In Search of the Unchurched Part II

IN SEARCH OF THE UNCHURCHED

Chapter 3 The Source of Solutions: Congregations

Key findings from the Church Membership Initiative Study –

1. This is a Congregational issue.

2. Congregations that want to grow might grow.

3. Congregations that do not want to grow will not grow.

4. There are two different kinds of outreach
- Presence outreach
- Great Commission outreach

5. Size is not the issue.

6. Growth is not the issue
Congregations become larger by focusing on people, not on growth. Growth is a side effect.

7. The key is the attitude of congregational leaders and members.
When congregational leaders and members focus on themselves, the congregation has decided to die.

How do you react to these general conclusions? Do you find them to be too simplistic? How do they apply to us?


Chapter 4 Ministry to Members Only

Congregational attitude is the critical difference.

Closed congregations are very poor at welcoming newcomers.
How well have you been welcomed when you have visited another congregation? What was helpful/unhelpful?

Identifying Unhelpful Attitudes.

1. “Adding a second service will destroy our congregation”
- but not doing so will limit growth to the size of the sanctuary.

2. “Adding members will damage the relationship between the pastor and the people.”
- but must the size of the church be limited by the number of relationships the pastor can manage?

3. “Anyone is welcome to join us (as long as they are willing to become like us).”
- which means that we are not willing to consider the preferences of those who are not (yet) members.


4. “Our community is declining, so why expect growth?”
- usually an excuse given by those who are internally-focused. There are still a lot of unchurched people out there.

5. “We are interested in spiritual growth, not numerical growth.”
- the two are not mutually exclusive; a growing congregation need not compromise theology.

6. “We are a friendly congregation!”
- But to whom?
- Example of retired pastor ignored in churches he visits.
- Many churches are effectively closed to strangers.

Are we effectively closed to strangers?
How well do we welcome those we do not know?




Examining Entry Points

Declining churches usually have very few entry points into the life of the congregation, often, only the worship service. Is this enough?

Examine a typical calendar. There will be three main types of events.
a. Events and activities for members.
b. Events supporting congregational structure
c. Events intended to attract those who are not already members.

How many type ‘c’ events do we have in a typical month?
How can we encourage more?

Characteristics of Declining Congregations

1. Members have a ‘poor me’ attitude about their congregation.
- Low self-esteem.
- Concentration on financial problems.
- Board meetings focus on problems and complaints.
- Very little cooperation on shared goals.
- Planning meetings focus on listing problems.


2. Members are not aware of their congregation’s strengths.
- What are our strengths?


3. Members are not involved in their congregation’s neighborhood.
- Negative attitudes to the neighborhood: apprehension, fear.
- Development of ‘island’ congregations.
- Resignation to continued decline.
- Are we in danger of becoming an ‘island’ congregation?


4. The congregation is served by a few, long-term lay leaders.
- Burn out is common.
- Few young people take leadership roles.
- Negative reactions to new ideas.
- Concentration on existing activities reduces the pool of potential leaders.
- How many new activities have we begun in the last year?

5. The congregation’s community is declining.
- Economic and social decline.
- Typical responses: a feeling of helplessness in the face of community decline, together with the use of outdated strategies; envy of other congregations that are overcoming community decline.
- What can we learn from growing congregations?
- How could we go about learning?


6. The congregation sets up invisible barriers.
- Barriers are visible to outsiders, but invisible to current members.
- ShipofFools.com (Mystery Worshipper)
- What are our invisible barriers?
- How could we identify them?
- What can be done about them?


7. Members see themselves as family.
- How do people get to be members of a family? Birth/marriage/rarely, by adoption.
- Families are often closed systems. Difficult to enter.
- Without an external source of new blood, families eventually disappear.
- What is healthy about being a family church?
- What is unhealthy about being a family church?