Kapsaret MP Oscar Sudi has criticised members of the clergy for requiring visitors to stand up and introduce themselves during church services, arguing that the practice could discourage people from attending church.
Speaking at a church event, Sudi said pastors and church leaders were responsible for making visitors uncomfortable by putting them on the spot during services.
“When people come to church, stop telling visitors or guests to stand up. You are the people who make people not go to church, is it not so?” Sudi said.
The MP urged church leaders to create an environment where people could attend services without feeling pressured to address the congregation or identify themselves publicly.
He particularly asked pastors to welcome people struggling with alcohol addiction instead of embarrassing them or drawing attention to their presence.
“Let an alcoholic come to church and allow them to have a sit even at the back,” Sudi said.
He argued that such a person could gradually become more involved in church activities if given the opportunity to attend services without being subjected to public introductions.
“They will listen to a good gospel song, or choir, and next time they will sit in the middle. They will again listen to a good song and move to the front,” he said.
Sudi said continued exposure to church teachings and preaching could eventually encourage such visitors to participate more actively in the congregation.
“They will hear good preaching and then all by themselves, they will want to address the congregation,” he said.
The MP questioned the practice of handing visitors a microphone or requiring them to speak when they may have attended church simply to listen and worship.
“But you pastors, you insist that visitors must stand up and introduce themselves. Who tells you they want to speak? Who tells you they want the microphone?” he posed.
Sudi also claimed that women make up the majority of churchgoers, while many men are reluctant to attend church.
He urged church leaders to focus on making churches welcoming spaces where people can gradually become comfortable with attending services.
“I want to ask people to go to church. I have asked the leadership not to demand that you introduce yourselves,” Sudi said.
His remarks come amid broader calls for churches to find ways of attracting more people, particularly men and young people, by making worship services more welcoming and less intimidating to first-time visitors.
