a theatre) and aural people who want to hear the message (and like to talk) tend to be more at the back.

I tested this theory once by asking questions of those who I know sit in certain areas and listening to the words that they used. The theory seemed to be correct! This leads me to the question: Are most SDA's aural?

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Be glad for all God is planning for you. Be patient in trouble, and always be prayerful. Rom. 12:12 NLT

Can't speak for anyone else, but if I don't sit in the back, I can't hear anything.

I like to hear so I sit there.

Didn't Ellen G. White say something somewhere about the fact that if we all sit at the back, then the evil angels will sit in the front pews and grab the words from the pulpit so that they can't enter into the hearts of the hearers?

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In His Love, Mercy & Grace

Daryl

I think it's in the testimonies somewhere. I do not get the right wording so the search engine does not pull it up. But I have read such a type statement too.

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Edward F Sutton

I guess motive plays into this too.

Remember the story in Luke 12 where a man pushed himself to the front only because he wanted Jesus to get his brother to divide his inheritance with him?

If you look in Christ's Object Lessons, it makes it clear that even though the man was "up front," he wasn't listening.

What was in his heart (lust for money) blocked his reception more than his physical distance from Christ.

Now, for more practical matters: I'd love to get my hands on Daryl's quote and read it to the congregation!!!

Mrs. White personally knew the man who started the Chatham SDA church (William Ward Simpson) and mentioned him as Brother S. in her book "Evangelism." Whatever she says I believe has direct influence on our congregation.

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Be glad for all God is planning for you. Be patient in trouble, and always be prayerful. Rom. 12:12 NLT

[This message has been edited by Andrew Marttinen (edited April 20, 2001).]