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If you had asked me in seminary what I envisioned my first call would be like 5 years in, I
certainly would have hoped for growth! And while we can’t measure spiritual growth by
numbers I’m sure I’m not the only one who has noticed there are less people in the
pews/chairs this year. Last week I came across a well written article by Raymond
Roberts in the November 23rd edition of The Presbyterian Outlook, which considers why
we aren’t growing as churches and as a denomination.
He says, “Last year (our denomination) posted its biggest loss to date 70,000 members.”
Some blame us for being too liberal; changing demographics (Presbyterians have fewer
children then other denominations) and that our church buildings remain fixed in areas of
a town that are not growing; while others say we aren’t keeping up with technology
changes in worship however regardless of the “given answers” he sees something even
deeper as the determining factor, Roberts says, “This past year beyond the 34,000 who
died and the 34,000 who left, we removed 104,428 people from our congregational
rolls…most of whom did NOT join another church. They became inactive. They left
because they didn’t find the reasons to stay compelling (enough).” Re-read that
sentence and think about it for a minute.
Are we a compelling group of believers? Is our faith vital? It saddens me when people
stop coming to church…but even so I expect those who “get out of the habit” are still
able to have spiritual discussions, it’s time to encourage such reflections. Many have
had or will have friends and family that have dealt with cancer. It is an awful disease and
if left untreated can spread rapidly and end the life of seemingly strong people in no
time. The growing number of inactive members in our denomination-and this church-is
just that; a spiritual cancer. If left alone it will grow and eventually be the determining
factor in closing the doors to many churches, including our own!
For whatever reason(s), people have stopped coming and all the while they are
influencing future generations. Roberts says, “The sad fact is that many parents do not
value their own Christian experience enough to demand it for their children. Spiritual
vitality is the mainspring of Christian faith. It moves people to want to know and worship
the living God…Loss in spiritual vitality corrodes almost every area of our church’s
life…It undercuts the sense that we are united in a common purpose…it is a source of
clergy burnout…the reason our denomination has cut mission workers and diminished
our public social witness. It’s why we aren’t doing a better job passing the faith onto our
children…we have lost the sense that something crucial is at stake.”
Hear me clearly members and friends of F.P.C. something crucial is at stake. It is the
faith of many people; whether past, present or future! If we don’t take time to invest in
the ones who are among us-whether active or inactive-then it will only be a matter of
time before our own church becomes a statistic. I realize numbers aren’t the only
determining factor in measuring the health of a congregation but it doesn’t help our
cause if multiple people and families take weeks and months off at a time. Lest we be
confused spiritual vitality = making right commitments; including coming to church!
Advent is a time to prepare for the coming of Christ, thus it is my prayer that those
among us who are active would sincerely encourage those who have become inactive
and further that we would all re-connect to the church, the Lord and deepen our spiritual
vitality!
See you Sunday,
Pastor Nathan
certainly would have hoped for growth! And while we can’t measure spiritual growth by
numbers I’m sure I’m not the only one who has noticed there are less people in the
pews/chairs this year. Last week I came across a well written article by Raymond
Roberts in the November 23rd edition of The Presbyterian Outlook, which considers why
we aren’t growing as churches and as a denomination.
He says, “Last year (our denomination) posted its biggest loss to date 70,000 members.”
Some blame us for being too liberal; changing demographics (Presbyterians have fewer
children then other denominations) and that our church buildings remain fixed in areas of
a town that are not growing; while others say we aren’t keeping up with technology
changes in worship however regardless of the “given answers” he sees something even
deeper as the determining factor, Roberts says, “This past year beyond the 34,000 who
died and the 34,000 who left, we removed 104,428 people from our congregational
rolls…most of whom did NOT join another church. They became inactive. They left
because they didn’t find the reasons to stay compelling (enough).” Re-read that
sentence and think about it for a minute.
Are we a compelling group of believers? Is our faith vital? It saddens me when people
stop coming to church…but even so I expect those who “get out of the habit” are still
able to have spiritual discussions, it’s time to encourage such reflections. Many have
had or will have friends and family that have dealt with cancer. It is an awful disease and
if left untreated can spread rapidly and end the life of seemingly strong people in no
time. The growing number of inactive members in our denomination-and this church-is
just that; a spiritual cancer. If left alone it will grow and eventually be the determining
factor in closing the doors to many churches, including our own!
For whatever reason(s), people have stopped coming and all the while they are
influencing future generations. Roberts says, “The sad fact is that many parents do not
value their own Christian experience enough to demand it for their children. Spiritual
vitality is the mainspring of Christian faith. It moves people to want to know and worship
the living God…Loss in spiritual vitality corrodes almost every area of our church’s
life…It undercuts the sense that we are united in a common purpose…it is a source of
clergy burnout…the reason our denomination has cut mission workers and diminished
our public social witness. It’s why we aren’t doing a better job passing the faith onto our
children…we have lost the sense that something crucial is at stake.”
Hear me clearly members and friends of F.P.C. something crucial is at stake. It is the
faith of many people; whether past, present or future! If we don’t take time to invest in
the ones who are among us-whether active or inactive-then it will only be a matter of
time before our own church becomes a statistic. I realize numbers aren’t the only
determining factor in measuring the health of a congregation but it doesn’t help our
cause if multiple people and families take weeks and months off at a time. Lest we be
confused spiritual vitality = making right commitments; including coming to church!
Advent is a time to prepare for the coming of Christ, thus it is my prayer that those
among us who are active would sincerely encourage those who have become inactive
and further that we would all re-connect to the church, the Lord and deepen our spiritual
vitality!
See you Sunday,
Pastor Nathan
Why Aren't We Growing