>>Isn’t anyone else appalled by these ideas and easy use of the terms “marketing” and “promotion” when referring to church attendance?<<
Not me. I consider marketing to be like money. It is not a good or bad thing in itself. Depends on how it is being used. I believe all of life is sales. I suppose that all of life is marketing as well. The word has a very broad definition.
It would be quite easy to make the case that Jesus was marketing and promoting. Heck, I promote the idea of grace every chance I get.