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Today, Thom and Mark answer questions from podcast listeners specifically dealing with churches struggling to make needed changes. The real question is, “Is my church too far gone?”
From Ed:
I have been filling in for a month at a church that has dwindled to 25 active members and they are asking me to stay on as pastor. My early impression is that this church may be too far gone. We are facing some financial strain soon due to deferred maintenance on our building. It feels like I’m just here to help them die with dignity. What are some signs that I have arrived too late?
From Ken:
In my church when I say “we are trying something new,” it’s often heard as “you were doing things all wrong.” How can I better communicate the need for doing new things in the church without the potential uproar or people getting their feelings hurt?
Resources mentioned in today’s podcast:
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Revitalize & Replant is sponsored by the North American Mission Board and ChurchReplanters.com. More than 10% of churches in North America are at risk of closing and the North American Mission Board is committed to reversing this trend by decreasing the death rate of existing churches while simultaneously increasing the birth rate of new churches. To learn more about what it means to become a replanting pastor or to explore resources for replanting and revitalization in your own church, visit ChurchReplanters.com.Submit Your Question:
Do you have a question about church revitalization or replanting for us to use on the podcast? Visit the podcast page to submit your question. If we use it on the show, you’ll get a copy of Autopsy of a Deceased Church and Reclaiming Glory.
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Definitely on board with what you’re saying – serving a church that is now making the difficult decisions about the next chapter of our ministry. What was once a vibrant 1000 member congregation has 100 members when I was called there. The people still have a heart for reaching out, but they are tired and stretched thin – so our conversations about “where is God leading us to” and “what will God do in this space next” have been a great way to frame the reality of having to leave the building they have met in for the last 50 years.
Thanks, Eric.
I think you also need not only look at the last ten years, but to look at where the church is now. Are they truly aware of their situation? Do they have the heart for God to do whatever it takes, even if it means giving up a location and a historic building that has been their home for over 100 plus years? Our church is in the process of replanting and relocating. A church that is 115 years old, has met in the same historic building for 100 years, has dwindled from 300 plus in attendance to 40 in attendance over the past 35 or so years, and has found itself on the precipice with a heavy financial strain due to it building, is in the process of selling, relocating and replanting in hopes of becoming a vital part of the kingdom of God. They made this commitment because they were aware of their situation, had a heart for God and a strong desire to God’s church and reach people for Christ.
Please pray for us as we take this next step in our life over the next couple of weeks. We plan to be in our new location and relaunch after the first of the year.
I am praying now, David.
I like Mark’s answer to Ken. In my church, the saints are not resistant to change because they are difficult. They have been laboring for over 30 years. They are tired. They want stability. But they are not the enemy! I see my challenge being yhow to do my mission of revitalizing the church without causing the older saints too much turmoil. It is a bit of a tightrope to walk on, but it is the best way I see to provide ministry to everyone.
One way I’ve found to create less resistance to change in our church is to start small and not make any change set in stone. We started with the attitude “let’s do something for 6 weeks and evaluate how it worked in our context/worship/governance. If it is works well or mostly well, we’ll keep it; if it’s okay we’ll tweak it; if it doesn’t sit right we’ll file it away (until we try it again in a couple years).”
We started with trivial things, singing Psalms vs. reciting them, and a couple items in liturgy (not all at the same time). We kept the things that worked well and we let go the things that didn’t. By showing I wasn’t dictating change but inviting new perspective the climate changed.
One other example, we wanted to keep track of what is called “in-kind donations” – things that people give to support operations that they don’t get reimbursed for. We said that was important for our long-term health and now, almost 7 years later, we are starting to get more consistent reporting of in-kind donations. There was reluctance early on “we want to keep doing things the way they’ve always been done” but as soe of the guard has changed there was a realization that an impactful amount of money was being donated (1-3% of total operating expenses). The point is: it took 7 years of selling to make the change.
I agree with Les. I’m a Baptist, so we don’t do much liturgy, but the Sunday School program at my church has been stagnant for some time. I’ve tried a few things to get us out of the rut, but they haven’t worked, so now I’m going to recommend some restructuring. Like Les said, it’s not going to be anything too traumatic for our older members, but hopefully it will be enough to shake up the status quo.
The church is a business, God’s business. Like any business it takes funds to grow and willingness to reach out. Most of all it requires a lot of prayer and commitment. When will Christians realize god is in charge but He relies on us to be His instrument.
I just listened to your speech. I am 75 and a ordained United Methodist Pastor. I am in a small church that will celebrate 150 years of ministry. I use to work for the Baptist and So I am a mix of theology. Most of all I love Jesus and want the church to grow. Phoebus church did not have a parking lot for 150 years and God just worked a miracle so we now own the grass we parked on for 150 years. I believe God wants us where we are. Maybe someday in the future a new church will be built on the property we own. Right now I believe God wants us to be in the building we are in. We have a new ministry to and from a Assisted living community and we have taken in 14 new members from the last year. We do not have many young people but a few. I am looking for ideas to revitalize what and where we are now. Financially we are in pretty good shape. My people are hard workers, love Jesus, we all can love the Jesus who never changes like you said in podcast. What do you suggest. I have read most of Tom Rainer’s books. I believe there are many churches like mine and everyone talks about revitalization but most often it is about church planting. I also own and run and indoor skate park. BMX bikes, scooters, skate boards. WE have 75 too 100 who attend skate church every day. thank you for any suggestions.
I am a former skater, until I broke about 6 bones about 12 years ago and my wife made me stop. I love the idea of skate church. I wish I could be involved in something like that. What a wonderful ministry. Keep it up.
GOD is not in the business of closing down churches, the Body of Christ and one of the ways the Kingdom of GOD can be proclaimed and demonstrated in the world.
When our denomination wanted to close down the church I attend and merge with another church of the same denomination a few miles away by the grace of GOD ( as the only elder that wished the church to continue ) I managed to rally the small congregation and we were given 1 years’ grace.
We have seen since numerical, spiritual & financial growth in a shared ministry with another congregation sharing a full time minister that like us could not afford, nor warrant a full time minister.
The minister preaches at 08:30 at our congregation and then at 10:00 at the other congregation and this arrangement is working fine.
I took and still do take great encouragement from David Watson’s fantastic book “I believe in the Church”
Everything that follows is a direct quote from this book
“When I moved to York in 1965 I went to one of 12 potentially redundant churches in the city. The congregation had been reduced to a loyal bit tiny handful, the total offerings was 2 pounds per week, and the outlook was bleak.
On my first official day in the parish I had to escort the Redundant Churches Use Committee around the building as they were considering alternative uses of the property when it was finally closed down as a place of worship.
We had been given one year’s grace.
The Chairman of the Committee took to me to one side.” Do you honestly think this church has any future?” he asked.
I replied in what may have seemed a pious comment by a young and still enthusiastic
clergyman:
I believe that if anyone
really preaches the simple Gospel of Christ
trusts in the power of prayer,
and opens his life to the renewal of the Spirit,
this church will be full in time.”
By the grace of GOD those words became true.
There is one prior necessity which must precede both evangelism and social justice and that is the RENEWAL of the church.
Both the proclamation and demonstration of the good news of Jesus Christ must be done not just by the individual , but by the church.
The church that preaches the gospel must embody the gospel.
The good news must be seen in our corporate relationships, worship , joy and life.
It is the church which seeks first the Kingdom of GOD that will experience this constant , fresh effusion of the Spirit’s power.
It will also be the church that is free:
Free to serve GOD and the people of GOD
Fee to serve the world in terms that are relevant for each generation
Free to move at the leading of the Spirit
Free to explore fresh presentations of the unchanging message of the gospel
Fee to live and love , knowing that GOD’s kingdom will come and that nothing can stop it.
A church that forgets this will be unwilling or unable to move.
It will cling to its forms of worship and patterns of service , its organisations and traditions , as though these were the ultimate end or aim of the church
Such inflexibility will breed stagnation and sterility.
The church that will not listen to voice of GOD or will not respond to the promptings of the Spirit ( who is ever the Spirit of movement)will be quite unable to speak with relevance or power to the rapidly changing world in which we live.