This morning there was another op-ed piece in a major newspaper about the decline of the church. The author is a person who does not attend church himself and he seemed pretty convinced that the church was headed for the end. The people who chimed in to the comments section also believed the church was on its last legs, and most of them were cheering its demise. They recited the usual litany of complaints: clergy abuse, judgmental congregants, and a belief system that seemed to resemble fantasy more than reality. It was pretty obvious to me that these people haven’t attended the same churches that I have.
My experience has been that churches are complex. Looking out into the pews, I see real people who cannot be captured by a simple stereotype. Some people in the pews are wrestling with the Bible, some are happy to see their friends, some are looking for a mission and yearn to make a difference, some are deeply compassionate and prayerful, and yes, some are a little judgemental. Church is made up of people going in different directions, having unique experiences, and who see God and the world through very different lenses. So is the force that brings us all together in one place on Sunday morning dying? For me the answer is unequivocally “no.”
The force that brings us together is nothing less than the Holy Spirit and the Spirit doesn’t decline or fail. The call that reaches out and brings people into church may wax and wane according to God’s will, but it will never die. Those who are on leave from regular church attendance have other paths to follow for now. There are others who are being awakened to a new or renewed life of faith and who will be drawn to our doors. It is an ongoing process, a continuous ebb and flow. There is no doubt that there are more people leaving than are arriving, but this is just one act in the long production that we call church.
The question we need to ask ourselves is not “is the church dying” but “what are we being called to do at this moment in the history of the church (which happens to be a time of decline).” I am becoming convinced that this is a time for shoring things up—an age of spring cleaning. It is a time to reflect on our mission and ministry and to question how well we are fulfilling it. It’s a time for rethinking everything we do and considering if there is a better way. Are our structures sound, are our processes effective, are our relationships healthy? What can we do better? What MUST we do better?
It’s easy to look back at those generations who enjoyed the heyday of church and think they were experiencing something meaningful while we are not. But the work we are called to do is critical. It requires honesty, discernment, creativity, and courage. I for one am humbled that God would call me to serve the church at such a time as this and I feel blessed to be able to do this important work alongside you.
Blessings,
Pastor Jen