One of the few questions the pastor search committee of the church that later called me asked was if I thought there was any hope for their church. I should have followed that question with several of my own about the situation in that church, but I was too naïve to do so. Only later did I learn that when the previous pastor resigned the church had discussed closing. They decided to try one more pastor, and I was it. I was there for twenty years, and the church is still doing well today.
However, today this is a question that many churches are asking. Even if the question is not asked aloud some in the church are wondering if there is any future for their church. I hear the question behind some of the responses I receive when assisting churches with their pastoral search. I hear it when I visit with pastors and lay leaders. The question is most evident when the church is clearly operating out of a survival mode. I hurt for those churches that struggle with the fears that their church may not be there much longer, but I also believe that is not the question some of them should be asking.
A better question might be, "Has God called us to merely survive and keep the doors open as long as possible?" We have many churches that are surviving only because faithful people in the past gave sacrificially and the church was able to put money into saving, but some of these churches are burning through those savings at a rapid rate. How is that biblical stewardship? Many of these churches are probably hoping for a last minute miracle that will keep their doors open, and if that miracle doesn't happen they will finally lock the doors for the last time when their endowments and savings run out. Is that the best we can do with God's resources?
Would it not be better to give those resources, including the property, to a ministry that is doing good ministry in the community? I know people have deep connections to their churches, and nobody wants to see a church close, but there comes a time when mere survival isn't enough. If there is no vision for ministry, if there is no one left in the church with a passion for the unchurched that leads them to action, if there are no real leaders in a church, then it is time for that church to accept that its time has passed. God is always raising up new ministries to replace those that are not longer on mission with him, and the most responsible thing some churches could do would be to provide whatever resources they have remaining to these new ministries.
This is not only for churches. As I look at what is happening in many judicatories and denominations, I'm convinced that some of them are going to have to make hard choices in the future. A couple of years ago I was scheduled to lead a small church conference for a United Methodist district. A couple of months before the conference I was informed it was cancelled due to that district having been merged into another district. This same thing is happening in other denominations as well, and I believe we will see this increase in the near future. Many judicatory and denominational bodies have seen significant declines in financial support since the recent recession, and no one really expects that to improve any time soon. Many of these groups have reduced staff and services, some to the point of offering very little support to their churches. Maybe its time that these bodies face some tough facts and think about merging with other districts, regions, or conventions.
This is not admitting failure or defeat. It is recognizing that the religious landscape has changed in America. People expect different things from the church, and not every church can meet those expectations. The role of denominations are changing as well, and not every denominational body will find it easy to adapt to those changes. For churches, judicatories, and denominations to continue to operate as usual while depleting their finances and providing little, if any, real ministry to their constituents is wrong. As leaders of these organizations we must realize we are accountable to God for our stewardship and refuse to settle for mere survival.
No comments:
Post a Comment