The Lifecycle of the Church
In my sermon this past Sunday about the Spirit’s animating presence in the church, I described some of the challenges we face as a congregation. In short, I said that there is a lot of work involved in the running of a community and very few hands to carry that work out. In the end, the point was that we are all here on faith and though being a church community can be challenging and though we have no idea what tomorrow will bring, we are here because we are called by God. Just as the disciples were told to “not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait there for the Father’s promise,” so too, we wait for the renewal of our community. But we are not idle while we wait—there is much to do.
Imagine a large circle depicting the life cycle of a church. At the bottom of the circle is birth, halfway up toward the top is adolescence, the top represents adulthood, halfway down the side is maturity, and finally near the bottom is decline. All churches go through this cycle, though the stages can last for a long or short time. After the decline stage some churches go into a rebirth stage.
Each stage has its own characteristics:
Birth: This is a time of great energy and enthusiasm. There is a lot of activity but few people to carry it out. The pastor is very busy at this time and is involved in many if not all aspects of the church, which will not be the case at later stages.
Adolescence: This period is marked by growth and a need for more programs. New leaders begin to emerge and find their niche based on their gifts, talents and interests. The challenge of this time is the need for administrative development.
Adulthood: This is a time of confidence when life is at its full force. It can also be a time when patterns become entrenched, which may limit the flexibility needed to refresh ministries to meet changing needs.
Maturity: This is the status quo stage. By this time there are well-worn relationship pathways and a set fellowship structure. There is little motivation to change and low energy may set in.
Decline: At this point the stage is set for change. The changes that come may be painful for some depending on the level of resistance. Yet even painful change is a sign of hope that rebirth is on the way.
Those who have been with St. Andrew’s since the late 1970s and early 1980s know that this is not the first time the church has been through this cycle. Before the Rev. Dale Morgan arrived in 1984 the church was at the bottom of the cycle. Rebirth occurred then and it can occur again, if we are flexible and willing to go through change. All of this may leave you wondering what you can do to facilitate this process of renewal. I will write about that next week.
Until then may you be blessed in your ministry,
Jen
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