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.