WHAT TO DO WHEN THE CONTEMPORARY SERVICE LIMPS ALONG WITH 20 PEOPLE IN THE FELLOWSHIP HALL

 

Over the past few years, many alternative worship services went from being the largest on campus to a struggling remnant.  The collapse of ‘contemporary worship’ may be one of the most remarkable trends in mainline churches of the past decade.  The bands have aged, the young folks got distracted (and in many cases post-Covid, they went missing altogether).  Sometimes, those who lead and serve outnumber all the other worshipers combined.  It is really remarkable, when I recall how adding such a service was my most common recommendation in church consultations before 2005.  In some cases, this choice stopped attendance decline and reduced median age on campus for several years.

CONVERGENCE BEGINS WITH THE HEART

“You do what you do.  And I will do what I do.  And we will be alright together.”

THE FUTURE OF DENOMINATIONS

Denominational Christianity is aging out before our eyes.  Most of the existing congregations are late life cycle. In the near term, it is impossible to replace the saints who populate these churches, and who are steadily moving en masse to Heaven.  They are simply dying faster than we can recruit, convert, and disciple new people.  Total numbers and total dollars are now set to decline steadily for most groups, even as some of them ramp up the planting of new congregations.

WHEN THE BELLS TOLL “YOU ARE MY SUNSHINE”

 

I just finished a late summer weekend in The Netherlands. The church bells largely chime pop songs rather than religious music.  Think: “What a Wonderful World” and “You are My Sunshine.” We ran across one church in Amsterdam with a decent crowd (Roman Catholic and possibly majority non-native).  Most church buildings were closed tight as a drum or repurposed.

WELCOME TO CANADA

This week I finished final edits of a second edition of my best-selling 2006 book, I Refuse to Lead a Dying Church.  My publisher is enthusiastic about this project and seems to be fast-tracking the new edition into print by year-end.  What a journey of discovery!  To re-inhabit a manuscript that reflects a world 17 years departed, when mainline churches still had a bit of self-confidence that with reasonable intentionality and fresh strategies, they could adjust to the new century.  As I wrote the first edition of the book, I was four years removed from having planted and pastored a large suburban congregation, where we made some excellent ministry decisions, and really designed things for the neighborhood, rather than the membership.  And it had worked!  In my church consulting 2002-2006, I typically recommended adding a new worship gathering with a more informal and contemporary vibe to complement the traditional gathering.  In most cases, this change helped to grow the congregations, especially with younger families.  The profound exodus of Americans from organized religion was just ramping up in those days.  The old denominations had seen an exodus, but innovative churches were still growing, as they picked up many who were looking for something fresher and more culturally relevant to them.

WHO IS YOUR CHURCH REALLY DESIGNED FOR?

 

As we navigate the strange ministry terrain of the post-pandemic era - with so many churches having collapsed, a lot of blaming is going on.  By blaming, I mean that church leaders are seeking to understand why their churches are dying.  The popular culprits: loss of faith within the culture, hedonism, the bad rap that evangelicals are giving to all organized religion, human busyness, changed weekend habits from the 2020-22 experience, selfish church members who will not make changes to welcome new people.  On and on the excuses go.  Each of these items bears a bit of truth.

THE END OF REVITALIZATION

Ten years ago, as social conditions became less responsive to organized religion, church planting became harder than it used to be.  The number of failed church plants soared in most denominations.  Millions of dollars invested went nowhere as the new churches failed to take root.  Many judicatories decided to give up on planting and put all their eggs in the revitalization basket: seeking to stabilize the churches they had.  This worried me then, because every church has a life cycle.  As churches age, few are able to turn back time.  But revitalization became the rage - all sorts of programs were offered to help local churches get a grip, and a facelift - I have been a major player in the church revitalization industry - even as I continued to coach new church starts.

WHY ARE CHURCHES FAILING TO FOLLOW UP ON WORSHIP GUESTS?

In church after church where I work, I discover there is no system (or too little system) for getting to know worshipers and following up with them after they visit a worship service or other church gathering.  We have known for many decades that visitor follow-up is a foundational best practice for growing and renewing a church - and yet, most pastors are just not getting around to it.  It is baffling.  Follow up is more than a pastoral responsibility - but if just the pastors would take seriously the people who wanted in the doors on Sunday - it might be revolutionary.

THE CHANGING FACE OF CHURCH PLANTING

 

Around the turn of this century, most American church planters were men.  This is probably still true in terms of all church plants, since these projects are disproportionately sponsored by evangelical groups.  But in the mainline denominations, the planters are diversifying.  I asked a colleague who resources planters in the Anglican Church in the UK, “What are some common traits which come to mind as you think about the really gifted church planters you work with?”  He thought for a minute, and the first response, “They’re mostly women.”

THE DISRUPTION IS JUST WARMING UP

One thing that liberals and conservatives, Americans and Pakistanis, privileged and marginalized folks can all agree upon: we are dealing with unprecedented disruptions in the world.

PROCLAIMING JUBILEE AND MAKING GRANDMA BLUSH

In my routine re-reading of Scripture, I recently came across the passage where Jesus states his core mission in terms of proclaiming release to the captives.  We have all studied the text.  It dawned on me that this looks different by context.  The spiritual liberation of people who are living under grave political injustice is going to be different from the liberation of people who are addicted to their own social privilege.

WHAT TO DO AFTER A CHURCH COLLAPSE?

Quite a few churches are dealing with a double-whammy of a church split (over something), followed by the Covid crisis – with the pandemic hitting the church while it was in a greatly weakened and disoriented state.  The split may have been over theology, politics, worship – the list is endless – but typically we hear that a significant exodus occurred, often taking the few younger members with it.