Churches Urged to Say Something Nice

By Audrey Barrick, Christian Post Reporter Sunday, June 03, 2007

Say something nice on Sunday. Why? Words are powerful, says one communications expert.

First Baptist Church Charleston and the Charleston Baptist Association in South Carolina have declared the first Sunday of June as "Say Something Nice Sunday." The main purpose is to urge Christians of all denominations to step back from the conflict and discourse that has gripped many churches and denominations today and to not utter not even a single word of criticism.

"In fact they are urged to go further and to say nice things about others and other religious groups," stated an announcement by Dr. Mitch Carnell, a communication expert.

The idea comes from Carnell's "Say Something Nice; Be a Lifter" booklet. In 2006, Mayor Keith Summey of North Charleston, S.C., issued a proclamation declaring June 1 of each year as "Say Something Nice Day." "Say Something Nice Sunday" is a natural extension of that and a response to the hostility within religious groups, according Carnell.

When Summey made his declaration in 2006, he noted human communication as the most important skill and further stressed the importance of treating each employee, each citizen, and each visitor with respect. Drawing attention to the costs of poor communication in businesses, he said 60 percent of workers never receive a compliment at work.

Summey had presented the proclamation last year to Carnell who accepted it and now encourages the same initiative in churches where dissension has become more prominent.

"Our national discourse has become so strident and even in religious circles the rhetoric is often far from Christ-like," according to First Baptist Church Charleston, which claims to be the oldest Baptist church in the South. "This special day is an opportunity to build the community of faith, strengthen relationship and heal old wounds."

One of the most public of church conflicts is the dissension within the Anglican Communion – a 77 million-member worldwide denomination that many believe is on the verge of a split. Controversy within the global body heightened when The Episcopal Church – the U.S. arm of Anglicanism – consecrated an openly gay bishop in 2003. Since then, several conservative splinter groups have formed in the United States and Anglican provinces in the global south have declared their relations with TEC as severely impaired.

Say Something Nice Sunday is an initiative to encourage people to recognize the power of saying a good word to others. While it is only a day, First Baptist Church hopes to see it extend.

"One day is one day, but perhaps we can stretch it to two days and then just maybe if we encourage one another and ask for God's help, we might change the world!"