McDonaldization of Starbucks and The Church Launching Endeavor
So it’s no mystery that I really like coffee. I don’t know everything about coffee roasting, coffee, and espresso (probably not even very much) but I enjoy it a lot. And I certainly don’t know everything about Starbucks but as someone who has spent his fair share of time in their stores over the last decade I do have a few observations.
First off, I know they’re corporate but I like their business model. It seems they do actually care about where they buy their product and about giving back to those communities. As I said above, I’m not an insider by any stretch, and I’m sure they’re not perfect but show me a “perfect” business and I’ll show you a bunch of liars.
Second, I like their stores. I like the atmosphere, I enjoy the familiar uniqueness from store to store - some are big, some are small, most arranged differently. In KC I have my favorites, but I enjoy the general vibe in each of the stores. And let’s just add the employees at this point too (they help make the atmosphere what it is). Even in the midst of crazy lines I’ve generally found them to be quite pleasant.
But there are some things that I do not like about Starbucks right now. And in general it’s what I would call the McDonaldization of Starbucks. And the big reason I don’t like this is because it seems to go against some of their core values.
First off, the attempt to become a “third place” is shot in the foot with the practice of pay-for-wifi and pay-for-refills. If I invite you over as a guest in my home and then make you pay for something that should be a gift, you’re not going to feel very welcome. “Oh, you want another glass of Coke? That’ll be $1.50.” I know the analogy doesn’t exactly work since Starbucks is a business and my home isn’t, but you get the point.
Wifi and refills (on coffee and soda) should be free. Those two drinks, for instance, cost nickels to begin with, they’ve already gouged us once, why do it again. This is why people like Dave Ramsay call it “FiveBucks.” And if you want us to stay, if you want us to see you as a third place, don’t charge for something that would keep us there for a while - wifi.
Second, I absolutely hate the fact that they have gone fully automatic. This, for certain, has to be the key culprit in the McDonaldization of Starbucks. The artistry is removed and it is now machine driven - it’s an assembly line. The machines are too tall, so you can’t even see the barista in most situations. And the product is much more poor, in my opinion (this probably has something to do with roasting procedures too).
I know these fully automatic atrocities won’t go away anytime soon; why would they when they’re able to open several thousand stores a year and profits continue to rise and they don’t really have to train someone to be a barista by using them. But, I have a wonderful compromise. I think they should keep some of their key stores in a city fully manual (technically semi-automatic, but you know what I mean). These could be unique stores, and it would be wonderful. Just my suggestion.
Okay, so what does this have to do with Church Launching? Everything really. In my estimation church planters (like myself) are wooed by the McDonaldization of Church Launching, if you will.
So many planters are caught up in the allure of church franchising as if everything about launching is turn-key. If that were the case I think we’d see a much higher success rate in plants. But it is seductive. I find moments where I think something like this, “if we just knew exactly how they did this and replicated it, we’d find success in this area too.” It doesn’t come out just like that, but basically that is what’s going on under the surface.
But maybe church launching is to look more like your local indie coffee shop - unique, quirky, local, and hopefully high quality. Don’t get me wrong, I think as committed Christ followers we must settle for nothing less than excellence. But maybe excellence doesn’t always come through big box, turn-key, church planting franchises.
Sure there are always going to be some common denominators between the indie launch and the turn-key launch. If you listen to pastors and church planters long enough, you really start to hear the similarities. It’s funny really. Much like the the pierced, tatooed, spiked hair punk teenager who wants to be an “individual,” planters start to look an awful lot alike. Sometimes this is despairing; I want to be unique, I want something fresh and new. But at the end of the day all of our hopes is to engage in the mission of God in world.
Just some random thoughts this morning.
What do you think?
May 22nd, 2007 at 1:17 pm
You’re a coffee lover, so perhaps you can help me understand this. Please note, I’m not trying to step on toes, just asking a question as I see it.
Why has the church not viewed coffee as a substance upon which many people are dependant and addicted?
Many churches have groups that help people recovering from drug, alcohol, and pornography addictions. In many ways, they’re helping people move past a dependence on X and helping them find their dependence in Christ. Yet, pretty much every church I go in has a nice big coffee bar that serves it up like a flowing fountain. In some places it even seems like its a main part of the “attraction”.
Perhaps I’m asking, what responsibility does church leadership have in helping its body move towards healthy, addiction-free lives, dependant upon Jesus alone?
We’re constantly seeing business’ (such as McDonalds), being called to hold themselves to a higher standard of health and nutrition. Where does this, or should this, happen in the church? Was it realized in the addition of bagels and cream cheese to the Sunday Morning assortment of donuts?
May 22nd, 2007 at 1:35 pm
That came out of right field….
Maybe it has something to do with the perceived dependency and addiction caused by various substances. For instance, one would be hard pressed to show that, even if addiction and dependency occurs with coffee, it is on par with alcohol or crack (or meth since we’ll be in Independence).
Of all the issues in our world maybe churches decide they have to pick and choose what to get caught up with, and maybe ridding the world of coffee addiction is low on the priority list. It’s low on mine. Seems there are far more important issues in our world than if someone drinks coffee.
Just my thoughts.
May 22nd, 2007 at 2:28 pm
You don’t want me around to just roam around in the dugout now do you???
It’s an easy out and a diversion to go with a line that there’s more important things in the world than people who are addicted to coffee. What person who has been given some minor traffic violation hasn’t thought the same way? Yeah, there are more important things in the world than an illegal lane change. However, we have standards of living(laws) in our local communities that we hire local policeman to enforce. To address the larger issues we elect government officials in higher offices.
Seems the same with the church. We have denominational organizations that are designed to address larger problems within the church and the world and we have congregational pastors to address the problems and needs within their local communities.
Ridding the world of coffee addiction is, like you, low on my radar. (And I probably should say caffeine rather than coffee.) However, helping my friends, family, church, and community live healthy lives is not. Casting the point away by suggesting there are more important things in the world than whether someone drinks coffee, is a diversion from the reality that we have health issues to deal with in our churches.
I know people love their coffee and understand that they don’t like it being associated with a health issue. Be that as it may, I’m still left wondering what role church leadership has in helping their body live healthy lives.
If the first was from right field, maybe this one is coming from the next field over… =)
May 22nd, 2007 at 2:40 pm
Enter the Slippery Slope concept. If we go after coffee addicts then soft drink addicts would have to be next. Then perhaps junk food in general. Next thing you know, all church social events and carry-in dinners would be cancelled until further notice. LOL
While there are good (and Biblical) reasons for us all to be responsible eaters and drinkers, not addicted to anything, I do see the differences in potential harm and devastation from some addictions compared to others. It seems like things such as expensive gourmet coffee, fattening or unhealthy foods, materialism, hours a day of TV watching or video game playing, professional sports team worship, etc. fall more in the category of stewardship issues. These are the pitfalls and distractions that most of us upstanding Christians deal with and they shouldn’t be ignored in the name of focusing on more “serious addictions”.
Sorry to hijack your original post which raises excellent concerns with church planting.
May 22nd, 2007 at 2:56 pm
Still seems to me there is a hierarchy of concern. I would argue that there are even more important things than a healthy lifestyle. It doesn’t seem to be a cop out to say such, it seems to follow the lead of the NT.
Not only that, but all this particular conversation has done is assume coffee is all bad. That’s actually not the case, although that’s not the point.
I might also suggest there is a fine line b/t addiction and enjoyment at some level. I enjoy Diet Pepsi, so if I have the choice to get a soda I get this one. Am I addicted? Maybe, maybe not.
Sure we have stewardship issues here, but there seem to be more important stewardship issues to address than others. If everything is of equal importance than nothing is important. That’s the bottom line for me.
For me the mission of Jesus in our world is primary. Good health is not an end, it’s a means. That doesn’t mean it’s unimportant, just that there are things more important.
Off to grab a cup of “gourmet” coffee and help send my soul into the outer darkness…
May 22nd, 2007 at 4:19 pm
I haven’t suggested health is the most important thing, an end, or of the highest concern. Though for me personally it is a HUGE concern and something I want to help address with LifeConnection.
Without question, the mission of Jesus in our world is primary and supporting health (whether locally or internationally) is only one means of seeing that happen in our world.
By the way, when did all this conversation assume coffee is bad? To the best of my knowledge, I have only suggested the dependance upon it and addiction to it is unhealthy and questioned the church’s responsibility in helping people overcome this. In addition, I clarified my position as being directed towards caffeine rather than coffee to help steer clear of this exact accusation. I do drink coffee on occasion.
One of the big words I keep thinking and saying as LifeConnection takes shape is intentionality. I think one of the ways we intentionally see the value of health sustained is by ensuring our leaders have healthy lifestyles. That’s one reason I have been so excited to see Jason’s post a couple days ago regarding health.
I think another way we do this is by offering a variety of food and drinks when they are provided. FBC Orlando and the National New Church Conference did a great job with this. I really felt like they made it a point of offer a wide selection of food and drinks and it really communited to me their intentionally in this area.
So here’s to you Mr. Coffee Drinking Man! You drink that coffee and drink it well. Just make sure you mix it up with a glass of prune juice tomorrow!
=)
May 23rd, 2007 at 10:50 am
Wow. Seems to me I agree with Jason that there is a hierarchy of importance to keep in mind. When “a wide selection of food and drinks” that are non-addictive become an important church goal to spend many blog words talking about, I think we have started to miss the point. I understand wanting to make people feel comfortable at church I guess, and the want to not promote but encourage to steer away from addictions, but in my mind there’s quite a difference between fighting an addiction to pornography which destroys your marriage and yourself and fighting an addiction to drinking too much coffee. We aren’t talking about something that so consumes your life that you are drinking it in secret and smuggling creamer into your den. But mostly it’s a matter of opinion I suppose on what’s the most important to you. If you feel coffee is a road to serious addiction then by all means don’t drink it, but keeping everyone else from it seems a bit excessive.
May 23rd, 2007 at 11:58 am
So, I think your original post is really great. I mean this is the reason many people are turned off by churches, right? “They’re all the same, they don’t meet my needs, I don’t feel like I belong, I can’t connect to anyone.” Why do they feel this way? Because the church is not thinking of the people around them, they’re thinking of the way all of the other churches are run. This is why I’m excited about LifeConnection. It seems we will be stepping out of the box, remaining flexible to those around us.
May 23rd, 2007 at 12:25 pm
Matt - why do you keep saying coffee is bad? LOL
Kass - great thoughts. You should have spoken at the National New Church Conference b/c you hit on something that Ed Stetzer addressed, we must launch churches that fit the community. Not just what we want it to look like, etc. That’s a great reminder.