In Search of the Unchurched Summary

IN SEARCH OF THE UNCHURCHED - SUMMARY

Two Theses
The most important factor in declining membership is the change from a churched to an unchurched society.
The best hope for dealing with a changed society lies in the individual congregation.


Transitions/Changes Discerned
1. We have shifted from a churched to an unchurched society.
2. People participate in congregations for different reasons.
3. People have less loyalty to denominations.
4. Congregations have different purposes.
5. The mission field has moved.
6. Different people do the mission work.
7. Different denominational communication systems are developing.
8. Congregations focus beyond current membership.
9. Congregations defend faith by proclaiming faith.
10. Unchurched people have faith.
11. Joining a congregation is a six-step process.
12. Worship attendance, and the number of people served, not membership, tells the story.
13. Congregations create multiple points of entry.
14. Congregations organize around mission, not maintenance.
15. Congregations view so-called mistakes as opportunities to learn.
16. Congregations make maximum use of ‘the priesthood of all believers.’
17. Congregations are unique.
18. Congregations look beyond denominations, and especially to other congregations, for materials.
19. Regional denominational offices relate differently to congregations.
20. National denominational offices relate differently to congregations.
21. Uniformity is being replaced by choices and paradoxes.
22. Control is being replaced by trust.


Conclusions
1. There are problems in organized religion. Data about membership growth and retention, Great Commission outreach, and other key factors are discouraging for most mainline denominations.
2. The change from a churched to an unchurched society has had profound effects on organized religion.
3. The changed relationship between church and society and the resulting problems in the church are rooted in sociology, psychology, anthropology, and demographics. Unfortunately, organized religion has not had much success in influencing the root sources of church problems. The fact that denominations have concentrated so much energy on the larger society led to Peter Drucker’s insightful observation about the church at large, “Their mission becomes subordinate to social causes. Any organization that forgets its mission dies.”
4. We can only deal with the aspects of our problems that are under our control.
5. Congregations are the key. Denominations are no stronger than the collective strength of their individual congregations.
6. A few congregations (perhaps 20%) are becoming stronger places of ministry and mission. Most congregations (perhaps 80%) are experiencing stable or weakening ministry and mission.
7. Growth and size are not the issue.
8. the primary characteristic that distinguishes growing congregations from stable or declining congregations lies in what they see as their primary ministry.
9. Most congregations (perhaps 80%) define themselves in terms of their current members. These congregations achieve virtually no Great Commission outreach. Most of these congregations are slowly dying.
10. Some congregations (perhaps 20%) see themselves in mission to people beyond their current membership. While continuing to do excellent ministry with current members, these congregations focus on Great Commission outreach. They are experiencing growth in ministry and mission.
11. How congregations view themselves and their behavior is not affected by top-down management systems. Congregations in this unchurched society are helped one at a time.
12. Solutions lie within individual, motivated congregations taken one at a time.

Alan C. Klaas ‘In Search of the Unchurched’ Alban Institute, New York 1996.