Of course, there is no way you can compare your congregation with every effective church in the land. But there are some benchmarks that you can easily use to measure how well your congregation is doing. Here are some suggestions:

First, get the word out about the congregational mission. Even if yours is the kind of congregation that does not believe in evangelism, it is important that neighbors know what you do behind closed doors. There is no surer way to gain respect, tolerance and cooperation than to openly discuss mission with anyone interested.

But if your congregation belongs to a church body that claims to be evangelical, you have to be up front about inviting people into your church membership. You can't sit around talking joyfully about how friendly your congregation is on Sunday morning - it isn't. You can't stand in the narthex wringing your hands and complaining about the younger generation's determination to avoid all mainline religion - they don't.

Rather than blaming the kids or nurturing myths about your friendliness, congregations must mobilize, knock on doors, mail invitations to special events and present a happy face to the community.

Second, show an ecumenical spirit. There is absolutely no room for disrespect for other religions. There no longer are any foreign religions. A diversity of religion is now among us for good, and we have to learn enough about them to exist together as brothers and sisters.

Third, re-examine your worship experience. If there is one congregation still in existence that believes worship can be done the same way it was 40 years ago, I would be amazed. Worship is the heartbeat of a congregation, and when it isn't clicking, the rhythms of life get sluggish.

Contemporary and traditional music drives our souls. Interesting sermons help us learn and act. Crisp, well-articulated liturgy is life-giving. If worship doesn't move the audience, it may not be worship.

Fourth, reach out to those in need. Your community is filled with people who need help. Churches do not exist in a vacuum. If your congregation is not reaching beyond the church walls to help people, every member ought to be ashamed. Call it the Mother Teresa factor, but do it with a smile on your face.

Fifth, connect with young people. Children are in trouble these days, in part, because congregations have been stingy, fearful of the idealism of youth and too protective of the church building. We fear young people rather than show them our love and affirmation.

According to recent studies, the children who do best in life have four or five adults who are personal mentors, friends or guides. Some of those should come from your congregation, and if they don't, get organized and moving before it's too late.

Finally, consider that what was wrong with declining congregations in the 1980s and early 1990s was a shriveled mission. Those congregations experiencing a serious decline in membership very often need look no further than themselves for the solution. When there is no vision (mission), the people perish and so does the congregation.

The signs are all about us that this is a new epoch in the life of traditional churches. Forget the millennium and all the prophecy that great changes are going to happen in the 21st century. These changes started 30 years ago on the fringes of society and now cannot be stopped.

Where will you be as the new century dawns? Will you be joyfully riding the wave of change or fearfully hugging the past? You can't do both.

Clark D. Morphew
September 20, 1997