Systemic distortion

A Somali
community meets every week to worship together. It’s a vibrant body, with over
three hundred members in attendance. Yet, the denomination has not recognized
them as a “church.”

Why not? They don't have enough members. The people who attend worship do not have the same notions of membership that
the prevailing American denomination has. A person might absolutely consider him or herself a member
of the congregation, but would be reluctant to give up membership in a former
congregation. The worshipers find it odd that they would have to stand up in
front of the congregation, profess their faith, and have their names written in
a book in order to become members. To them, worshiping together makes them
members together. The dominant denominational culture has different ideas.