Losing Members?

[gtmyers]

Does anyone else notice this?

In my town (perhaps yours also) the Methodist, Lutheran, and Presbyterian congregations are losing members. Churches are shrinking. In one extreme case there is a large church building here in town but there are only a few active members. Whats happening?

The only ones that seem to be growing are the Southern Baptists and the non-denominational ones. Wonder why?

What are your insights?

 

[TCat]

I don't know about other churches but the LCMS I currently attend continues to grow. I don't know the actual numbers for the traditional services but the contemporary services both worship 300-400+ each on Sunday morning and I think we worship 1200-1500 total through out the week, less in the summer but we'll have 4000 in worship services during Holy week and the holidays.

It helps that we have a lot of community outreach, camps, amazing men's ministry, and senior ministries. We have new membership classes twice a year and always have 15-20 new adults join the church. We also have a school and that is a huge outreach to families.

I am curious what other churches are seeing.

 

[BoC]

I don't know about other churches but the LCMS I currently attend continues to grow. I don't know the actual numbers for the traditional services but the contemporary services both worship 300-400+ each on Sunday morning and I think we worship 1200-1500 total through out the week, less in the summer but we'll have 4000 in worship services during Holy week and the holidays.

It helps that we have a lot of community outreach, camps, amazing men's ministry, and senior ministries. We have new membership classes twice a year and always have 15-20 new adults join the church. We also have a school and that is a huge outreach to families.

I am curious what other churches are seeing.

Your church sounds like the exception and not the rule. Which Lutheran synod do you belong to?

 

[doulos_tou_kuriou]

Your church sounds like the exception and not the rule. Which Lutheran synod do you belong to?

LCMS means Missouri Synod.

Protestantism in general (and as I say that I include Lutherans as protestants) has been in decline for several years I think for various reasons.
Typically speaking the conservative denominations are declining slower than the liberal ones.

My guess is that in Lutheranism specifically the more conservative groups will see a slight spike in membership in the last 1 1/2 years due in part to the exodus happening within the ELCA, which was already in rapid decline. But I would wager sadly that in about another year and a half all of Lutheranism in America will be in an overall decline.

Yet the Holy Church remains.

Pax

 

[Hotpepper]

It could be either (but not limited to) Christians are becoming less impressed with theology and more into their own personal walks with God... or many people in the U.S. are losing their faith. Personally I'm inclined to think the latter. Although I base this on absolutely nothing of course.

 

[doulos_tou_kuriou]

It could be either (but not limited to) Christians are becoming less impressed with theology and more into their own personal walks with God... or many people in the U.S. are losing their faith. Personally I'm inclined to think the latter. Although I base this on absolutely nothing of course.

I do think american individuality leads to a higher stress on spiritualism and our general desire to avoid conflict leads to pluralism. Both of which often erode the need for church.

More than just people losing their faith, though I am not denying that is that society has shifted from that of christendom to where now is it perfectly acceptable socially to be unfaithed. I think in the 50's for example there were plenty of people who went to church out of social/familial law, not faith.

And there is a highly "progressive" movement in society that expects constant change and is anti-authoritarian, especially of older authorities. Thus the church is not respected like it once was and there is a part of our culture that despises what the church stands for.

But I'm sure that is only part of it too. What we should be asking ourselves is why is Christianity booming in other parts of the world (particularly in the southern hemisphere) and how can we reform accordingly?

And finally we need to preach the word. God tells us his word does not return to him empty, we need to trust the Spirits hand amidst our struggles.

Pax

 

[Hotpepper]

But I'm sure that is only part of it too. What we should be asking ourselves is why is Christianity booming in other parts of the world (particularly in the southern hemisphere) and how can we reform accordingly?

I was not aware of this fact. This is both absolutely wonderful yet deeply disturbing at the same time. (that our country is in decline)

And finally we need to preach the word. God tells us his word does not return to him empty, we need to trust the Spirits hand amidst our struggles.

Pax

 

[Aibrean]

Our church hasn't lost members. They have gained (me lol).

 

[seajoy]

Our church is not losing members either - but I wish it was growing faster. Also, the WELS church we left in WI when we moved to MI, was growing so fast that they had to build a new church. They now have at least 3 services a week. I sure miss that church - but love my small church in MI too.

 

[BoC]

LCMS means Missouri Synod.


Pax

hmmmm------guess I should read the whole post next time.

 

[Tangible]

We have about 300-400 people in two services most Sundays, and we have two new member classes per year. We usually add ten or twenty new members a year, but I don't know how many fall off the other end. I believe we're growing overall. Most of our growth, I would say, comes from Christians changing churches rather than new conversions, though. Adult baptisms are pretty rare.

There is a small ELCA church in town that has dwindled to the point now that they can't afford a pastor. There's probably less than 50 members. I doubt they'll be around much longer.

 

[gtmyers]

I don't know about other churches but the LCMS I currently attend continues to grow. I don't know the actual numbers for the traditional services but the contemporary services both worship 300-400+ each on Sunday morning and I think we worship 1200-1500 total through out the week, less in the summer but we'll have 4000 in worship services during Holy week and the holidays.

It helps that we have a lot of community outreach, camps, amazing men's ministry, and senior ministries. We have new membership classes twice a year and always have 15-20 new adults join the church. We also have a school and that is a huge outreach to families.

I am curious what other churches are seeing.

Wow! How long would it take me to drive to your church from Charlotte NC on Sunday am?

 

[JTornado1]

My LCMS church is slowly growing.

 

[DaRev]

One of the biggest problems in many congregations is entrenched leadership who get stuck in a maintenance mode rather than a mission mode. That and there's a lot of local tradition that needs to be put in the past. "Well, my great grandfather did things this way, so don't even think of changing anything." That type of mindset is what is killing some churches.

 

[TCat]

DaRev

 

[BoC]

One of the biggest problems in many congregations is entrenched leadership who get stuck in a maintenance mode rather than a mission mode. That and there's a lot of local tradition that needs to be put in the past. "Well, my great grandfather did things this way, so don't even think of changing anything." That type of mindset is what is killing some churches.

So what is your answer to this problem?

 

[seajoy]

Like DaRev said - many churches are not mission minded at all. They are content to not have outsiders come in. It's sick and very unChristian. Outreach in the community is of such importance.

Example - A neighbor down the street from our church in WI got an illness that landed her in a wheelchair needed much help and therapy. She and her husband had a 1yr old daughter. They had nothing to do with our church, but we started taking turns helping her take care of her baby at home while she went to therapy. Well, it turns out that she had not been to church since she was a child, and her husband had nothing to do with church. Because of God's love showing through in this horrible time in their lives, they have come to faith and become active members. Their little one was baptised too.

Anyway - it just shows that there is much work to be done in God's harvest. We should know how important this is.

 

[Aibrean]

DaRev - the unfortunate aspect is usually when they think they need to change things they go with contemporary services, lightened liturgy, more "band" music, etc which turns away people like me.

 

[TCat]

Another LCMS church in my town offers 3 different services on Sunday mornings Traditional, Blended and Contemporary. They seem to be growing too although I don't have any numbers. I have attended their services and gone on retreats with the VERY active womens ministry twice.

 

[Aibrean]

Our church offers two services - Traditional at 8:00 and Traditional at 10:30 and that's the way I like it. There is nothing wrong with Liturgy. If it worked for thousands of years I don't see any reason why it needs fixing.