Who do you like to hang out with?
At a recent deacons meeting we had a lively conversation around our table during dinner, and reflecting on it later, I’ve been thinking about affinity groups. The term “affinity group” often refers to people organized around a common goal, but I’m talking about groups of people with common interests.
For example, of the seven of us around the table, six have degrees from Baylor. In the past, that would have been unimpressive at a Baptist church, but Wilshire is much less Baylor-forward than the church I grew up in during the 1960s and ’70s.
On the other hand, five of us have Catholic connections; three are former Catholics and two are lifelong Baptists but have had Catholic spouses. That would have been unheard of at the church I grew up in, but it’s not unusual at Wilshire. We welcome folks from any and all faith traditions.
Music was another affinity group represented at the table, with two of us playing in Wilshire Winds, two singing in the sanctuary choir, and two who are “fallen away” band members from school days. I was one of the latter for 25 years before I joined the Winds.
Another shared interest around the table was smoking meat, with several people jumping into a conversation that bore witness to their devotion to that culinary art. I smoke meat a couple of times a year, most notably at Thanksgiving when we smoke a turkey and anything else we have on hand while the fire is on. But I can’t talk turkey about types of smokers and techniques like some of the pros at our table.
Four at the table are parents of young children or young adults, and one will be a new parent later this year. In a time when many churches are struggling as the average age of their members creeps upward, Wilshire is still attracting young families and young adults. That’s good news for a church celebrating its 75th anniversary in June with the desire to make it to 100 years and beyond, God willing.
And, of course, the reason we were sitting at a table together on a Monday night was for the affinity group called Wilshire Baptist Church. Our common interest is all things regarding faith and spiritual life focused on the Holy Trinity and ultimately, eternal life. But we’re not just in it for the sake of our souls. Our common beliefs impact the way we live and work in the here and now. Our vision is “to become a bold mission to the way of Christ in our time”; our mission is “to build a community of faith shaped by the Spirit of Jesus Christ.”
There are lots of subgroups within that, such as the music ministries I mentioned, Sunday school classes, book clubs, senior travelers, missions projects and advocacy on a host of issues in the community and beyond.
If you’re new to Wilshire or a regular but haven’t checked some of that out, explore the web site or weekly Tapestry to see where you might connect. And if there’s not a group that covers your interests, you might just be the person to get something started.