The following list was assembled not as a detailed research project, nor was it the product of a survey of the largest churches in America. This list is just the simple observations of a single staff person. Through conversation with colleagues, countless conventions and the tireless training events I have surmised that the following are true. You can be the real judge. I’d welcome your opinion.
1. Church Size. Churches are making choices about the kind of church they want to be….Supersize or Boutique. Churches are mimicking the business models. Just as businesses are choosing to specialize in only selected merchandize, some churches are choosing to be good or the best at only a few things. Once refined they “franchise” to additional locations. Other churches are choosing “to be all things to all people” which requires massive staff, organization, facilities and of course money. Both approaches seem to be working, big and small churches can be healthy and growing. At the same time midsize and neighborhood congregations are disappearing. By the way…70% of all Southern Baptist attend churches with more than 1000 in worship each Sunday.
2. Institutional Internalization. The mission of the church has been lost. For most churches the overwhelming goal of the local congregations seems to be “preservation of the institution,” rather than the “pursuit of the mission.” The energy and resources of the churches have been increasingly directed to staying alive or preserving status quo. In the last 50 years the number of churches has increased by 50% while the number of baptisms has steadily declined. Church splits and starts have weakened congregations as the evangelistic zeal has faded.
3. Crisis in the Clergy. I see three sub trends in clergy issues. A. Moral and Ethical Failures. The integrity of pastors, staff, and denominational leaders has eroded with each new scandal in the local or national news. People want to trust and believe their pastors but it becomes a challenge with the growing number of moral and ethical failures. B. Theologians vs Leaders. I see a growing desire for pastors to be strong theologians rather than strong leaders. I’ve discovered that you can educate a leader but you can’t always make a leader of an educated person. Our seminaries are producing excellent theologians who do not know how to guide a local congregation toward spiritual health and vitality. C. Competence vs Expectations. Local congregations want a pastor that has a dynamic delivery, reaches people for Jesus, is on call 24 hours a day, and is able to lead the church into spiritual health without changing anything. Pastors can never achieve what most churches believe (or say) they want.
4. Dropouts, Disillusioned, and Dechurched Christians. I personally know hundreds of people who have withdrawn from the local church. The reasons vary….change fatigue, irrelevance of sermons, worship wars, group life (or lack thereof), and spiritual complacency. Whatever the reason I see a growing number of people who are committed Christians but find their church life increasingly unfulfilling. They want to follow Christ personally but have chosen other options like staying home, starting house churches, and church hopping.
5. Search for the Supernatural. Libraries, book stores, and the internet are experiencing phenomenal growth in topics about the spiritual and supernatural. People are on a search to discover meaning and purpose. They desire to find a life that transcends the ordinary one they live. Rather than engage a culture and society that is hungry for truth and spiritual realities the Church is absent and silent. It is time again to speak to the metaphysical and epistemological vacuum that is evident.
To be continued……
