Struggling Congregations
While big congregations getting bigger may seem to get the lion's share of media and denominational attention what can we say about smaller congregations getting smaller and even dying?
First, the notion that everything has a lifespan. Everything here on earth eventually dies. This includes churches. Is this to say that this pleases the Lord. Probably not, because I believe the Lord did say at somepoint that he would build His church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it. Yet, some churches do die because they 1) are in a small town and the major employer in town pulls out, 2) contain people in them that are too ingrown and inbred to reach out, give up their personal power structure and give life to the church. I think that a church may die 3) because they live in the shadow of a megachurch and "can't compete, or 4) the pastor fails morally and that sends folks packing, or 5) the Message declared is not a message of hope, power and love to a needy people, 6) folks are not investing themselves in a younger generation ("we don't want red juice on our carpets!) and on and on...modernity vs. post-modernity paradigm shifts...yada, yada, yada.
So, what's the solution? A church should never adopt a "give up" mentality if at all possible. Maybe a company pulls out of town? Well, that's a toughy, but all things being equal some churches die by self-inflicted wounds! What!? That's right. Folks are not lovin' eachother and so who wants to be a part of that? This is a tough one too! Oh yeah, I was on the solution track.
Well, it seems some solution can be found in leadership - the pastor. Some of the solution is found in imagination and creativity to try new ways of declaring and sharing God's love..."but we've never done it that way before." I know. Some death prevention comes as folks rethink methodolgy in education, worship and community.
Final thought. Maybe a church is small in size but very alive! Maybe a church is large in numbers and very dead. Congregational size does not always mean a church should die, especially when many congregations who seem alive and well are very much dead. Chew on that for a while.
While big congregations getting bigger may seem to get the lion's share of media and denominational attention what can we say about smaller congregations getting smaller and even dying?
First, the notion that everything has a lifespan. Everything here on earth eventually dies. This includes churches. Is this to say that this pleases the Lord. Probably not, because I believe the Lord did say at somepoint that he would build His church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it. Yet, some churches do die because they 1) are in a small town and the major employer in town pulls out, 2) contain people in them that are too ingrown and inbred to reach out, give up their personal power structure and give life to the church. I think that a church may die 3) because they live in the shadow of a megachurch and "can't compete, or 4) the pastor fails morally and that sends folks packing, or 5) the Message declared is not a message of hope, power and love to a needy people, 6) folks are not investing themselves in a younger generation ("we don't want red juice on our carpets!) and on and on...modernity vs. post-modernity paradigm shifts...yada, yada, yada.
So, what's the solution? A church should never adopt a "give up" mentality if at all possible. Maybe a company pulls out of town? Well, that's a toughy, but all things being equal some churches die by self-inflicted wounds! What!? That's right. Folks are not lovin' eachother and so who wants to be a part of that? This is a tough one too! Oh yeah, I was on the solution track.
Well, it seems some solution can be found in leadership - the pastor. Some of the solution is found in imagination and creativity to try new ways of declaring and sharing God's love..."but we've never done it that way before." I know. Some death prevention comes as folks rethink methodolgy in education, worship and community.
Final thought. Maybe a church is small in size but very alive! Maybe a church is large in numbers and very dead. Congregational size does not always mean a church should die, especially when many congregations who seem alive and well are very much dead. Chew on that for a while.
posted by zimmerzblogz at
12:48 PM
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