Revitalizing churches
takes risk
I can think of one 5-mile urban radius where there are only two congregations that could seriously claim to be growing and creating any kind of excitement in their neighborhoods. One is Jewish; the other, Christian.
All the other congregations (all of them Christian) in that area seem either stagnant or in the process of dying. Probably none of these congregations will change enough to eventually prosper because they simply dont sincerely care if their ministry will be there far in the future.
Longtime members of these congregations do want their ministry to be intact when they die. They want to be buried from the building that has required so much sacrifice and devotion from them over the years. Members believe a decent burial is their God-given right, and they will continue to keep the church in usable shape until they breathe their last.
But it is very difficult to see into the future with any kind of clarity when you are within five or 10 years of meeting the Grim Reaper. What those senior members want is a congregation offering a peaceful that is, traditional worship experience, an atmosphere of hope and good will, a pastor who cares about the parishioners, and some assurance that things will not change drastically in the near future. And they are convinced that the congregation will still be there in the future, if only the pastor and members do their jobs.
But that is not always true. Congregations are dying all over the place. Church buildings, which often have limited alternate uses, are being sold for a song. Parish pastors are begging their people to take hold of a mission, any mission, and get the congregation rolling back to health.
So, if your congregation is withering on the vine, here are some possible ways to bring some life and mission to the entire vineyard:
First, your location may be the biggest problem you face.
At times, too many churches were built to serve a small neighborhood. In such cases, denominational officials hoped the congregation would serve 500 to 1,000 people, stop growing at some point and then be replenished by new members who would revive the church through the generations.
But the truth is, some of those neighborhoods are changing, and the new owners or renters are not that interested in becoming the catalyst for a congregation on the mend. Rather, they are looking for a church that has everything: great preaching and worship, endless programs geared for the family and any number of helpful programs for the seeking adult.
In addition, if your congregation is hidden in an established neighborhood, the church leaders must take a long look at relocating. Some church observers believe that 75 percent of all churches in the United States should relocate. That may be a bit excessive, but most people would recognize that a high number should consider moving. But if that happened, the inner city would be nearly void of religious influence, and the first-ring suburbs would be begging for congregations to stay.
The truth is, many congregations cannot afford to relocate. They may be able to build a bell tower that would make their congregation more visible. Or they may be able to expand the building to make new programming a possibility, thus making the ministry more important to the community.
Secondly, the congregation has a problem with debt.
No, the debt is probably not too high. It is, more than likely, too low. Very often, stagnant congregations dont have any debt. There is no wolf at the door, no threat to future existence. With no debt, the entire congregation can sit back and rest on its accomplishments.
So, a new debt at church creates a huge problem because most parishioners have spent their lives getting out of debt. Their homes no longer belong to the bank. The car is paid off. The small improvements to their home made just before retirement are now a thing of the past. They are finally debt-free. Why should they now vote to create a debt at church?
Of course, they will resist incurring debt at church with every fiber of their beings. These senior members are not frivolous people. They have made their way by being smart buyers and frugal spenders. You will not easily convince them that expansion is the answer for the future.
The third possible solution is to shock the community with an event that will draw people from the region in anticipation of a new experience.
If you really want to create interest, make the new experience a drawing for a new automobile. Of course, every member will have to hit the bricks and sell tickets door to door. At the event, have some ice cream cones to sell and some items that were made by members of the congregation.
Heres the secret. In rejuvenating a congregation, there are no failures. Every attempt is merely an experiment. If it works, wrap it up and use it next year. If it doesnt fly, move on to the next possible solution. Who knows, at some point the secret elixir for effective ministry may be discovered.
Clark D. Morphew
10-17-98
