Dating and the Church: How Should the Church Treat Singles?
It’s Sunday afternoon at your church, and everyone has gathered for a potluck. All the food offerings at the event are laid out properly, from deviled eggs to three types of mac and cheese, from cookies still in their plastic containers from the store to fresh famous banana pudding from your most tenured potluck contributor. As you turn to sit down, you see a single adult at their table for one in the corner.
You immediately forgo your typical lunch table, sit with this single adult, and start to make small talk about life, work, and any fun trips ahead. Then, you make your pastoral transition to the actual topic at hand. “You’re too nice to be single, so why haven’t you found someone? Have you tried online dating? I know several happy couples who met on an app and are still married today.”
Your heart is genuine and wants happiness for your parishioner. But their face gazes back at you as if you said something wrong. But what was it?
