Priority Pew Seating

Two weeks ago, Brad Wright had an interesting post. The meaning of classroom seating speculated on what you could discern about students based on where they sat in the classroom. I recently came across a 1911 pew rental chart from the First Methodist Church in Evanston, IL. (published in The Churching of America, 1776-2005: Winners and Losers in our Religious Economy, 170) I've modified the chart by color-coding it. What do we learn about seating in sanctuaries from this chart? One of the first things that caught my eye is that this was clearly not a Presbyterian church. If it were, then the seats in the back would be the most sought after. :)

 

Comments

[codepoke]

So many conflicted feelings about this!

\:-[]

I reject steeple churches as a matter of principle but attend one as a matter of pragmatism. They happen to be where the Christians are, to my minor chagrin.

So, as I look at this, it seems like a legitimate plan. After inflation, the center seats would be what, $2000/year? Why not? We've already got the dimmest idea for Christian worship ever in having people worship toward a pastor every week; why not make people pay for the right to do it?

The ushers could make sure "reserved" placards were on owned seats, and visitors could sit wherever they wished. As soon as they become regulars, though, by would be introduced to the capitalistic discipline of supply and demand.

Say the mortgage costs $5,000 per month, and there were 100 regular attendees. $50/month/butt would pay the mortgage. You're not paying for the right to worship. You're paying for the right to see the pastor from the perfect social vantage point. It's a service, not a tax.

Can you tell whether I'm kidding? Because I sure can't.