Is Your Local Church Healthy or Dying?
by Monte Sahlin
It is really a simple question. It was asked of pastors and lay leaders in a random sample of more than 11,000 congregations of all faiths across America. “Would you agree? Our congregation is spiritually vital and alive.”
The leaders who responded to this survey could pick one of five answers from “Strongly Agree” to “Strongly Disagree.” Overall, just 28 percent gave the most positive response. And among Seventh-day Adventist churches it was only 16 percent.
Maybe these pastors were just being modest, but there does seem to be a spiritual decline across the country and Adventist churches seem to be down along with all of the other denominations. For one thing, church attendance is down. The median size group gathering for worship each week dropped from 120 to 108 over the last decade, and Adventist churches were part of that trend.
It is surprising to researchers that things are down because in the past when the economy declined, as it has over recent years, Americans have returned to their religious faith and gone back to church. That does not seem to be happening this time, although it may simply be too soon to draw conclusions.
These data are from a survey conducted as part of the 2010 Faith Communities Today (FACT) survey. It is conducted every ten years by the Cooperative Congregational Studies Partnership which includes researchers from all the major religious groups in America. Dr. Roger Dudley, director of the Institute of Church Ministry at Andrews University, conducted the Adventist segment of the survey.
One reason for the decline may be that congregations are not trying as hard as they did a decade ago. Only one in five congregations reported that they had two or more ministries which they considered as high priority for their church. Adventist churches had a slightly lower response with just 17 percent of our local churches reporting the same.
Adventist data also show fewer local churches involved in all areas of community outreach except public evangelism. This means there is less plowing and sowing and nurturing going on while there is an increase in harvest activity. Any farmer will tell you that might work for one crop cycle, but it yields decreased production over two or more seasons.
What Do These Numbers Mean?
It is time for revival and transformation in our denomination. We cannot simply rest on our laurels. It is encouraging that last year USA Today reported that the Adventist Church is the fastest growing Christian denomination in America, but that may not be saying much in a country where more and more people—especially young people—are withdrawing from religion all together.
What do revival and transformation mean in your congregation? Is it time to go back to basics? If we simply go back to the way we did things in the past, will that really generate new vitality and advance the cause of Christ? Is the Holy Spirit trying to lead us into new territory and new opportunities? Are we ready to follow? Where is God working in your community? Where is the message of hope most needed?
If you would like to take the same survey in your local church and provide information for your church board to consider, please send me a request. I will be happy to send you a copy of the questionnaire and instructions on how to conduct it. You can send an Email request to msahlin@creativeministry.org or dial (800) 272-4664.
Monte,
If USA Today listed the Adventist Church as the fastest-growing church in America and we're only growing at about the same rate as the general population, that's not a positive statement about our church and worse one about the others.
I recently was on a Maranatha project where I enjoyed many positive and uplifting times of sharing with the other workers, most of whom were retirees. Those interactions also illustrated to me what limited concepts are held by many people about how the church should function, what "real" ministry is, and how to grow the church. I believe overcoming those limited views will require both a new generation and dramatic action by the Holy Spirit leading us into those new ministries.
First importance: We must foster community, connection, with a sense of belong and ownership. Individuals are valued as friends by the leadership and they feel included, not on the basis of loyalty to EGW or the Sabbath. The identity of the church is warmth and tolerance centered with Biblical ethics and morality.
Second importance: The church is involved in the community, more than just church school. One church I knew invited men to a Bar-B-Q and afterwards went into the community to perform Honey-Do list for seniors and warfare moms. Others have bike-thons to support some community cause, free rides to doctor’s offices, Yoga class, free dental vouchers etc.
Third importance: The church offers many supporting ministries for youth, adults and families within the church.
Reform the tithe system by cutting overhead—Merging Unions, Divisions and Conferences —to allow the local church to keep 50% or more of the tithe. Make 95% of tithe for active pastors and 5% for administrators. Better yet, let the local churches pay their pastors, with supplements for small congregations. American Baptist Church, according to a local pastor, pays to their Conference 15.00 per person a year. With this saving, they offer a calendar full of events that attract and keep members.
With our current financial structure, the lion’s share of resources from the local church is given to tithe, for pastoral care and a huge governmental overhead, which is often very out of touch with the pew.
David,
Amen on all points! I lead a very active ministry doing those "Honey-do" tasks and similar where the need arises. It has been amazing how that has contributed to the church community. There is nothing like getting out with other believers and doing something for someone else that either compliments their ability or does what they cannot do for physical and/or fiscal reasons. What a blessing that has been to me. The Bible may say that it is better to give than to receive, but I can testify that the receiving is a blessing that competes very closely. I have been blessed in so many ways that the ministry has become my life's passion. So I tell people that I work for a paycheck, but I live for my ministry.
We are at least a generation, maybe two, removed from the time when the church was the center of activity for many. A few churches have been very successful using this concept: the megachurches with multiple programs which include everyone, not simply Sun. morning but every day of the week.
It is very dispiriting to pastorize small churchyes that are barely hanging on or even no growth at all. Many conferences have such small churches in small towns that are dying. These are the towns from which young folks flee as soon as they can–and no one can blame them. The competition for people's time is almost overwhelming and unless there is a compelling reason for being in church each week (which is essentially what most can offer), there really is no need or desire for church attendance.
Good luck to anyone who can offer a plan for growth THAT WILL BE ACCEPTED by those who sit in offices and do not have to consistently be involved locally with people, but with paper plans.
One suggestion: Please refrain from using these two archaic words: revival and reformation. They are buzz words meaning absolutely nothing. What sort of "reforming" will the church adopt? Reformation, as in the Protestant Reformation did NOT simply mean another program, it meant ulimate rejection and modification of Roman Catholic doctrine and practice. Such changes in the SDA church might be successful, but is anyone daring to suggest this?
David, currently the majority of local churches get more than 50 percent of the tithe paid by their local members via the salary and benefits paid to their pastor. I have done this analysis in a number of conferences and found that only a small number of the largest congregations actually put more money into the Tithe Fund than what they get out. In North America the local conferences spend 85 percent of the Tithe Fund when you balance out the passing of funds back and forth for various programs. One of the things that hides this reality is the percentage of Tithe that goes to fund the "old" defined benefit retirement plan, long called "Sustentation." It will be another 50 years or so before that plan is completely paid out and the last retired minister or teacher on it dies. Time and again someone says this is money "given to the NAD and overhead." That is simply not factual. It is the responsibility of the employing organization to pay for the retirement benefits that were promised to ministers and teachers years ago. The real "overhead" is about 15 percent and nearly half of this is used by the GC to fund missionaries overseas. Maybe seven or eight percent is too much; I will not argue that point one way or others, but it is important to get a hold of the facts when considering changes in policy and funding.
Monte Sahlin
The facts you present may be true, but without independent audited accounting who
among those who donate have any sense of income and expenders? For instance, what is the overhead of a Union/Conference offices and its staff? What are travel budgets and sponsored events?
I attended a Ministers Retreat held in a 4 Star resort with catered meals, upon inquiring as to what about the total expense it was nearly impossible, the treasurer told me it would be about 40-50K. What is the income from the Trust Department and how is it spent? My comments have nothing to do with paying retirement funds, this ordinary and necessary.
Financial accountability is a trust, which merits transparency. “Trust me,” is not the way to gather support when there are so many opaque options open to the charitable.
I am surprised there is no independent auditing – at least by the GC auditors. Any member can request the annual finacial report of conferences or unions, and if one is not forthcoming, it would be a good idea to ask the treasurer why not – at the session if necessary. The system is meant to be transparent to a large degree. The problem is jus as often a failure to understand what the figures say as it is that there is less than desirable transparency.
Monte,
I postulate that Christian churches (and SDA among them) are suffering from the politicization and resultant polarization of religion in America. Obviously, that doesn't explain everything, since similar trends have long dominated European churches where I don't believe this is a factor, but here in the US over the past couple decades we've seen the broadening of politicization beyond abortion protest to include gay rights/marriage, women's rights, educational control, etc. Everything is highly polarized now. And the church is seen as a reason for that, which makes it unappealing to a generation of young people for whom this polarization and apparent discrimination are unacceptable. Within the church itself, we see polarization as well, and this hurts the health of the congregations and ultimately destroys the community and sense of brother/sisterhood that is one of the biggest draws of the church in an increasingly alienated and disconnected society. Until the church once again is seen as part of the solution to society's ills rather than part of the problem, I don't think it will have much appeal to younger generations, and the greying and decline of churches will continue. If my hypothesis is correct, then current SDA leadership appears intent on worsening the problem.
I think part of the problem would be the views held by people like yourself. Trying to make the Church like the world. With you people it is whatever you can do lesson the Biblical doctrines of the Church and add more Fluff or cheap grace to the sermons….
It's such an insulting comment that always follows: "You people…."
Monte,
I postulate that Christian churches (and SDA among them) are suffering from the politicization and resultant polarization of religion in America. Obviously, that doesn't explain everything, since similar trends have long dominated European churches where I don't believe this is a factor, but here in the US over the past couple decades we've seen the broadening of politicization beyond abortion protest to include gay rights/marriage, women's rights, educational control, etc. Everything is highly polarized now. And the church is seen as a reason for that, which makes it unappealing to a generation of young people for whom this polarization and apparent discrimination are unacceptable. Within the church itself, we see polarization as well, and this hurts the health of the congregations and ultimately destroys the community and sense of brother/sisterhood that is one of the biggest draws of the church in an increasingly alienated and disconnected society. Until the church once again is seen as part of the solution to society's ills rather than part of the problem, I don't think it will have much appeal to younger generations, and the greying and decline of churches will continue. If my hypothesis is correct, then current SDA leadership appears intent on worsening the problem.
RT1B,
Amen! The marriage of religion and government is Europe produced the death of the church. Few attend church and have no interest in church affairs.
That should be a warning to the U.S. where there is ever more conflation of church and politics. This is a turn-off to even the most religious, but especially the young people who are far more tolerant than their elders and have a much more sensitie B.S. or hypocrisy meter. The gauge we should be using is: How large and growing are the under 30 age in attending church? Could it be that counting church attendance is a very poor indicator of one's spiritual life? Could it be that many of these are not in their pews but doing more important work outside the church doors–helping the poor, feeding the sick and working for justice? The latter was a consistent OT theme (Micah 6:8).