A Lesson from McDonalds
The following is a quote from the book, The Disciple-Making Church: From Dry Bones to Spiritual Vitality by Glenn McDonald:

What would happen if McDonald’s ran its franchises like the average local church? A skilful but frazzled manager would be seen throughout the day taking orders, making change, salting the French fries, and assembling Big Macs- all while six other employees behind the counter stood off to one side, applauding politely and gushing, “I’m so impressed with the way you spread the special sauce. I could never do that. And the deft way you put those ketchup packets in the bag. You’ve had training. You’ve been to hamburger seminary.”

McDonald’s wisely made a different management decision…[They] chose to entrust [their] future to the success of recruiting, training, coaching , and releasing ordinary people to carry out its most essential task: serving customers in such a way that they will want to return to McDonald’s next week. In contrast, few congregations have concluded that their own members are worthy of such trust or are equal to the task of being the prime transmitters of God’s good news.

I would add that most members wouldn't even want the task. Sad, but true.

But this is not about making the church another "franchise" operation like McDonalds or even adopting their management style. It is rather a challenge to look beneath those at the general approach. The church needs to have something - or more importantly be something - that attracts people. In the 12 Traditions of the 12-Step groups they use the phrase- attraction rather than promotion. That may be our biggest downfall in the church. We seek to promote in order to attract. And the ones who do the attraction need to be those of us in the pews.